Complete Detroit Tigers 2015 Spring Training Preview
The Detroit Tigers are once again favorites to triumph in the American League Central this season.
However, the four-time reigning division champions are no certainty to prevail in arguably baseball’s tightest division.
The Kansas City Royals and Cleveland Indians are now established contenders, and an outstanding offseason for the Chicago White Sox has brought them into the picture.
As per usual, the Tigers have had another busy winter. A paradigm shift, which was initiated last offseason, gives this team a different hue to what they featured just a few seasons ago.
Last winter’s acquisitions of Rajai Davis and Ian Kinsler signalled a new era of speed and dynamism in Detroit. November’s trade for outfielder Anthony Gose continued that theme. The return of Jose Iglesias from injury and the addition of Yoenis Cespedes will also markedly improve Detroit’s defense.
That’s the good news. What’s concerning is the state of the starting rotation.
Veterans Max Scherzer and Rick Porcello have both fled and taken their 124 combined victories over the past four years with them.
But, after coming up empty-handed in recent years, a cultural shift was needed in Detroit. A more audacious, speedy outfit that plays and better defensive could vindicate the decisions of team president/ general manager Dave Dombrowski in the years to come.
Read on for more comprehensive analysis of the Tigers as spring training looms just over the horizon.
Offseason Recap
1 of 9
Key Losses
Max Scherzer, RHP
Rick Porcello, RHP
Torii Hunter, OF
Robbie Ray, LHP
Phil Coke, LHP
Eugenio Suarez, INF
Key Additions
Yoenis Cespedes, OF
Shane Greene, RHP
Alfredo Simon, RHP
Anthony Gose, OF
Tom Gorzelanny, LHP
Alex Wilson, RHP
Detroit had some early business to attend to this offseason, which they did successfully by re-signing Victor Martinez (four-year contract), and picking up the club options of Joakim Soria and Alex Avila.
Things did not quieten down after that. The Porcello-Cespedes trade also yielded relief pitcher Alex Wilson, and some prospects were swapped in exchange for Gose and starting pitchers Shane Greene and Alfredo Simon.
Despite a shift in the team’s priorities the Tigers remain in win-now mode. Their payroll remaining among the highest in the game—fourth in 2015 according to spotrac.com—should ensure that they stay competitive.
Injury Updates
2 of 9
Miguel Cabrera
For the second straight year, Detroit’s franchise player will head into the campaign under an injury cloud.
Last year it was core surgery. This winter Cabrera went under the knife again to repair a stress fracture in his foot and remove bone spurs from his ankle.
Speaking to Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press in January, head athletic trainer Kevin Rand said that Cabrera would not be fit to commence spring training. Even with extra recovery time, the jury is still out as to whether he will suit up on Opening Day.
Whatever eventuates, the burly slugger will enter this season underdone. This does not bode well for him rediscovering the form he displayed in his MVP years of 2012 and 2013.
Victor Martinez
Damage to the meniscus in his left knee will also take a bite out of Martinez’s preparation for the 2014 season.
This is the same knee that blew out in 2012, costing him the entire year. The latest operation was reportedly a success, with Dombrowski optimistic about Martinez’s medium-term future, The Associated Press (via ESPN.com): "We are very happy the surgery went well and that Victor will be ready to compete for the start of the 2015 season," he said.
But how will his interrupted preparation affect his performance level?
It’s hard to imagine that without any spring training at-bats the Tigers’ DH will be able to deliver to the same level of 2014. Martinez was huge last year, finishing first in all of baseball with a .974 OPS.
His situation also creates the conundrum of both he and Cabrera potentially needing to spend time as the team’s DH. Unfortunately for Detroit, they have may have to choose between the two for a time.
Jose Iglesias
The shortstop phenom has had about a year to recover from shin ailments and should be ready for Opening Day.
However, Dombrowski, per Jason Beck of mlb.com, recently issued a caveat: “It'll be interesting to see how he holds up day in and day out, but the doctors are confident he'll be fine,” he said.
If he’s fit and ready, Iglesias and Ian Kinsler will form arguably the best middle-infield partnership in the American League. It is a welcomed development for Detroit, whose reserve shortstops all performed below average in the field last year.
