Griff

Tigers hitters were messing with their swings a lot during the season

Let’s have a discussion about Jake Rogers.

Rogers is arguably a top 10 defensive catcher in baseball, but offensively leaves a lot to be desired.

He will be a free agent after 2026. What do you think his future with the team looks like, with Liranzo likely coming in 2026?

A name that maybe isn’t getting enough love as a potential starter in 2025 is Brant Hurter.

Though realistically he will be used more out of the pen, Hurter has been elite at limiting hard contact and getting ground balls.

Perhaps a valuable trade piece as well.

Let’s assume Javy Baez has not been healthy the last two seasons, and returns fully healthy in 2025.

In his first season with Detroit (2022), he had an OPS of .834 vs LHP.

Pair that version of Javy in a platoon with Trey Sweeney…

Might work out okay.

Does your opinion of Chris Ilitch change at all if the Tigers win the Alex Bregman sweepstakes?

The Tigers current rotation as is, is just solid I think.

But if you add Sasaki…

1. Tarik Skubal
2. Roki Sasaki
3. Reese Olson
4. Alex Cobb
5. Jackson Jobe

That’s one of the best rotations in baseball, just from that one addition.

Matt Vierling had 2.6 fWAR and 3.0 bWAR in 2024.

He was an above average hitter from both a WRC+ and OPS+ standpoint.

He is a slightly below average defender at 3B, but not horrible.

How many better options are there out there for the Tigers to pursue at 3B, truly?

Perhaps but I’d be shocked if they do it much if the rotation is healthy. Skubal, Olson and Cobb are true starters but the others, including Jobe, you could argue an opener wouldn’t be bad.

Based on everything Roki Sasaki’s agent has said to this point, I do believe the Tigers have a fair shot to sign him.

If he truly preferred just the Dodgers or Padres, he could just say it, since money is barely a factor here.

The chances are still slim, but there is a chance.

Scenario:

It’s currently the trade deadline for the 2025 MLB season. Alex Cobb has pitched to a 3.25 ERA and the Tigers are above .500 fighting for the division lead.

The rest of the rotation is pitching well also.

Do the Tigers still flip Alex Cobb?

So let’s take a look and say the rotation in 2025 is:

1. Tarik Skubal
2. Reese Olson
3. Alex Cobb
4. Jackson Jobe
5. Keider Montero or one of the 5 or so other guys vying for this spot.

Does this look like a rotation aiming to compete for a World Series?

- Smaller market = less pressure to perform right away

- One of the best pitching development teams in the league, with perhaps the best overall pitching coach in the league

- Fresh off ALDS run and extremely young and hungry

- Analytics driven FO

- Old English D is cool

The HOF discussion around Justin Verlander for a long time has been which cap he’s going to wear in his induction.

An even better question, I think, is will the 2017 Astros cheating scandal prevent him from being unanimous?

The Tigers Payroll Discussion is Lacking Nuance Detroit Tigers and Detroit Red Wings Owner, Christopher Ilitch The Los Angeles Dodgers just won the 2024 World Series. In the offseason leading up to the 2024 season, the Dodgers had committed over…

Tigers fans are focusing too much on the payroll. Here’s why:

thedetroitdugout.wordpress.com/2024/11/24/t...

The Tigers Payroll Discussion is Lacking Nuance Detroit Tigers and Detroit Red Wings Owner, Christopher Ilitch The Los Angeles Dodgers just won the 2024 World Series. In the offseason leading up to the 2024 season, the Dodgers had committed over…

Tigers fans are focusing too much on the payroll. Here’s why:

thedetroitdugout.wordpress.com/2024/11/24/t...

I think there’s a solid chance the Tigers are one of the mystery teams pursuing Juan Soto.

Do I think they have a solid chance at landing him? Not really.

I do think bringing Miggy to the meeting could make for an interesting pitch though.

Show Juan how loved he was here.

As someone who’s girlfriend of nearly 5 years holds a degree in arts management and acting, I have determined that Wicked is definitely the Avengers: Infinity War for theatre nerds.

What’s one signing you hope the Tigers DON’T make?

Marvel needs to make a smaller budget division of the MCU meant for bringing light to characters like Agatha who wouldn’t normally get the main character treatment.

Not only that, they should absolutely put Jac Schaeffer in charge of that division.

The Astros would be insane to not lock up Kyle Tucker.

Marcus Semien had a FRV of 14 and over double the AB that Kyle Tucker had, and Tucker ended with the same fWAR.

He was on pace to be right in the center of the MVP conversation had he stayed healthy.

My dad will be 54 next year and said to me this is the best Lions team he’s ever watched in his lifetime.

Said there’s been some elite offenses back in the Barry Sanders days, but this is by far the most well-rounded team they’ve ever had.

I might move in with my parents because at that point I’d be convinced I’m 14 again

Oh I agree there are much better fits out there I just can’t convince myself not to want JV back.

Boyd probably makes the most sense after how he pitched in Cleveland but JV in a Tigers uni again would heal my inner child I think

I can be a rational Tigers fan the majority of the time but I cannot be rational when it comes to Verlander.

My favorite player of all time and I want him to retire with Detroit no matter how little sense it makes 😭

Spent my birthday in Savannah and I think it’s probably my favorite city I’ve ever been to.

Boston is a close 2nd.

If Roki Sasaki were to end up on a smaller market team, which team do you think it would most likely be?

I figured I’d make a list of baseball accounts for everyone coming over from twitter so that it’s easier to find people, so go follow them!

go.bsky.app/CwYrgDx

Thank you!!

Would love to be added to this

You can only pick two for the Tigers to sign:

- Roki Sasaki
- Corbin Burnes
- Pete Alonso
- Alex Bregman
- Christian Walker
- Walker Buehler
- Jack Flaherty
- Willy Adames
- Gleyber Torres
- Tyler O’Neill
- Anthony Santander
- Teoscar Hernandez
- Ha-Seong Kim

Who you choosing?