Photo taken from Google Images

The Detroit Tigers were silent long enough. An offseason that had so far peaked with the weak uneventful signing of reliever Octavio Dotel and plummeted with the news of Victor Martinez tearing his ACL just got a lot more exciting. Prince Fielder joins Miguel Cabrera to form the best middle of the lineup in baseball for the foreseeable future.

The Signing

Rumors swirled around Detroit all off-season about possible additions to shore up pitching or hitting. The “big” names included Matt Garza, Yoennis Cespedes, and Jose Reyes, as Detroit needed speed or a solid third starter. Detroit wasn’t supposed to have a lot of money to spend. Dombrowski himself said Detroit wouldn’t pay for another $20 million per year player. And Prince Fielder? Besides not truly needing another power hitter, let alone a first baseman, many thought he wouldn’t play where his estranged father Cecil became a star.

Then Martinez got hurt…

Whether Detroit was serious about Fielder before the injury is unknown. Even if the team claims the two are unrelated, something went through Mike Ilitch’s mind the moment he heard his star DH was most likely out for the season. Ilitch has desperately sought a World Series win after tasting a sample of what could be in 2006. Maybe he thought the dream was now slipping away. That gave the remaining ammo for Dombrowski to use all money necessary for Scott Boras to bring Prince Fielder to Detroit.

Mike Ilitch, once known as the worst owner in baseball, has officially solidified himself near the top.

2012

Before the signing, the Tigers were still easy favorites in what may be the weakest division in baseball, the AL Central.  This move puts them right on par with the Angels, Rangers and Yankees after their big pitching heist earlier in the offseason.

But Detroit might not be finished.

Signing Fielder may be great for the lineup, but Detroit entered the offseason with some pitching question marks. Justin Verlander and Doug Fister give the team a solid 1-2 punch, but the inconsistencies of Rick Porcello and Max Scherzer cannot be overlooked. Add in a still vacant fifth spot in the rotation and work remains for the front office.

As baseball continues to prove yearly with teams touting monster lineups, pitching still wins championships.

Ilitch must continue to give Dombrowski free reign of the baseball world to complete the All Star roster Detroit has begun to assemble. Members of the farm system become more expendable as the roster sees less spots open for the future.

The rumored Matt Garza deal may come to fruition still or Roy Oswalt deciding to join in on the Detroit bandwagon, but Detroit doesn’t have to act immediately. A combination of the weak AL Central and the depth of the lineup; however, allow the Tigers to take their time making a move. A team never knows what pitchers will become available by the trade deadline as Detroit proved by grabbing Doug Fister last season.

Without Martinez for the season Fielder and Cabrera should play every game of the season as they switch off days at DH. This can also help ease Cabrera back into a third base role so he can readjust to the riggers of the hot corner.

As for the lineup itself, Jim Leyland would be wise to glue Miguel Cabrera at the three spot with Prince Fielder cleaning up. This would mirror his situation with Ryan Braun in Milwaukee, a spot he dominated.

The lineup as a whole should look like this:

Austin Jackson

Brennan Boesch

Miguel Cabrera

Prince Fielder

Delmon Young

Alex Avila

Jhonny Peralta

Don Kelly/Brandon Inge

Ramon Santiago/Ryan Raburn

Uncertainty still exists with the leadoff spot and the very bottom, but there is very little room to pitch around anybody.

Fielder and Cabrera should continue with their annual .400 OBPs coupled with 35+ HRs and 100+ RBIs. If Austin Jackson improves on his strikeouts and Boesch exhibits patience at the plate, pitchers will have nowhere to go.

In addition, Delmon Young should parlay the strength in front of him with last season and continue to be a valuable contributor for the Tigers. A healthy Alex Avila, who has a now serviceable backup in Gerald Laird, should get back the hitting groove that solidified the catcher position as his own. Detroit won’t need to ride Avila as hard with consistency and power coming from Cabrera and Fielder.

All that being said, an MVP pitcher and lineup featuring two potential Hall of Famers in their prime makes winning the AL Central simply not good enough.

Beyond 2012

Assuming the world doesn’t end after the 2012 baseball season, the Detroit Tigers will have at least five years with that core of Cabrera, Fielder, and Verlander. This announces to baseball: World Series or bust!

