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spockmaster
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Regardless of whether or not we make the postseason (at this point I think we won't, though its still technically possible) I think its about time to try to figure out what the Tigers should do in the offseason. Ill start with my ideas:
1) Create a package centered around Porcello to get Elvis Andrus from the Rangers. He's young, good, under control for the next few years, and actually has some fucking range. Offensively, he has a similar walk rate to Peralta (around 8% or so), strikes out less, and hits for less power. Unlike Peralta, he is generally good on the basepaths and can steal some bases (though not always at the best rate). The Rangers have Profar knocking on the door, making Andrus expendable. They are also always looking for pitching, and I think Porcello's development is moving sideways with us. It would improve a position of need defensively while giving roughly similar offensive value as Peralta at the cost of a pitcher with more problems than he's worth to us right now. The FA list for SS is a dead zone this year, so if we upgrade (which we need to) it HAS to be through a trade. Other trade ideas/targets are welcome, Andrus was just the first viable name I could think of who would work for us.
2) Sign Torii Hunter to a 2 or 3 year contract, hopefully for less than $30/mil total (he's making a lot more than that now, but at his age his per year salary should go down). He would give us an enormous upgrade defensively over the dumpster fires that are Boesch and Young and would still contribute offensively (.335-360 OBP, 15-20 HR, 75-90 RBI hopefully, much more than 'elmn and boesch have given us). Given the fact that the Angels likely want someplace to play Bourjous (or however you spell his name), Trumbo, and Wells most of the time, I think they are very unlikely to resign Hunter. He should give us a few productive years before Castellanos and/or Garcia are ready to start.
3) Sign a middle-of-the-rotation starter to a few year contract, someone like Brandon McCarthy, Edwin Jackson, Hiroki Kuroda, etc. Someone to replace (hopefully outperform) Porcello. We don't need a top of the line starter, we basically already have three. We need someone who can pitch well, give us innings, and not get shelled the third time through the fucking order.
4) Get another corner OF, I don't feel comfortable giving it to any of our internal options like Dirks or Berry, I feel they are all 4th outfielders at best. Someone like Bourn or Victorino would fit well, but might be too expensive in years, money or both. There aren't a ton of other feasible FA options for OF though (maybe Angel Pagan?), at least not if we want someone who can actually play defense in addition to offense.
Improving our bench is a necessity, I would maybe grab Maicer Izturis. Our bullpen holes we should be able to fix internally, including closer. Benoit, Villarreal, and Rondon seem to be the front runner options so far. Smyly or Below would both be alright options for a 5th starter.
Most of the offensive players I've suggested don't hit a ton of homers, which is because I feel that as a team, where we play, we don't need to. We need to improve team defense, overall team speed, and hit a ton of doubles with a few homer hitters as well. That would be playing to the strength of our home ballpark. Swing for the gaps, not the fences.
My first draft roster idea, via lineup/bench/rotation/bullpen:
Lineup:
Jackson CF
Martinez DH
Hunter RF
Cabrera 3B
Fielder 1B
Victorino LF
Andrus SS
Avila C
Infante 2B
Bench:
Laird/Shoppach/whoever (Laird only had a 1 year deal so we need to sign a backup catcher again)
Izturis (IF backup at all positions but 1B, possible 2B starter if Infante continues to stink)
Berry (for pinch running, etc. could be good defensive replacement if he works on his route running, etc)
(insert defensive replacement here, no idea who deserves it. kelly? dirks? someone else? i couldnt decide.)
Rotation:
Verlander
Fister
Scherzer
McCarthy/Jackson/Kuroda/whoever
Smyly/Below
Bullpen (in no real order):
Benoit
Villarreal
Smyly/Below
Dotel
Al Al
Downs (fuck Coke)
Rondon?
These are just my initial thoughts. The defense would be greatly improved, we likely wouldnt have any offensive black holes anymore (Avila and Infante being the main question marks, but theyd be hitting 8/9), the starting pitching would be solid, as would (hopefully) the bullpen. I welcome comments, suggestions, and ideas. We've got a lot of retooling to do this offseason and there will likely be multiple ways to do it.
