The Detroit Tigers enjoyed a long run of being top dog in the A.L. Central, winning 4 consecutive division titles and getting to the world series twice in the last 7 years. However, the good times are over and the Kansas City Royals reign supreme. The Tigers have fired their GM Dave Dombrowski and promoted Al Avila in his place. Avila has made some considerable moves but will they be enough to put the Tigers back in the top spot?
Case for Contenders
Big signings
The Tigers signed a couple of studs in free agency, Justin Upton and Jordan Zimmerman, which are sure to bolster an already hard hitting line up and solidify the number 2 spot in the rotation. Justin Upton, with his .343 OBP will likely hit in front of Miguel Cabrera (AKA the best hitter in baseball) and the Martinez brothers (no relation) are almost guaranteeing a ton of runs per game. Jordan Zimmerman, career ERA 3.32, will pitch after the ace, Justin Verlander (whom will we talk about next) and be a stabilizing force in the rotation. These two major signings, along with the other savvy signings Al Avila had made will help the Tigers back into Contender status.
Bounce back from stars
It’s no secret that the Tigers brightest stars, Justin Verlander and Miguel Cabrera have been not as bright lately. Both had to go through core muscle surgery and both have seen a similar decline in their game. However, the second half numbers for Verlander offer signs of hope. After the All-Star break last year, Verlander had an ERA of 2.80 and a WHIP (Walks+Hits per Innings Pitched) of 1.00 which are classic JV numbers and more than enough for an ace on any team.
Miguel Cabrera hasn’t been healthy entering a season for the past three years and it shows. There has been a decline from his normal production in almost every major statistical hitting category. However, the big man has finally had an offseason that was injury free and he is now ready to break out once again.
Youthful core
The Tigers are packed to the brim with youthful talent that is ready to explode. All Stars, Jose Iglesias and J.D. Martinez are just entering their primes at 26 and 28 respectively. The young catcher James McCann, 25, proved last year that he can hit and handle a pitching staff. The long coveted prospect, Nick Castellanos, 23, is coming along in his development and is nowhere close to his ceiling. These young Tigers are set to have breakout seasons and must if the Tigers are going to be contenders once again.
The Case for Pretenders
Bullpen
The bullpen has been the achilles heel of the Tigers for what seems like forever. Every move they seem to make, Joe Nathan, Jose Valverde, Joaquin Soria, never seems to fix it. Avila did make a big slash and signed Francisco Rodriguez as their closer as well as some other solid bullpen arms. The fact remains that it may not be enough and this shortcoming may prove fatal again for the Tigers.
Aging Stars
Despite Justin Verlander’s excellent second half, there are some concerns that he may be on the steep decline. He has had several abysmal years and has declined in his average fastball velocity almost every year, from 95.5 mph to 93.1*, which usually spells doom for pitchers. Combine that with concerns of Miguel Cabrera, Victor Martinez, and Ian Kinsler’s decline and you have a potential recipe for disaster for the Tigers.
Youth flames out
There are camps in the Detroit Media who don’t have as high of hopes for the young Tigers. Jose Iglesias was a career .257 hitter in the minors and last year’s all-star caliber season may have been a fluke in terms of offense. Nick Castellanos, the Tigers starting third basemen, has been inconsistent at best both offensively and defensively. The bottom half of the Tigers lineup is mostly unproven in terms of longevity and talent in some cases.
Only time will tell what the 2016 Detroit Tigers will end up becoming. Both scenarios could easily play out; however, optimism may have the slight edge in the case. The Detroit Tigers may not unseat the Kansas City Royals but they will certainly wreak havoc and return to respectability.
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