Let’s create some running conversational threads. And for those of you still going into offices, here’s a question to take with you – or use via Zoom calls – as you talk to your co-workers.
Here is today’s hot topic.
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It was the tweet heard ‘round the world. If you are following Totally Tigers on Twitter, you know about it.
TT‘s tweet generated so many comments, re-tweets and “likes” that Twitter sent me a notice saying that Twitter was blowing up over it. And since then, the discussion surrounding this revelation has moved to several national baseball media platforms.
Several days ago, I posted details of a conversation I heard on MLB Radio. One of the hosts mentioned that he had several sources who told him that both Al Avila and A. J. Hinch wanted to sign Carlos Correa but that Chris Ilitch nixed the deal.
It is well-known that Correa was looking for a 10-year contract and money similar to what Francisco Lindor got – $340 million.
The Tigers did make Correa an offer but it was under $300 mill. And it was turned down. (For the record, it was reported awhile back that the Tigers made Correa an offer but left out the details posted in TT‘s recent tweet.)
Tiger fans certainly have experience with players who are signed to expensive, lengthy contracts. Most, if not all, haven’t ended up well.
There are a few questions surrounding Correa’s long-term health, esp. the history of his lower back. He has gone through 3 agents in just over 1 year. He now remains with Scott Boras.
Five months since his free agency became official, Correa has yet to find a new team. Part of that time has been frozen because of the CBA negotiations.
But the reason why Twitter was blowing up over TT’s tweet was primarily because of the Tigers’ owner. The majority of fans are concerned over the perceived unwillingness to spend big money on high profile free agents.
What do you think?
Should Ilitch have agreed to another very expensive long-term contract after the Tigers’ record of offering them under his father’s tenure?
Or did Ilitch show restraint and common sense by avoiding tying the team down with a contract that would probably become burdensome?
Don’t see your comment? Comments are limited to maximum of 3 sentences. Please make sure to check out the other rules for posting under the link at the top of the page.
What did you miss on our Twitter feed yesterday?
- A. J. Hinch throws shade on the Tigers’ former player development system.
- Two former Tigers are now MLB analysts for tv.
- A great in-depth article on Alan Trammell.
- TT makes a suggestion about what the Tigers should do with Tram.
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- We tweet out breaking news before it’s published in the sports pages. The best news from the best sources.
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Totally Tigers 
Interesting a poll today. I wanted very badly to click on BOTH answers because both apply.
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I had a similar reaction as it was more or less a choice between a very fat contract and a continuous “rebuild.” Illitch has now invested in PD and a couple of free agents which is a good sign. Voting with my heart, I feel he invests enough on payroll so that HInch does not opt out next year and go with an owner who wants to win.
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I hope your wish comes true.
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Detroit would be better off getting Nick Castellos back (remember what they received for him?) to DH if nothing else.
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Where would we put Miggy then? He is our DH (at least for the next couple of years).
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Sandy’s right, as they aren’t going to drop Cabrera. And keep in mind that Nick apparently doesn’t want to be just a DH, despite him being very bad defensively. I’ll pass on him, thanks.
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I think the fact that they signed Javier Baez showed they aren’t afraid of a long term contract risk. My question would be is Correa worth that high of a contract.
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The over under on my being around at the end of a 10 year contract makes me weep, so I think CI did the right thing. Any player past his mid thirties will not be keeping up. Has Miggy been worth what he has been paid the last few years? Probably not, which is why I wish there more performance bonuses in baseball so they can get paid when they do great things
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I frequently disagree with Chris and Al, but not this time. In fact, I thought the offer they made was quite generous. Chris was right, imo, not to go higher.
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If they took a run at Correa but hit a ceiling I can live with that. But Illitch’s interminable tear down has made me impatient for immediate investment in players who allow Hinch to succeed. They are mid-market team with a relatively low payroll even including Miggy’s huge hit.
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Ilitch made a smart move declining Correa’s offer. He is injury prone and getting older. A great talent but I’m sure thoughts of Cabrera’s and Martinez’s injuries and lengthy recovery from them were in his mind.
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This is one of the few times I agree with CI on anything, but this was the right move.
Already have Baez at SS and Kreidler could play soon if Baez opts out, and Christian Santana is up and coming, so spend the $300 Million elsewhere to help the short and long term success of our Tigers.
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I think AJ and AA were like a couple of kids in a candy store when the boss gave them an allowance to spend. And kids don’t think about tomorrow, only today. The real question for our short-sighted shoppers would’ve been: Would you rather have Eduardo and Javy or Carlos with back concerns, and in this instance, I agree with the boss?