Add a healthy Victor Martinez in 2013 and 2014 to an already terrifying lineup for opposing hitters and the future only gets brighter. If the supporting cast of pitchers and hitters succeed in their roles there’s no reason to think Detroit won’t be playing in late October at least once.

If Detroit doesn’t win a World Series over the length of Prince’s contract, regardless of his numbers, he becomes the one of the most disappointing free agent signings in baseball history.

If I’m the Tigers, however, I like my chances.

Justin Verlander, after a remarkable 2011 season, will be called upon to do more of the same in 2012.

The Detroit Tigers had a year to remember.

The season can be looked at from different angles of both good and bad, but after reaching the American League Championship Series for the second time in five years the team knows it can get there again.

The Tigers were one of the hottest teams in baseball in August and September, but injuries, lack of depth and general wear and tear left them with an empty gas tank by the end of the series with the Texas Rangers. Now Detroit faces questions on how to improve a team that went 95-67 and was two games away from a World Series appearance.

The Tigers find themselves in a favorable AL Central where they could potentially be the favorite for the next few years. With the strongest starting pitching and most stable roster, their 50-22 record against Central foes this season may be repeatable.

When looking at Detroit’s roster, the team can be broken down into several categories. Most of the players from last season are likely to return, but if Detroit has the opportunity to make a beneficial trade with a second-tiered piece or two, they will jump at it.

Guaranteed to return:
Starting pitchers: Justin Verlander and Doug Fister.
Relief pitchers: Jose Valverde and Joaquin Benoit.
Line-up: Miguel Cabrera, Victor Martinez, Alex Avila, Delmon Young and Jhonny Peralta.

Guaranteed to leave: Brad Penny, Carlos Guillen, Magglio Ordonez and Wilson Betemit

Leaving players like Max Scherzer, Rick Porcello, Austin Jackson and Brennan Boesch off the guaranteed to return list may surprise some. All of those players have very solid qualities and young enough to hold value for the future whether kept or not.. However, each also has a flaw or two in his game. Jackson strikes out too much; Boesch hasn’t proven consistent over a whole season; and Porcello and Scherzer lack consistency.

So what are the Tigers most pressing needs and where could some of those and other players fit in?

First, middle relief. The likes of Phil Coke, Daniel Schlereth, and Ryan Perry won’t cut it. In the playoffs, the lack of confidence Jim Leyland displayed in the bullpen was almost criminal near the end. It sealed the fate that this is Detroit’s most pressing need. He forced Joaquin Benoit and Jose Valverde to expend their arms to near death before reluctantly turning to anyone else. Add in Dave Dombrowski, president, chief executive officer and general manager, calling out Ryan Perry in the off-season and Detroit can be seen as unhappy with relief- pitcher development.

Unfortunately for Tigers fans, Detroit won’t break the bank through free agency for a middle reliever, but will target a steady veteran or two. Most free-agent relievers are in their mid 30s and bring a specific mediocre trait at this point in their career. With so many young relievers on the roster, Detroit might try to hold out until mid-season to decide if anyone can be trusted. A trade should be expected at some point, but if they go the free-agency route…

Possible targets of desperation: Luis Ayala, Chad Qualls, Todd Coffey and Mike Gonzalez.

Next up is the infield. Detroit needs a steady second baseman, third baseman and back-up catcher. Brandon Inge and Don Kelly are nestled in at third, and Ryan Raburn at second. Ramon Santiago is a free agent and a fan favorite, but if the team re-signs him it probably means Detroit is holding steady at second base. Detroit cannot afford to platoon both second and third base for the second year in a row.

Detroit should focus on one position and go all in. If they took it to the extreme targeting Jose Reyes or Jimmy Rollins at shortstop (and moving over Jhonny Peralta) would thrill many fans. It’d solve the need for a lead-off hitter and add speed to a team that stole less than 50 bases last season.

Rumors that Detroit won’t splurge, however, makes players like Kelly Johnson and Aaron Hill the more logical and obvious targets. Second base is more important for the future as the Tigers believe Nick Castellanos will take over third as soon as 2013. If Aramis Ramirez is willing to come to Detroit at around $10 million for a year, he might be worth a shot.