Added to that is the offensive boost offered by Iglesias. In his rookie campaign he hit .303 in stints with the Red Sox and Tigers.
Coaching Staff Analysis
3 of 9
Manager Brad Ausmus heads into his sophomore season at the helm of the Tigers under some pressure.
His team won the division last year, but that was expected of his star-studded side. Being ousted in the divisional playoffs translated into regression for Detroit after three straight trips to the AL Championship Series.
Many fans were unhappy with the skipper’s decision-making down the stretch. Leaving Price in the game too long against Chicago late in September and pulling Sanchez too early in Game 2 of the ALDS are two poignant examples. Fans understand that mistakes will be made, but the expectation is that he gets the crucial ones right this year.
Also remaining on Detroit’s staff are pitching coach Jeff Jones and hitting coach Wally Joyner. This will be the weakest group of starters of any stage in Jones’ five-year tenure. Add to that the ever-challenging bullpen and Jones will have his work cut out.
Joyner inherited an outstanding offensive team last year which should continue to be good in 2015. His biggest tasks will be getting more production out of the bottom third of the lineup and helping Anthony Gose to get on base more frequently.
.png?w=256)
Lineup Preview
4 of 9
The middle of the Tigers’ lineup will be one of the most feared in the game this year. When at full strength the 3-6 holes will be filled by Cabrera, Victor Martinez, J.D. Martinez and Cespedes.
Things are a little less concrete outside of that. The biggest bone of contention will be who bats leadoff. Last summer’s trade of Austin Jackson has left Detroit still trying to fill this void. The speedy Gose would be the ideal fit, but he has not yet proven himself as a competent hitter at the major league level.
Ideally, Detroit would prefer to install Ian Kinsler in the two-hole. But, if the center field platoon of Gose and Rajai Davis doesn’t deliver at leadoff, then the Tigers’ second baseman will probably slot in there. The knock-on effect would mean result in either Alex Avila, Nick Castellanos or Iglesias hitting in front of the big four.
Performances in spring training will go a long way to settling these matters. Injuries, as always, will also be a factor. But as for now, this is how the lineup will look assuming that everybody is healthy:
1. Anthony Gose/Rajai Davis,
2. Ian Kinsler, 2B
3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
4. Victor Martinez, DH
5. J.D. Martinez, RF
6. Yoenis Cespedes, LF
7. Alex Avila, C
8. Nick Castellanos, 3B
9. Jose Iglesias, SS
Rotation Preview
5 of 9
It was only twelve months ago that you had a strong argument for Detroit owning the best rotation in the game. And they backed this up by leading the AL in wins (68), strikeouts (859) and innings pitched (1007).
With the loss of the aforementioned duo, this group has now come back to the pack.
In saying that, Detroit’s starters still project to be pretty good. They have a bonafide pillar of an ace in David Price, buttressed by two strong supporters in Justin Verlander and Anibal Sanchez.
The hope is that Alfredo Simon can return to his pre-All-Star form of last year (12 wins, 2.70 ERA), and that Shane Greene can be as good (if not better) as he was last year over a full season (3.78 ERA).
1. David Price
2. Justin Verlander
3. Anibal Sanchez
4. Shane Greene
5. Alfredo Simon
Bullpen Preview
6 of 9
The bullpen has received plenty of stick for its inept performances in recent years, and it remains an area of concern.
The closer is generally considered the leader of the group, and perhaps this is where their struggles stemmed from last year. Joe Nathan looked a shadow of his former self with his ERA more than tripling from one season (1.39 in 2013) to the next (4.81 in 2014).
Joakim Soria was brought in at midseason, but he only managed to catch the contagion, too. His ERA in Detroit (4.91) was also nearly double what it was earlier in the season with Texas (2.70).
Both are back this year and hopes are high that they can turn their fortunes around. Lending support will be Al Alburquerque and Tom Gorzelanny, as well as a phalanx of others that will compete for the remaining places in the spring.
The return of Bruce Rondon could be a huge boost for the Tigers. Rondon was striking out over a batter per inning in 2013 while often touching three figures on the speed gun. Unfortunately, his progress was halted by a season-ending elbow injury last March. Getting the imposing righty healthy and back on his upward gradient would give this group a major lift.