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For the first time, I agree with the decision of C Ilitch, which was likely pure luck rather than good strategy.
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So far CI has not waivered from the rebuild plan. Now we are spending. What are some of the moves that CI has made that you don’t agree with?
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His firesale of decent players with little to nothing in return that extended a “reboot” in 2015 that will enter its seventh year this summer. It did not have to be this way.
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I would also say he took his sweet time to address player development. That should have begun when he initiated the tear down. I think he posit that he intended to sell the team and changed course last year.
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Since Chris Illitch took over the Tigers have hired a first class coach,; worked to establish analytics as part of the system; drafted well and is developing a system throughout then organization. We are not a player away so give the new system time!
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You are more patient than I. After hundreds of games with a substandard team, my patience is frayed.
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Analytics are being utilized and teams are realizing 10 year guaranteed contracts for 300 Million is historically a very bad investment that will heavily impact most teams negatively for years. The Tigers have been burnt. Look at Cabrera, Fielder, Zimmerman contracts. They were fortunate to move Fielder, who was injured the next year as neck surgery essentially ended his career.
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They moved Fielder but they still payed heavily for the next 4 years or more for that mistake. Ian was a nice addition but did they really get what they needed with the trade set up the way it was? That signing was nearly as costly as Miggy’s with a far lower return. (And Miggy’s deal is still a stinker.)
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Agreed but Fielder was all Mr. I, Dave, was forced to deal with the fallout.
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Luckily they were not burned by the Juan Gonzalos contract. That would have been a real stinker.
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the last sentence of the article above: “Or did Ilitch show restraint and common sense by avoiding tying the team down with a contract that would probably become burdensome” was the correct option for #2…not because it hasn’t worked out in the past.
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I heard (LOL) that if Correa was a top ten MVP it would add $10 mil and it had a least a couple player opt outs. This theoretically has a potential for Correa to make over $300 plus mil a season.
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Oops. not per season LOL
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Lindor is a superior player without a history of back injury. I’m ok with Baez. We need to sign a good outfielder.
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Beaz will provide 80% or more of what Correa will at half the cost. Good move.
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Other than Max, a true outlier, what other contract close to that has panned out for the team doing the signing??
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By getting Baez at a much lesser price than Correa was offered, I believe C Illitch will use the savings to better the ballclub with a couple of good FA’s. That’ll be a win win in my opinion.
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Andrew Chafin is a solid 13M out of CI’s pocket. He’s still spending as he said he would. AJ loves a Chafin type; LY, he was .190 against righties and .170 against lefties.
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FYI, Chafin had 2.9 combined WAR for Cubs and A’s. Fulmer topped our pen at 1.29 with everyone else far under 1. Chafin out WAR’d our entire 2021 pen and that pen was really good near the end.
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I was reading about Corey Knebel signing a 1-yr $10 MM contract with Phil. Chafin is a yr older. I think getting Chafin is a better move just because of the money saved. Interestingly enough, Knebel was drafted by the Tigers in the 100th round of the 2013 draft. It’d have been nice to see him come back and pitch well for the Tigers, though.
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I wouldn’t get too excited as he had a career year last year. He has been less than a 1.0 WAR player for most of his career. Still, not a bad addition.
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Never thought Correra was worth the contract he was asking for. 10-year contracts should be a thing of the past.
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This is one time that I agree with C. Ilitch. Hiring Correa for the amount of money and years that he wants would have been a bad move for the Tigers. We’ve been there and done that and it just doesn’t work out in our favor.
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Usually when a poll comes up I pretty much now immeadiately how I’m going to vote, this one took some thinking as I agreed with both of the options.However I still think they need to add more pcs before the season starts because someone always get injured in ST and they went thru pitchers last year right and left (but not Correa) as been down that road before
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I’m no fan of Chris Illitch on several grounds, but this was a long, long contract demand and Correa would be in his late thirties by the time it ended. I would also be reluctant to hand over that kind of money under those conditions. Someone has quipped that in Baez we got 80% of Correa at 60% of the price and that’s not unreasonable. Certainly a team that handed out the contract it did to Miggy has reason to be careful.
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Back problems are not a great asset for playing SS and they tend to linger and often get worse with age. Sometimes failing to sign a FA,(or make a trade) turns out great and not signing Correa for what he wanted may turn out to be one of those.
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