As for a back-up catcher, the options are limited. But Detroit will sign somebody, such as Henry Blanco, to a cheap deal. The team hopes Victor Martinez can handle a bit more time at catcher than last season, but the team cannot afford to lack insurance this time around. Alex Avila’s body completely broke down by the end of September and left him a shell of who he was for when the playoffs arrived.

As for the outfield, it appears set with Delmon Young, Austin Jackson, and Brennan Boesch, but if Detroit can negotiate a trade to solidify right or center field, management will not hesitate to do so.

That leads to starting pitching, the strength of the team. Justin Verlander and Doug Fister formed the best one-two punch down the stretch and hope to replicate what was a special season. Verlander seemed to wear down in the playoffs, but don’t expect much drop-off from a dominating season where he fully matured.

As for the other rotation spots, Scherzer and Porcello will be numbers 3 and 4 unless a “can’t miss” deal comes along where one of the two is offered up.

That leaves the fifth spot. Jacob Turner, the 20-year-old prospect, will see time in the majors, but expect a signing of some type to let his development continue in the minors for part of the season. A lefty, like Bruce Chen, could fit in nicely with the Tigers’ rotation.

Expect the Tigers to be very quiet early, but make a mediocre splash sometime before the winter ends. In Dave Dombrowski’s off-season press conference, he left open the possibility of surprise, while acknowledging a weak free-agent class for the team’s needs.

The Tigers have a roster good enough to win the American League Central again, but need a couple more pieces to make them championship contenders.

The Ranger's basher Nelson Cruz; Image taken from Getty Images

Nearly a month has passed since the 2009 fantasy baseball season began, and now’s the time to start making important moves. Turning a profit on a hot start can be vital to your team’s future success.

With that in mind, I’ve highlighted several players who’s hot starts you should buy, and others you should sell – while you still can.

BUY

Brandon Inge - That’s right! I’m buying Inge’s hot start – to an extent. Inge has reached based in each of Detroit’s 21 games this season, boosting his OBP to .447. That number, I assure you, will go down. Judging by his .238 career BA, his .319 batting clip is sure to go down as well.

Inge’s power is the part of his game that I’m buying, based on his career-high 27 HR in 2006. While his numbers to this point put him on an MVP-like pace, I’m expecting his production to slow down. He should, however, provide good power numbers, and remains eligible at Catcher, 3B and OF in Yahoo! Leagues.

PACE represents the player’s 162-game (32 starts for SP) pace based on their currents stats. PROJ represents what I project the player’s stat line will be at the end of the season. These numbers are based off of games played before Thursday, April 30.

Aaron Hill - People often forget about Hill’s 2007 campaign, which saw him smash 17 HR and turn in a .291 BA. A concussion ended his 2008 season in late May, but judging by his hot start in ‘09; He’s back!

Hill’s .376 batting clip is sure to drop, but his .289 career mark suggests his BA won’t drop quite as far as the aforementioned Inge. Don’t forget, Hill was Toronto’s first round pick in 2003, so the talent is there. While his current power-pace may be a bit far-fetched, expect the 27-year-old Hill to continue blossoming into a top five fantasy 2B.

Josh Johnson - I don’t usually buy into young pitchers who have had as much shoulder problems as Johnson has, but in this case, I’m compelled to make an exception.

Johnson returned from Tommy John surgery in July of 2008, and finished 7-1 in 14 starts. His results in 2009 have been even better, posting a 2.60 ERA, a 1.04 WHIP and a 32/6 K/BB ratio in 34 2/3 IP.

Don’t expect him to continue striking out a batter per inning, because he doesn’t have extremely overpowering stuff (7.2 K/9 in minors). You can, however, expect 2009 to be Johnson’s breakout season, as he places himself in the same breath as other young hurlers such as Chad Billingsley and Yovani Gallardo.

Nelson Cruz - “Quadruple-A” has shed his nickname, and is hammering major-league pitching…finally!

Cruz’s raw power is well-known throughout the minor leagues, and he now finds himself in a perfect situation with the best offense in baseball. With Ian Kinsler, Michael Young and Josh Hamilton continuing to bat in front of him, expect the newest “Power Ranger” to continue his breakout season, just as I had predicted.