Prospects to Watch
7 of 9
James McCann, C
Rated No. 9 on Detroit’s prospect list according to mlb.com, McCann promises to be the Tigers’ catcher of the future. The 24-year-old has been a defensive stud in the team’s system ever since being drafted in the second round in 2011. Last year he hosed down 42 percent of would-be base-stealers.
After a slow start, the offense is starting to come, too. Last year he flirted with .300 at Triple-A Toledo, and he also mustered 41 extra-base hits in 109 games.
With Avila struggling at the plate in recent years, McCann could get a crack at everyday duties in 2015. Avila’s deployment as first-base cover for Cabrera could give us an early taste of what’s to come.
Joe Mantiply, LHP
Mantiply seems to be inexorably making his way to Detroit via the minors.
The 23-year-old reliever has emerged from underneath the radar after never having made the top 10 on Detroit’s prospect list. Assistant general manager Al Avila acknowledged this when speaking to Tony Paul of The Detroit News: “Every once in a while, you can find a diamond in the rough. A tall, left-handed pitcher that has deception, control and command is a good one to bet on," he said.
Without possessing lights-out stuff, the 6’4” southpaw uses his off-speed stuff and guile to retire hitters. He followed up his impressive numbers at Single-A West Michigan (2.41 ERA) with a sterling effort at Double-A Erie (3.41 ERA) in 2014. With continued progress he could get the call to Motown in the near future.
Breakout Candidates
8 of 9
Shane Greene, RHP
Ex-Yankee Green could prove that a compromised Tigers rotation is nothing but a myth. The tall righty was dominant on the hill at times last summer, and Detroit hitters saw some of his very best.
Greene won each of his two starts versus the Tigers surrendering only two earned runs in 15 innings of work.
Detroit’s manager, Brad Ausmus, was particularly impressed with what he saw, per Chris McCosky of The Detroit News: "Tremendous movement," Ausmus said. "He has a swing-and-miss slider...that slider has real snap to it. He can get right-hand batters, and he has the ability to get lefties with it."
15 wins and 200-plus innings may be within reach of Detroit’s new No. 4 starter.
Anthony Gose, OF
As mentioned, Detroit is still waiting for their next full-time leadoff hitter to put his hand up. It is hoped that Gose will be the man to do it.
At 24, he may just ripen at the right time for the Tigers. Richard Justice of mlb.com seems to think he will after putting Gose on his list of ten players poised to breakout in 2014.
There’s no questioning his defensive capabilities and range. According to Fangraphs, Gose recorded an impressive 37 plays out of zone in 2014. He also swiped 36 bags in time split between the minors and majors.
His issue remains the ability to hit major league pitching. A career slash line of .231/.301/.332 must be improved if he is to cement his spot as a regular player. A great supporting cast and a trip to the Wally World hitting academy may be just the tonic he needs.
Position Battle Predictions
9 of 9
Left-handed relief pitcher
There are at least of handful of southpaws queuing up to be late-inning contributors for Detroit. Among them are Ian Krol, Blaine Hardy, Kenny Faulk, Mantiply, Kyle Ryan and Kyle Lobstein.
With two seasons of experience in the majors under his belt, as well as being the hardest thrower, Krol would appear to be the front-runner. However, he has plenty to prove after his performances plummeted in the second half last year (7.11 ERA).
Auditions begin in spring training. May the best reliever win.
Reserve Infielder
Yo-yoing between the minors and majors has been a familiar lifestyle for Andrew Romine and Hernan Perez throughout their careers. Hence, it should come as no surprise that both are out of minors options with Detroit.
With only one of them likely to make the 25-man roster, the other will probably be packing his bags at some point this spring. Romine spent the entire 2014 campaign in the majors, while Perez got called up from Toledo in September.
This is a genuine flip of the coin. Both will have plenty to play for in the next six weeks.
Unless otherwise stated, stats in this article are courtesy of baseball-reference.com and mlb.com
Hit me up on Twitter: @jdunc1979
.png?w=480)
.jpg?w=600 "Colts Release Kenny Moore")
