Memo to the Tigers: Bring Manny Ramirez to Detroit

Anybody paying attention to Major League Baseball knows pitching wins championships.  Dave Dombrowski seems to understand this, but many fans were hoping for a bigger name to emerge from the free agent signings.

The Tigers have put in work acquiring multiple mid-range pitchers this off-season, but time will tell if these new arms will pay off.  So what else can Detroit's front office do to bring apprehensive crowds back?  Simple: Sign Manny Ramirez.

The pitching situation has been addressed in a relatively inexpensive manner.  There weren't any marquee names included in the new batch of players, so what will further entice fans to the ballpark where a disappointing last place finish played out last season?  Ramirez, his oft-confusing demeanor aside, is one of the most talented hitters of this era.  His ability to produce clutch hits is undeniable.  Love him or hate him—he generates curiosity and media attention. This translates to money, folks. 

But what about his fielding? For all his foibles in the outfield, Manny Ramirez still performs at an extremely high level. Just check the numbers—he hasn't ever carried a fielding percentage under .950 his entire career. His .985 fielding percentage was fifth among all MLB left fielders last year. He was also 11th in putouts with 190.  Sure, he may intercept the occasional cutoff throw from center field, but for the most part you get a solid glove in left field.

The current plan is to place Carlos Guillen in left field, a position he has played for a grand total of two games in his entire career. Guillen's bat is a necessity in the lineup, but at what defensive cost? Guillen seems to be the logical fit for DH at this point in his career.

Gary Sheffield will initially be slotted for that role, but his questionable health and diminished skills make him a potential liability in the heart of an otherwise solid lineup. Ramirez would provide a consistent run-producer in the heart of the batting order. No question marks, no choke artistry—just a guy flat-out rakes without prejudice.

Forget about the money; there is no salary cap in baseball. Mr. Ilitch is allowed to spend as he sees fit. This generates not only revenue for the organization, but takes a huge step towards rectifying the broken psyche of last year's disappointed fans. A one-two punch of Ramirez and Miguel Cabrera would terrify American League managers, not to mention help compensate for the inevitable bad pitching outings.

So as the Dodgers continue to grovel for Ramirez' services, the time is ripe for Detroit to swoop in and shower Manny and his agent Scott Boras with a blizzard of greenbacks.  Think of it as a baseball franchise version of a stimulus package.  Or—after last season—it might be more accurately described as a bailout.