Wake Me Up When September Ends: 2011 Tigers Offseason Possibilities

OK, so the title is a bit harsh, but this season has been tough to watch at times... Plus, the song title fits.

    Looking ahead at the 2011 offseason, the sky is the limit for Dave Dombrowski and the Tigers. With nearly $80,000,000 coming off the books, the team could really make a big splash in free agency, even adding an elite player or two.

    If you glance at the team's roster that is under control for next season, you see that there are numerous holes. Under the assumption that players who are under team control and arbitration eligible are re-signed, here are the needs...

- Catcher

- 2nd Baseman

- 3rd Baseman

- Shortstop

- Left Field

- Right Field

- 1 or 2 Starting Pitchers

- 1 or 2 Relief Pitchers

Here is an analysis on each position...

Catcher: Right now, this position is pretty pathetic for the Tigers. Alex Avila and Gerald Laird are splitting starts, and there might as well be zero offense coming from the position. Laird is in the final year of his contract and doesn't seem likely to be re-signed. Avila is under team control, and seems to be a good option as backup... That leaves the Bengals needing a starter. There isn't a huge supply in free agency, with the big prize being Victor Martinez. I expect him to be swept back up by the Bo Sox fairly quickly though. Other options are Miguel Olivo and John Buck. Olivo has a $2,500,000 club option that becomes a player option with 110 games. He would never take that option, since he is worth much more, but Colorado may conveniently bench him the last few games so that it is their decision, which I expect them to approve.

    The other option, John Buck, is much more reasonable. He is only 30 years old, an average defender, and definitely brings some pop to the plate with 17 homers and a .276 average while playing only 98 games. He wouldn't be that expensive as the 2nd or 3rd best catcher available. 15-21 million dollars over 3 years should do it. If this can happen, Dombrowski should pull the trigger.

    Trade options are there, but costly. Miguel Montero may be available from the D'backs, but it would surely cost us either Jacob Turner or Andy Oliver, if not both. The same can be said for Geovany Soto and Matt Wieters.

Verdict: John Buck

2nd Baseman: Currently, the position is taken by Will Rhymes, but it's Guillen's job when he is healthy... I don't trust him there. Rhymes has done great there so far, but how long can that last? He has next to no power and his lifetime minors average is .289... I see him better used as trade bait. Now, with Guillen, the prime wording is "when he is healthy". Over the past two seasons, he has played in all of 45% of the Tigers games and has already been ruled out for the rest of 2010. I wince when a ground ball goes his direction, and I would MUCH rather he plays DH.

    That being said, there aren't many options in free agency. Orlando Hudson is the top prize, and is a definite possibility. He may be taken by other teams with a bigger need for 2nd basemen though. Past him, the best is Felipe Lopez, who's .234 average I will pass on.

    Trade options, however, are better... Marlins 2B Dan Uggla has been shopped due to his pending free agency after 2011. Kelly Johnson has also been shopped due to his teams’ desperate need for pitching. If either can be traded without giving up one of the big three prospects (Jacob Turner, Andy Oliver, or Casey Crosby) I'd say do it.

Verdict: Dan Uggla (via trade)

3rd Baseman: The job is Brandon Inge's as long as he is here. I think that will stay will be extended. There are no realistic options in free agency. Adrian Beltre will be next to impossible to take from the Red Sox, and I wouldn't want to overpay him anyway. Past him, there aren't any options better than Inge.

    Trading is always possible, but really no possible options are going to come cheap.

Verdict: Brandon Inge

Shortstop: Jhonny Peralta is in a tryout right now. They are really testing him to see if he is worth the 7 million club option he has for 2011. In my opinion, he hasn't done it. An average 20 points lower than Inge with 5 more home runs doesn't deserve double what Inge will make. Not to mention there are serious questions of weather he can play shortstop every day.

    The free agent market is arguably the worst of all positions. The best available will be Edgar Renteria, which just won't happen (grudges last). The next best will be Jhonny Peralta when his option is declined. Yikes.

    In trades, there are a couple viable options. Stephen Drew would be traded in a second if the Diamondbacks got a decent relief pitching prospect. This is a position, however, that I could see Dave Dombrowki making ESPN headlines in...

    Two of the best shortstops in the game today could be on the market in Jose Reyes and Hanley Ramirez. Hanley is on a team always looking for the next best prospect. Though I know for a fact they would hate to do it, they may part with him if they can get two of the big three prospects. The thing restraining them though is they have a new stadium opening relatively soon. Hanley is the face of the team and the guy who could endorse it. Jose Reyes is on a big market club that might be sick of his injuries. He has an 11 million dollar club option next year. If the Mets decide (as they should) that a 4th place team doesn't deserve a 125 million dollar payroll, they may start re building. That includes trading Jose Reyes.

Verdict: Jose Reyes (via trade)

Left Field: Left Field has been played by seven different Tigers this season. They need a solid number one. Free agency at this position is actually pretty decent with arguably the #1 free agent in the league (Carl Crawford) on top.

    Carl Crawford is a realistic option. It is pretty much known that he won't be back for the Rays, and would love to come to spacious Comerica Park. His 20 home runs, .300+ average, 50-60 stolen bases, and very good defense would be MORE than welcome here.

