1984Echoes

Adding to this... It seems everyone is good with Ragnow sticking with the Lions for now and not considering retirement for the foreseeable future... And I'm good with this. But my question is: Has anyone heard anything on the undrafted Center we kept last year... and who made it through the Practice Squad this year...? Kingsley Eguakun... who the scouting reports had something like: "Has an outside chance to turn into a starter in the NFL". I'm just looking at our backup situation at Center for next year and... if Fraley is turning Kingsley into a viable option there... I know we hear next to nothing about the practice squad... just thought I would ask anyways...

Working on it...!

Saturday January 18th, 2025... A not-so-good, very bad day for Detroit...

PS: I officially retired as of yesterday. So I joined a few of you guys...

Start to the season. I think their strong finish last year offsets their atrocious start to last year. I don't think there is any way they start this year the same as last year... And it's all kids so I don't want to guarantee anything... because along with all that energy and growth potential comes a lot of roller coaster and learning curves and such... But I think an extremely high amount of (the "young guns") energy fuels a great start to this season... But that's just me...

I would be unwilling to go more than 2 years on Flaherty. And a team option (plus small buyout) on the 2nd year just in case... So if it's actually 5/110 or nothing... I choose nothing and let the kids figure it out.

That's what I'm hoping. Copp to make salaries work? And if it's another high round pick (this year's 1st + what... a 2nd rounder next year? or a conditional (which could move higher based on games played next season?)) But I'm just guessing...

On Dylan Cozens... I don't think he commands the high price that people suspect he would. You don't trade a guy like Cozens if you believe he is a part of your franchise's future. He's only 23. That means he's underperforming his draft position. Another team will certainly take a swing, and I'm not saying he's worth zero... just not a top prospect like Kasper or Danielson. I think the headline for Cozens is a 1st and another draft pick, a depth prospect, and another underperformer. Rasmussen. Add our 1st and a (3rd? or a 4th? or a future 2nd?). Add in a defenseman like... Wallinder? I have no idea how full of crap that trade is... but I'm sticking with it: Rasmussen/ Wallinder/ 2025 1st/ maybe another pick.

I could give him a 5-year. Just requirements to make the 4th and 5th year. Meet those requirements and we can lock in the 4th and 5th. But the secondary requirements would be starts in the field. If he is only a part-time starter in his 3rd year than he might still meet games played, just for example... but if not as a starter (a lot of backup games) = cut the pay rate in half. maybe he hits year 4 at $25-30 mill but year 5 he gets games, but as a non-starter so his pay = $12-15 mill based on not meeting those incentives. That's probably a NO from Bregman and Boras... Just thinking outside the box a little...

Which we already have. By the dozens. Still need some RH'ed balance.

I liked Buehler at $21M better than Cobb at $15M. But he didn't love us back... Can we get Flaherty back for a couple more years?

Because he can't get his $200 mill contract. His value is down after 2024. But get his OBP way back up... while making $30 mill per year until he gets back to pre-level 2024, with an opt out each year... allows him to... Opt out? And take another shot at the $200 mill? And if he never gets back to what he was... he doesn't opt out and still makes $30 mill per year for the next 3 years. It makes perfect sense. Especially if you're an accountant. Which I am (CPA). He can't get his Big Boras contract so Boras is advising him to go short term at high AAV with opts. It's perfect logic.

I wouldn't use this as any kind of source or "prediction". It's simply fun to talk about... That's all. Oh... and I would definitely go for $30 mill per year to Bregman for 3 with opt outs. Get 'er done Harris! Just my 2 cents...

I would do this: Bregman 3 years $90 mill with opt outs after each year... Tigers predicted to land two-time All-Star on three-year, $90 million deal

I'm not down on Lee so much as I think he won't be able to wrest 2B away from Torres... Or Jung. I think Jung will end up at 2B. I believe Lee is not the most athletic guy either. So it's not like he has a fielding advantage there over anyone else. But I DO believe he has a legit bat... That means finding ways to get him into the lineup... Which means... I think they give him some time at other positions as a way to get him into the lineup more. He's played 3B some. And some OF previously. But with so many LH'ers on the team... it'll be on the short side of any platoons...

HAHAHAHAHAHAHA!!! Pessimistic...

If they have Lee playing all sorts of positions in Toledo this year, then... He's not that guy. He'll be a McKinstry/ Ibanez replacement.

The flip side is that the Tigers could QO him. That was what I meant when I earlier said "unless". What if he does so well with Detroit, and the brass fall so much in love with him that they offer him a contract? I don't think they will. And all he has to do is turn down the QO, sign with another team, which would garner us a draft pick, so, in your scenario... any return on a trade would have to exceed the "perceived" value of that draft pick. And all he has to do is perform, and then turn down that QO... Unless...

I don't see Lee as a starter. I see him as Ibanez 2.0 Jung is a better option as a starter at 2B. Which makes Baty perfect. He's the LH'ed starting 3B, Vierling/ Lee the RH backup options. Jung is the LH'ed starting 2B, Lee/Baez (if he's still here in 2026) the RH backup options. Watch them play Lee all over the field this year, including some corner OF and SS & 3B (he's played both in the minors previously). But I'm just guessing...

Wouldn't he be a perfect fit if we have Vierling? And Jung could take over 2B in 2026... I consider Torres to be a one-off just for 2025... unless he...

Go get him Harris!!!

I don't think it will happen right away... maybe trade deadline if he isn't doing much and Harris and Hinch don't believe in him... He still is the RH'd power guy that they need. But he has to show it, not dog it. I don't see what's wrong with making a Tork for Brett Baty - Nolan McLean package... if Tork flops here.

Baez has played: 1B, 2B, SS, 3B, LF, RF in MLB... Not limited. It's Ibanez that is most superfluous and he doesn't have money invested in him as does Baez. Bench is Dingler, Baez, McKinstry, and one of Perez, Malloy, or Tork... depending on ST... IMHO.

This is a reclamation project trade so I don't key on the lefty-righty situation as much... That being said... If the trade were to go down... then: 2025 Lefty-Righty Catcher: Rogers (R) - Dingler (R) 1B - Keith (L) - Malloy (R) - Ibanez (R) 2B - Jung (L) - not out of ST, but by June-ish? - Torres (R) SS - Sweeney (L) - Baez (R) 3B - Baty (L) - Vierling (R) LF - Perez (S) - Carpenter (L) - Malloy (R) CF - Meadows (L) - Perez (S) RF - Greene (L) - Vierling (R) DH - Carpenter (L) - Malloy (R) Two things: I think the Tigers and Hinch can figure out any lefty-righty switches they need in 2025. And also, there will be additional kids in AAA and in AA (Rainer-McGonigle) that will be ready and waiting to break into MLB... even if starting as a bench player, in 2025 and 2026 (IMO): 2026 Lefty-Righty Catcher: Liranzo (S) - Dingler (R) 1B - Keith (L) - Liranzo (S) - Malloy (R) 2B - Jung (L) - Hao-Yu-Lee (R) SS - Sweeney (L) - Baez (R) 3B - Baty (L) - Vierling (R) LF - Clark (L) - Perez (S) CF - Meadows (L) - Campos (R) RF - Greene (L) - Vierling (R) DH - Carpenter (L) - Malloy (R) McGonigle & Rainer will be at AAA unless...

Mets rumors are floating 3B Brett Baty for Torkelson trade... they can move some guys around and cover 3B they think better than Baty... Baty's also a former 1st rounder with good power, decent defense but low BA... showed better numbers in AAA (both power and BA) but hasn't "found it" yet in MLB... Tork for Baty? Yes? No?