3 Reasons to Be Optimistic for the Detroit Tigers' 2015 Season

The Detroit Tigers begin the 2015 MLB season in less than one week.

On April 6, the Tigers host the Minnesota Twins to kickstart their 115th season in the American League. Pitching ace David Price will lead Detroit at Comerica Park as they attempt to retain the Central Division crown for a record-tying fifth straight year. Only the Cleveland Indians, who topped the division from 1995 to 1999, have dominated this AL Central longer than the current Tigers.

Despite their strong grasp on the division, the Tigers will certainly have their work cut out for them this year. The emergence of the Indians, Royals and White Sox will make this one of the tightest divisions in the game.

There is also a feeling that Detroit may be coming back into the pack. Last year’s AL Division Series exit was their worst finish to a season since 2010. In 2015, FanGraphs predicts that Detroit will drop down to 84 wins and be succeeded by the Indians as division champions.

Despite the detractors, wresting AL Central supremacy away from Detroit will be no easy task. This is a club still committed to winning at almost any cost.

The Tigers' continued tinkering this past offseason, including the additions of Yoenis Cespedes and Anthony Gose, shows their willingness to adapt to the times. In an era of pitching dominance, Detroit’s hitting lineup is now arguably the finest in the league. With David Price, Justin Verlander and Anibal Sanchez featuring in the starting rotation, they look pretty formidable there too.

Still convinced the team is in decline?

Read on to see why the prevailing mood in Detroit should be one of optimism as the season draws closer.

Continued Winning Culture

Matt Slocum/Associated Press

Hopes are high for another trip to the postseason in 2015

No American League team has won more games during the past five years than the Detroit Tigers. At an average of 89.7 wins per season, the Tigers have built up a strong winning culture.

One of the biggest reasons for Detroit’s continued success has been a willingness to retain its best players.

The Tigers invested $428 million over 15 years for the services of Miguel Cabrera and Verlander, according to FanGraphs. They were hardly stingy in their efforts to re-sign the departed Max Scherzer, either. The Tigers offered the 2013 Cy Young Award winner a $144 million contract last March as reported by Jon Morosi of Fox Sports.

And don’t expect Detroit to close up shop anytime soon. If more new blood is required, the Tigers have one of baseball’s most astute business minds in team president and general manager Dave Dombrowski.

The trade acquisitions made on his watch over the last decade include: Cabrera, Cespedes, Scherzer, Price, Sanchez, Ian Kinsler and Jose Iglesias. You never know if another blockbuster move is just around the corner.

The Tigers are clearly intent on remaining in win-now mode. Expect them to be around the 90-win plateau again this year and pushing for higher honors in October.

Offensive Machine

Patrick Smith/Getty Images

Could Cabrera get back to his MVP ways this season?

Pitchers beware. This group can flat out rake it.

First, there’s Cabrera. The two-time MVP is still arguably the game’s best hitter. In Detroit’s four-year streak at the AL Central summit, Cabrera has more hits, homers, RBI and runs than any player in the majors.

This year brings a new addition to an already potent lineup. Cespedes joins Cabrera, Victor Martinez and J.D. Martinez to give Detroit four hitters with the potential to contribute 25-plus homers and 90-plus RBI each.

Their supporting cast will be much better this year as well. Nick Castellanos should improve on his rookie numbers, and his infield teammate, Iglesias, is an upgrade on last year’s shortstop trio whose combined OPS (.580) was second-to-last in the AL.

A couple of platoons should also pan out favorably for the Tigers. James McCann (right-handed batter) joins Alex Avila (left-handed batter) at the catcher position, while Gose (LHB) and Rajai Davis (RHB) will share duties in center field. This situation will enable Detroit to manipulate righty-lefty matchups and keep their players fresh.

The Tigers have finished second in the majors in runs for the past two years. They have a great shot at going one better in 2015.

Improved Defense

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Iglesias' defensive play may soon earn him gold glove honors

In recent years, the Tigers have not been renowned for their fielding prowess. In molding this successful franchise, defense has been eschewed in favor of a dominant starting rotation and power hitting.

Last year’s numbers are pretty revealing—FanGraphs ranked the team third-to-last in the AL in both defensive runs saved (-65) and ultimate zone rating (-48.1). Simply, this was not a very athletic group.

Things are going to be different in 2015.

In recognition of the need to upgrade the leather, Cespedes was brought in from Boston last December. In 2014, he accounted for 11 defensive runs saved alone with Oakland and the Red Sox.

Even more exciting is the return of Iglesias from injury. The 25-year-old Cuban is an outstanding fielder who was sorely missed last season. His 24 plays made out of zone during his rookie year demonstrate his incredible range. Iglesias’ presence will make everybody in Detroit’s infield better.

McCann is another player to watch. Last season, the backstop hosed down 42 percent of would-be base stealers at Triple-A Toledo.

Could defense turn from a weakness into a strength for the Tigers?

All stats in this article are courtesy of FanGraphs and Baseball-Reference.com.

Hit me up on Twitter: @jdunc1979.