WOULD YOU RATHER…?

/ totallytigersblog

Let’s kick off the week with a brain teaser.

We’re presenting a dilemma to discuss.  Two hard choices.  And you can pick only one.  There is no middle ground in today’s blog.

Here’s the situation:

Spencer Torkelson came into his own as a hitter during the 2023 season.  But the rest of his skills are below average.

He is not a fast runner and cost the Tigers -11 runs beyond what an average 1Ber replacement would perform.  He ranks as MLB’s worst 1Ber by a wide margin.

Of course, he is still new to the game and it is believed he was set back in his development by the former Front Office that tried to move him to 3B.  There is still potential for improvement.

One must consider that Tork’s agent is Scott Boras, who will most definitely take him to free agency after the 2028 season.

In baseball, the best return on a player when you consider trading him is 2 years before he becomes a free agent.

Tork could bring in a nice haul of premium trade candidates should the Tigers chose to trade him before he leaves and the Tigers get little to nothing in return.  Potentially, the team could even get a starting pitcher in return from a team desperate for offense.

However, the Tigers are also in need of scoring more runs.  How much down the road is still questionable.

Spencer plays baseball’s easiest position and the Tigers currently have a number of candidates who could take over at 1B.

Now, here’s the question we’re asking readers to discuss:

Should the Tigers trade Torkelson in 2 years (after the 2025 season) for a major acquisition so they may receive maximum value for him?

Or should the Tigers keep him and miss out on adding a significant player from a trade while risking losing him to free agency?

Make sure to come back and check the final results!

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17 thoughts on “WOULD YOU RATHER…?”

  2. Nobody knows where Tork’s D will be 2 years from now. Can’t chose, but the Tigers should be open to a decent trade, which I believe Scott Harris will be able to decide how worthy of a return is that is offered. The thing is, if the D improves, and his hitting stays solid, why would you trade him?

    Liked by 6 people

    • Robert, I figure Torkelson will go for Free Agency to another team anyway after 2026. I expect him to turn down a Tigers offer in 2025 or 2026 for an extended contract. So the issue is whether to keep Tork for 2 years and get a nice trade or for 4 and get nothing. 

      Liked by 7 people

  3. With the boras agenda in play it reminds me of that old Willie nelson saying ‘no matter what..willies gonna do what willies gonna do when Willie duze’s it!! So trade him when the times comes regardless.

    Liked by 6 people

  5. Keith, Carpenter, Jung and even Justice Bigbie might well be best suited at 1B. Canha and Vierling can handle the position now. If the Tigers could land their shortstop or even catcher of the future I sure would consider trading Tork.

    Liked by 4 people

  7. Too soon to make the call. We don’t know how good Tork will be yet, how the new Tiger front office will work with Boras, how close to real contention the Tigers are at the time and how well the up and comers could replace him. If there is a good trade, sure, do it!

    Liked by 6 people

  8. The 3rd base experiment was just another poor decision by the previous regime. He has 2.5 years to prove he deserves the big money. If in either of the next two seasons he fails to hit at least 30 HRs and drive in 95, and his defense is still in the bottom 10, trade him.

    Liked by 1 person

    • I saw him play 3B in class A and even I could see the position held no promise for him. Still, the whole trying him at a new position thing is what the Tigers are doing with Keith, Jung, and Malloy, no?

      Liked by 2 people

      • Jung I understand, Malloy was a failure and they knew that fairly quickly, changing Tork’s position hurts his play at first. But I don’t knw what he was like at first in college and if they keep those kind of metrics there. The old regime must have thought he could play it based on their now defunct scouting.

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  9. I’ve never been a Tork fan but 2 things to consider: A) If the Tigers don’t put much value in him due to his defense, how much would another team be willing to give up to get him, are you better off letting him walk and getting a comp draft pick? B) Greene, Meadows, Carp, Keith, Jung, Clark, & McGonigle are all LH bats and balance is needed.

    Liked by 2 people

  10. Its really not a hard choice to make at this point nor a dilemma that is in need of an urgent decision. It all depends on Tork’s progression on the field as a hitter as well as his defense. Let the season play out then ask the same question next year

    Liked by 3 people

  13. While I voted to trade him, if he continues to improve both hitting and defense, I’d see if he and Boros would be amicable to an extention. The Tigers need offense, badly. I also realize with Boros, an extention is extremely unlikely.

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