SELL

Erik Bedard - I may be going out on a limb here, because Bedard’s totals through five starts (2-1 31 IP 32 K, 6 BB, 2.61 ERA, 1.06 WHIP) are hard to ignore. However, the 30-year-old pitcher has eclipsed 180 innings just twice in his big-league career. Add that to the fact that his career WHIP is a whopping 1.33, and you too, will begin to see that Bedard is NOT a fantasy ace.

Pitchers not named Johan are just too inconsistent to trust. Turn a profit on this southpaw before its too late!

Matt Cain - Don’t be fooled by Cain’s 2.08 ERA through four starts. If you read my article, “How To Predict a Down Year” you know that Cain’s 1.31 WHIP is a major red flag.

The 2002 first round pick has yet to reach his full potential, thanks in large part to his career 3.79 BB/9. Cain is still only 24, so he’s got plenty of time to get things figured out.

Until then, don’t let him bring your staff down. Find someone who sees the 2.08 ERA as an indication of a breakout season, and turn a profit on this young, inconsistent pitcher.

Jarrod Washburn - I shouldn’t have to say this, but just in case…DO NOT, under any circumstances, add Jarrod Washburn to your roster! His 3-1 3.42 ERA AND 1.10 WHIP in four starts is a test. If you pick him up, you fail.

Washburn hasn’t been fantasy relevant since 2002. Here are his ERA and WHIP totals since 2004, to prove my point:

Enough said.

Hank Blalock - If you own Hank, you’re probably thinking, “I wonder if Blalock is over his torn hamstring/shoulder inflammation/stiff neck/carpal tunnel, or can he recapture his 2004 form which saw him hit 32 HR and drive in 110 RBI?”

My money is on the former, because Blalock has been waiver wire material for 201 out of 324 games over the past two seasons.

Even in 2006, his last full season , he hit just .266 with 16 HR. Those are decent numbers for your catcher, but not your 3B. Don’t expect Blalock to hit five HR every month. Actually, don’t even expect him to play in a game every month. If you can get anything of value for Blalock, pull the trigger.

What do you guys think? Who’s on your buy/sell list? I’d love to hear your thoughts!

Holes to Fill

As mentioned earlier, the Tigers need to do anything they can that will make them allow fewer runs in 2009 than they did last season.This means that they will have to look at gaining some pitching this off season in both the starting rotation and the bullpen. As reported earlier by BaseballReflections.com, the Tigers may be looking to deal both Dontrelle Willis and Nate Robertson. One has to imagine they are probably only going to get anything decent for Robertson as Willis completely fell apart last season.

There seems to be no answer in the bullpen as perennial closer Todd Jones turned in his retirement papers while everyone else is spending the off season attempting to find their control.In addition to that, they need upgrades in nearly every defensive position (save centerfield where Curtis Granderson has been Gold Glove caliber). While they are not going to sacrifice some of their poor defenders’ bats in the line-up, they could at least keep them at the same position instead of moving them around, or in and out of the line-up.

Free Agents

Their free agents include right handed pitchers Freddy Garcia and Kyle Farnsworth, left handers Casey Fossum and Kenny Rogers, shortstop Edgar Renteria and catcher Vance Wilson.

The only one of the aforementioned that has a chance of coming back is Rogers, but he may be looking at Jones holding his fishing rod and comparing him to another woeful season in Detroit.Most of those players will not be missed at all, but with Wilson going, it leaves them with a real gaping hole at the catcher spot where they will have to find someone to serve at least as a backup.

The Outlook

There are not many reports out there that have the Tigers trading any of their current players to bring in some help that way, so that means if they are going to bring anyone in, it has to be through free agency or the farm system.

Detroit has a few outstanding names in their farm system, but most of those, like AA outfielder Wilken Ramirez and A pitcher Rick Porcello, are at least one more minor league season away form joining the big club. Unless someone surprises early on, it’s hard to see how the Tigers could improve at least this season from what they currently have in their farm system.

It’s hard to see the Tigers improving a good deal over what they did last season. Unless they decide to go after a big time free agent, it’s going to be hard for them to really make strides in their win/loss record and it is unclear if they are ready to spend more when their last spending spree didn’t exactly work out.

They may be able to move up to third in the division next season, but unless something major changes, it’s hard to see them going any higher than that.