    The major knock on Carl Crawford to Detroit seems to be that the Tigers wouldn't outbid the Yankees... Really? The Yankees don't even need him! They have many more important things to take care of. Re-signing Derek Jeter, Andy Petitte, and Mariano Rivera will be much higher on the to-do list. Not to mention that the Yankees would much rather get Cliff Lee than Crawford!

    If Dave Dombrowski wants to, he will get Carl Crawford. If a team like the Angels outbid us or Dombrowski doesn't want the payroll to increase too much, David DeJesus, Manny Ramirez, and keeping Johnny Damon are all options.

Verdict: Carl Crawford

Right Field: Right Field is Magglio Ordonez's job if he is here. But will he be? He has a 15 million dollar option that (thank God) won't be taken. Do we re-sign him? I think the answer is yes. He would cost us about 7-9 million per year, which is well worth it on a position of great question marks. Say we don't re-sign him and just use Brennan Boesch full time. What happens if Boesch's "slump" continues into 2011?

    Free agent RF's are headed by Jayson Werth. There is no way the Tigers could afford to sign both Crawford and Werth though. Past Werth is Austin Kearns, who will either be re-signed by the Yankees or signed by the Phillies as a replacement for Werth. 

Verdict: Magglio Ordonez

Starting Pitchers: Currently, only one SP role is available on the Tigers rotation. This could become two if the Tigers decide Gallaraga was a one year wonder in 2008. That is, unfortunately, what I believe, which means there are two spots available.

    Dombrowski will probably try to make Cliff Lee one of them, but it won't happen. The Yankees want pitching, and when they want something, the get it. The Tigers CANNOT match what the Yanks offer will be or they will risk ruining a potentially great offseason.

    Forgetting about Lee, there are still great options in free agency. Bronson Arroyo and Ted Lilly could both be very solid in their role. I'm more interested in Ted Lilly personally. He is currently 8-9 with a 3.55 ERA. The win-loss ratio can be blamed on his two teams - the Cubs and Dodgers - and his ERA is only .04 behind the Tigers best ERA. Plus he is a much needed lefty. he may come with a hefty price, but I think he is a great option.

    In trading possibilities, there may be a hidden gem. Heavily overshadowed by Josh Johnson and Ricky Nolasco, Anibal Sanchez is having a great year. In 27 games, he has gone 11-9 with a 3.45 ERA, and he is only 26. The Marlins have way too many pitchers, and would be very willing to trade an arm for a good prospects bat. 

Verdict: Ted Lilly, Anibal Sanchez (via trade)

Relief Pitchers: The bullpen just needs touch up work. The base of Phil Coke, Ryan Perry, and Jose Valverde is set. The side effects of Schlereth and Bonine are also set. The only real question is weather Joel Zumaya will be in there and who will fill the last spot.

    Brad Thomas is a possibility, but he has been very inconsistent, and I don't think he likes MLB. He seems like he might go back to Korea. In free agency, good lefty relievers are few and far between. Scott Downs seems to be the best available, and I think Dombrowski might snatch him up.

Verdict: Scott Downs

Total Free Agent Acquisitions

C John Buck signs 3 year / $19,000,000 deal with Detroit Tigers

3B Brandon Inge signs 2 year / $6,500,000 deal with Detroit Tigers with club option for 2013

LF Carl Crawford signs 6 year / $110,000,000 deal with Detroit Tigers

RF Magglio Ordonez signs 2 year / $18,000,000 deal with Detroit Tigers

SP Ted Lilly signs 3 year / $35,000,000 deal with Detroit Tigers

RP Scott Downs signs 3 year / $13,250,000 deal with Detroit Tigers

Total Trade Acquisitions

Tigers Trade

LHP Matt Hoffman
RHP Thad Weber
2B Will Rhymes

3B Wade Gaynor

Marlins Trade

SP Anibal Sanchez

2B Dan Uggla

- - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - - -

Tigers Trade

LHP Andy Oliver
RHP Josue Carreno
RHP Alfredo Figaro
2B/SS Scott Sizemore

Mets Trade
SS Jose Reyes
$4,000,000 of Reyes' 2011 contract 

Projected 2011 Lineup

1. Austin Jackson, CF

2. Jose Reyes, SS

3. Carl Crawford, LF

4. Miguel Cabrera, 1B

5. Magglio Ordonez, RF

6. Carlos Guillen, DH (when Guillen gets injured Brennan Boesch becomes RF and Magglio shifts to DH)

7. Dan Uggla, 2B

8. John Buck, C

9. Brandon Inge, 3B

-----------------------

C Alex Avila

IF Ramon Santiago

IF Danny Worth

OF Ryan Raburn

Projected 2011 Starting Rotation

1. Justin Verlander, RHP

2. Max Scherzer, RHP

3. Anibal Sanchez, RHP

4. Ted Lilly, LHP

5. Rick Porcello, RHP

---------------------------

RHP Ryan Perry

RHP Eddie Bonine (Spot Starter)

RHP Robbie Weinhardt*

LHP Phil Coke

LHP Daniel Schlereth

LHP Scott Downs

RHP Jose Valverde (CP)

*Odd man out if Zumaya is healthy

This is obviously just speculation. The future looks bright for the Tigers. Let's hope that the men who ARE in charge make good decisions and lead the team in the right direction.

Thanks for Reading!