The Detroit Tigers head into the off-season and GM meetings next week to start the process of re-configuring their roster. Yesterday, they already started.
Two of the biggest contracts will be coming off the books. Miguel Cabrera’s due to retirement. The Tigers will buy out his option year for $8 mill.
And Eduardo Rodriguez just opted out of his contract and leaves $49 mill on the table.
The signing of a veteran outfielder will add $11+ mill to the payroll.
Considering that the roster is now being built with top prospects under team control and making the MLB minimum salary, payroll is expected to drop. It doesn’t mean that the Tigers are looking to cut payroll.
In the past, the very large payrolls of this team were due to the need to buy players because the farm system wasn’t producing.
This is typical for all organizations who are rebuilding. The Orioles, for example, won the AL East with 101 wins. Their payroll, due to their youth, was $71 mill.
Scott Harris has emphasized that the team will not sign players who will block their top prospects from advancing. Remember, free agents prioritize the number of years in a new contract and the better free agents are looking for a minimum of 3 – 5 years in any new deal.
Currently, the Tigers are set with their #1 catcher, 1Ber, SS and all outfielders. In fact, there is a glut of OFers.
Many expect Colt Keith to make the Opening Day roster. He would play 2B primarily but can also play 3B.
Jace Jung is expected to be in Detroit at some point during the coming year. Until then, Harris and Greenberg will likely have Andy Ibanez, Matt Vierling and Zach McKinstry cover 3B.
What they do need is a #2 catcher. Dillon Dingler, despite his excellent defense, remains a question mark due to his offensive struggles.
And then there are the pitchers. One can never have enough pitching and it expected that the Tigers will go after another front line starter to replace ERod and also add a reclamation project similar to Michael Lorenzen.
Their current starting pitching still has quite a few concerns about how they would perform throughout an entire year although the team does have pitchers who could make up an entire starting rotation.
And then there is the bullpen which is unpredictable each year for every team.
In summary, it appears the team’s greatest needs that require filling from the outside are pitching.
Given the team-controlled youth that is now the majority of the team, combined with fewer holes that need to be filled, should the Tigers actually be adding payroll given that several big contracts are coming off the books?
Or should they be adding more payroll despite several guaranteed contracts disappearing? And if so, how much?
Approximately $40 mill will be coming off the books, however arbitration and guaranteed salary increases will further diminish that number by 1/4th to 1/3rd.
Today’s blog addresses this dilemma and allows readers to share their thoughts in more detail. And hopefully, to actively engage with others by responding to their posts and creating back-and-forth discussion threads. The more the merrier!
For this one blog only, you’ve got 6 sentences max to share your thoughts. Of course, you can also respond to other readers.
TT will supply the ammunition. One thought-provoking question. Several options provided. One hard choice to be selected. One vote.
Ready?
What should the Tigers do about their payroll for the 2024 season? Please consider their needs, the payroll that is coming off the books, salary increases, the poor free agent market and how this organization is now being run.
Make sure to come back and check the final results!
Don’t see your comment? Comments are limited to maximum of 6 sentences. Please make sure to check out the other rules for posting under the link at the top of the page.
FINAL RESULTS FROM AN OCTOBER TOTALLY TIGERS POLL:
Would you support “buying a roster” in order for your team to contend in October?
- No, there are better ways. 78% (167 votes)
- Yes, the price is worth it. 22% (48 vote
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No one advocates spending just to spend. However I think big bucks for Aaron Nola would be greatly preferable than signing a second tier pitcher. Of course we should not sign players to block “prospects.” But would it have hurt the development of the team if a veteran 3B had robbed Nick Maton of his many at bats? Scott Harris will ultimately be judged by the team he fields rather than how faithfully he stuck to a philosophy.
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I agree that the dollar amount is less important than the type of signing. We may still need another year to see how our young players develop (and stay healthy). But even if they all do fairly well I think this team is still short of talent.
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Jordan Zimmerman. Remember him? Good guy. Had a solid track record. Paid him second-tier money (not cheap) for a lot of bad years. Sign Yoshi Yamamoto, who just threw a 138 pitch complete game win, striking out 14 in game 6 of the Japanese World Series where if his team lost they were done, and he is 25 years old.
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Japanese pitchers pitch once a week
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The worse signing was Mike Pelfrey. I’d had him on my rotisserie league team the year before so signing him at all seemed senseless and giving him a two year contract didn’t even seem rational.
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Remember a guy named Joe Nathan??
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I voted up to 50 Mil because pitching won’t come cheap. Also Harris is in a position to take on money to get a quality player in a trade. Also, I think Badoo could be headed to the Big Apple who are in big need of an outfielder and whatever comes back will likely add dollars far exceeding Badoo’s minimum contract. Even without Canha’s 11.5 Mil club option, it won’t take long to exceed 25 Mil so I voted up to 50 Mil as a logical outcome of the off-season.
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Agree. Adding another “Boyd” and “Lorenzen” this year after Canha’s $11.5 million would add more than $25 million to payroll.
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Badoo is headed to Oakland where I predict he’ll flourish
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Why would Yankees want Baddoo? Because of their short right field fence?
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Yesterday’s signing of another outfielder left me confused as we have other needs. I can only surmise Harris/Greeneburg have a strategy for this move that will eventually come to light.
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Hi, Carol – Great minds think alike. 🙂 I’m going to write about Canha on Tuesday so we’ll discuss the rationale and strategy then. Thanks for adding to the discussion! – Holly
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I love this move. Beyond Canha, I agree with others that at least a #3 starter and some depth, along with a legit bullpen arm ought to take care of the shopping list for ’24.
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Was seemingly not a strong vote of confidence for Mulloy and Vierling. But competition for spots is great!
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Vierling will likely get most of his reps at 3B until Jung is ready
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I think we often confuse “made it to the big leagues” with “pretty certain to produce”. I sure hope Meadows can be in the majors and productive for years to come. But to count on that after a month or so seems kind of risky.
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Folks…50 mil just isn’t that much money anymore. A box of cereal is up to about $7.00 while a new car is close to $50,000. Ohtani is likely to get north of $300 mil without pitching next year, only being a DH. To be competitive Chris I. is going to have to fork over at least $100 mil over the next two years for Harris to play with.
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I’d spend up to $50 million. That money can be easily recovered with better results on the field. And given Fetter’s coaching reputation it should be easy to attract experienced pitchers who want to improve their game. Backup catcher is a tougher problem. Can’t wait to see how this plays out.
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How much are they saving from Boyd, Lorenzen, Schoop, Cisneros, Meadows and a few lesser known guys. Easily over $80M total so I say spend $50M for sure but spend it wisely. I think they had 8 spots that needed upgraded including C and SS, Canha filled one, Baez isn’t going anywhere and I don’t think there’s anybody better than Rogers available. Put some money into a couple SPs, use Mise as a reliever and upgrade 3B temporarily.
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