1) Create a package centered around Porcello to get Elvis Andrus from the Rangers. He's young, good, under control for the next few years, and actually has some fucking range. Offensively, he has a similar walk rate to Peralta (around 8% or so), strikes out less, and hits for less power. Unlike Peralta, he is generally good on the basepaths and can steal some bases (though not always at the best rate). The Rangers have Profar knocking on the door, making Andrus expendable. They are also always looking for pitching, and I think Porcello's development is moving sideways with us. It would improve a position of need defensively while giving roughly similar offensive value as Peralta at the cost of a pitcher with more problems than he's worth to us right now. The FA list for SS is a dead zone this year, so if we upgrade (which we need to) it HAS to be through a trade. Other trade ideas/targets are welcome, Andrus was just the first viable name I could think of who would work for us.
2) Sign Torii Hunter to a 2 or 3 year contract, hopefully for less than $30/mil total (he's making a lot more than that now, but at his age his per year salary should go down). He would give us an enormous upgrade defensively over the dumpster fires that are Boesch and Young and would still contribute offensively (.335-360 OBP, 15-20 HR, 75-90 RBI hopefully, much more than 'elmn and boesch have given us). Given the fact that the Angels likely want someplace to play Bourjous (or however you spell his name), Trumbo, and Wells most of the time, I think they are very unlikely to resign Hunter. He should give us a few productive years before Castellanos and/or Garcia are ready to start.
3) Sign a middle-of-the-rotation starter to a few year contract, someone like Brandon McCarthy, Edwin Jackson, Hiroki Kuroda, etc. Someone to replace (hopefully outperform) Porcello. We don't need a top of the line starter, we basically already have three. We need someone who can pitch well, give us innings, and not get shelled the third time through the fucking order.
4) Get another corner OF, I don't feel comfortable giving it to any of our internal options like Dirks or Berry, I feel they are all 4th outfielders at best. Someone like Bourn or Victorino would fit well, but might be too expensive in years, money or both. There aren't a ton of other feasible FA options for OF though (maybe Angel Pagan?), at least not if we want someone who can actually play defense in addition to offense.
Improving our bench is a necessity, I would maybe grab Maicer Izturis. Our bullpen holes we should be able to fix internally, including closer. Benoit, Villarreal, and Rondon seem to be the front runner options so far. Smyly or Below would both be alright options for a 5th starter.
Most of the offensive players I've suggested don't hit a ton of homers, which is because I feel that as a team, where we play, we don't need to. We need to improve team defense, overall team speed, and hit a ton of doubles with a few homer hitters as well. That would be playing to the strength of our home ballpark. Swing for the gaps, not the fences.
My first draft roster idea, via lineup/bench/rotation/bullpen:
Lineup:
Jackson CF
Martinez DH
Hunter RF
Cabrera 3B
Fielder 1B
Victorino LF
Andrus SS
Avila C
Infante 2B
Bench:
Laird/Shoppach/whoever (Laird only had a 1 year deal so we need to sign a backup catcher again)
Izturis (IF backup at all positions but 1B, possible 2B starter if Infante continues to stink)
Berry (for pinch running, etc. could be good defensive replacement if he works on his route running, etc)
(insert defensive replacement here, no idea who deserves it. kelly? dirks? someone else? i couldnt decide.)
Rotation:
Verlander
Fister
Scherzer
McCarthy/Jackson/Kuroda/whoever
Smyly/Below
Bullpen (in no real order):
Benoit
Villarreal
Smyly/Below
Dotel
Al Al
Downs (fuck Coke)
Rondon?
These are just my initial thoughts. The defense would be greatly improved, we likely wouldnt have any offensive black holes anymore (Avila and Infante being the main question marks, but theyd be hitting 8/9), the starting pitching would be solid, as would (hopefully) the bullpen. I welcome comments, suggestions, and ideas. We've got a lot of retooling to do this offseason and there will likely be multiple ways to do it.
