Brandon Inge will miss at least a month with a broken bone in his hand, so the left side of the Tigers' infield is looking a lot different than it did on Opening Day. Back on April 5th, Inge suited up alongside Adam Everett. The Tigers have since released Everett and have expressed interest in other shortstops. Now that Inge is hurt, the Tigers could call up Scott Sizemore (.905 OPS in Triple A), hope for continued production from Ramon Santiago and move the versatile Carlos Guillen to third, but it wouldn't be surprising to see them express interest in infielders.
The Tigers could also use help in the rotation (they've inquired on Ted Lilly) and in the bullpen (they're interested in relievers).
What is the Tigers' biggest need?
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Tigers could put Sizemore at 2nd and Guillen’s corpse at 3rd for the time being. Shortstop and starting pitching are still the Tigers biggest needs, but the market for Shortstops is thin. Ted Lilly is an over price veteran who would only be a band aid for the Tigers woes. Waiting until next season when they have over 40 million coming off the books to make moves is wise, but will Detroit be an attractive alternative and can the Tigers spend wisely?
I would love to see them add Lilly, and “losing” Inge is great, anyone they put in is gonna have a way better stick and dont give me Inge and his Defense. I’m so sick of hearing about him. If he would’ve taken a few days off last season instead of “toughing it out” an and being a “gamer” we would’ve easily made the playoffs.
Guillen at 3rd would be awful as we have already seen…
Guillen is awful at 2B. What’s your point?
Tigers biggest need is still starting pitching.
Rotation, rotation, rotation
The Tigers rank 11th to 13th in all major categories in starting pitching. The bullpen is around third in the major statistical categories. After Verlander, there ain’t much there.
Yes, they need to get a bona fide shortstop for a change, but dumping Everett helped there quite a bit. Inge was a bit above average in the field this year, whether it’s the knees or whatever, and below average at the plate for a third baseman.
This winter, they’ll need a new 3B, SS, starting pitcher, and a no. 2 hitter. Might as well start the shopping spree. $ 60 million, at least, coming off the payroll.
The Biggest need:
A WIN.
Inge isn’t great, but a 3rd baseman who plays above average defense and is OKAY with the bat (yes I know he strikes out a ton) who isn’t under team control, Evan Longoria, or A-Rod, is a lot harder to come by then you guys are making it seem. We shouldn’t have let Polanco go, Bonine needs another shot at starting, but most importantly we need a new hitting coach
They could trade for the best fielding 3rd baseman in the AL so far this year in Jhonny Peralta Cleveland has him available and he was a shortstop at one time.
wow were to begin probally starting pitching but stay away from oswalt .dan haren would be great if the deal is right tigers r one of the few teams who will be able to pay him and not be cashed out .then ss/3b there r two good infielders with florida in dan uggla and jorge cantu.although cantu is probally the more realistic choice for the tigers it would be great to see uggla bat and power added to the lineup.a lot of good comments and interesting views but nobody has mentioned the catcher problem!i would rather see pudge back even at his age.there r to many catchers who can hit atleast in the .200 to keep one who hovers at .170.and to make things worse hes not even a good catcher.laird has got to go.WHERE ARE YOU PUDGE!!!
Coming off the books:
Bonderman 12.5 million
Willis 12.0 million
Robertson 10.0 million
Damon 8.0 million
Inge 6.6 million
Laird 3.9 million
Seay 2.5 million
Everett 1.55 million
Ordonez (vesting option is 3 mil less)
Total 60 million
Raises:
Verlander 6 mil
Arbitration:
Zumaya, Raburn, Miner, Galarraga
Vacancies:
3B, SS, C, SP, LHRP
Internal Options: Avila at C, then none, IMO
They could probably get a package of Lilly and Jeff Baker from the Cubs for the right price. Baker can play 3B, 2B, and OF, probably 1B if needed as well. What does the Tigers minor league system look like? Deep or depleted?
For obvious reason I would like to see the Tigers re-sign Bonderman, but that isn’t going to happen. If I was Dombroski, I would go and get a Starter, like a Dan Haren, and see what you can do with some relief pitching. The only way I go out and get a third baseman or a short stop is if they can get one with out giving a ton up. Unfourtantley the Tigers don’t have a ton that they can give up. No one is going to want Guillen. We would have to give up to many young prospects to get anything major in return, unless Dombroski can work magic. The player that they could get with out losing to much is Miguel Tejada. With him getting late in his career, he would add a valuable bat, even though the power is gone, to the Tigers very young lineup.
Back to the Starting Pitching.
I would love to see the Tigers go out and make a trade for Dan Haren. In my personable opinion, I don’t think that is going to happen. The D-Backs are going to want way too much for him. Other possibilities are: Brett Myers and Livan Hernandez. Both are still decent pitchers, would add depth to your starting pitching, and neither of the them are getting paid very much. I also think you wouldn’t have to give up a ton to get something for those guys.
Relief Pitching:
The Tigers need a Lh pitcher to come out of the bullpen. I would love to see the Tigers go and get Scott Downs from Toronto. He’s a big lefty that would fit well with the Tigers. If Dombroski is going to use his farm system in a trade, this is where I would do it. Even if the Tigers don’t make that happen, this is where a Tigers absolutely need help.
I’m pretty sure this team needs just about everything including a new manager. This team is straight up garbage besides Cabrera and i’m a Tigers fan. Watching there games is like being stabbed in the eyes. It can be unbearable sometimes
Cabby is great no doubt, but without Ordonez and Boesch in front and behind him, Cabby wouldn’t be hitting nearly as well as he is. As for Jim Leyland, I agree if he don’t get it done this year, maybe it’s time too look else where. If they do, I would like to see Tom Brookens get the job. But it all depends on what happens the second half. If the Tigers do what they have done every second half of season they won’t finish over .500. Since Leyland became the coach, the Tigers have never finished over .500 in the second half.
Why does everyone think they need bullpen help? Its the starting pitching they really need. Why waste money or prospects on an already good bullpen when besides Verlander the Tigers dont have anybody else in the rotation that you know will be consistent
Because their bullpen is increasingly reliant on unproven arms from the minor leagues. Seay, Miner, Zumaya are all out, Fu Te Ni and Ryan Perry have been inconsistent.
The whole thing is held together by Band-Aids and Elmer’s glue; sure it’s working, but it’ll probably break down eventually.
I agree that they need starting pitching, but they would have to give up way too much to get a good starting pitcher in return. The reason they need help in the bullpen is they keep losing guys to injury. If any else gets injured they are doomed. They really need to get a reliable arm as a setup man to Valverde. Not to mention that they cannot keep relying on young arms. The youngster my help them get to the post season, but you can’t rely on them if they get there.
Phil Coke has settled into the 8th inning role, provided Jim uses him in that way. No, the problem with the bullpen has been they’re pitching way too many innings because the rotation hasn’t been able to go deeper into games.
Every team could use an additional bullpen arm, Detroit is no exception, but adding another arm doesn’t fix the true problem.
Here’s an idea…how about they sign Joe Crede and keep everyone where they are. It would cost very little and he’d only need to fill in for about a month.
The Tigers’ biggest need is some manhood and mental toughness. These guys always crumble to the Twins and when it counts the White Sox too.
After that, they need SP