2023-24 Detroit Tigers Offseason Thread

[chasfh]

On 10/1/2023 at 4:49 PM, HeyAbbott said:

I simply must take the time to say that this post absolutely nails the sentiments I have,

As I rise to my feet I  say, as they say in the British Parliament, "To the right honorable chasfh, Hear!! Hear!!"

It's not often I am called "right" here, and I'm not sure I have ever been accused of being honorable. 😉😅

[kdog]

I would take a middling/league average type vs lighting at-bats on fire with Maton..in the name of misguided player development.

If you see stories about how they fixed Maton's pitch recognition and swing, then they are going to try that again.

Free agency should be about floor raisers. Development is where you get high ceiling types.

[SoCalTiger]

I think we will see Maton 2.0 next year and why not if we aren’t adding infielders to keep the spots warm for Keith and Jung. I doubt both start the year in Detroit. But if Maton fails again  then he will be done. 

[Tiger337]

4 hours ago, chasfh said:

It's not often I am called "right" here, and I'm not sure I have ever been accused of being honorable. 😉😅

Your usually rightish.  

[chasfh]

29 minutes ago, Tiger337 said:

Your usually rightish.  

As are you! 👍🏽

[Dan Gilmore]

I see it as not completely wrong most of the time. 😎

[chasfh]

16 minutes ago, Dan Gilmore said:

I see it as not completely wrong most of the time. 😎

Ooooh, high bar for me ... any way you can lower that just a smidge?

[1984Echoes]

Only partially wrong a little less than half the time and half the time almost, but not quite... right.

 

 

... In the head.

[kdog]

Quote

Tigers (8)

• Austin Meadows (5.074): $4.3MM
• Spencer Turnbull (4.167): $2.4MM
• Tyler Alexander (4.058): $2MM
• Trey Wingenter (4.017): $1.1MM
• Tarik Skubal (3.114): $2.6MM
• Casey Mize (3.111): $1.2MM
• Jake Rogers (3.040): $2MM
• Akil Baddoo (2.119): $1.7MM

A Meadows will be non-tendered IMO...Alexander not sure on(edit. meant Wingenter).

I don't get the Turnbull thing.

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/10/projected-arbitration-salaries-for-2024.html

Edited October 6, 2023 by kdog

[RatkoVarda]

Skubal, Mize, Rogers only locks. No on Meadows, Wingenter. ? on Alexander. Baddoo and Turnbull traded IMO.

[gehringer_2]

54 minutes ago, kdog said:

A Meadows will be non-tendered IMO...Alexander not sure on(edit. meant Wingenter).

I don't get the Turnbull thing.

 

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2023/10/projected-arbitration-salaries-for-2024.html

I'd be surprised if Turnbull only netted 2.4 in arbitration.

[chasfh]

We’re probably going to have to be careful how we handle Austin Meadows. It would be a really bad look for the organization  to unceremoniously dump him after his well-publicized mental health struggles, and I would be frankly shocked if we went that route. On the other hand, we can’t go to arbitration and pay him another $4 million to get better. There’s a reasonable limit to the compassion the Tigers are required to show. The best move would probably be to offer him a minor league contract. If he accepts, maybe he finds some way to work his way back, and if he sadly can’t, it’s a fair effort on both sides. If he turns down the minors contract, if he ends up leaving the organization, then it’s his decision, as it should be. 

[Edman85]

8 minutes ago, chasfh said:

We’re probably going to have to be careful how we handle Austin Meadows. It would be a really bad look for the organization  to unceremoniously dump him after his well-publicized mental health struggles, and I would be frankly shocked if we went that route. On the other hand, we can’t go to arbitration and pay him another $4 million to get better. There’s a reasonable limit to the compassion the Tigers are required to show. The best move would probably be to offer him a minor league contract. If he accepts, maybe he finds some way to work his way back, and if he sadly can’t, it’s a fair effort on both sides. If he turns down the minors contract, if he ends up leaving the organization, then it’s his decision, as it should be. 

it's not the 4-5 million I'm worried about; it's the roster spot. A few options:

Non-tender and immediately turn around and sign a minor league deal, heavily incentive laden. Promote him and 60-day him in Spring Training if he isn't ready, that way he's taken care of and isn't tying down a roster spot over the offseason, but he is still taken care of.

The restricted list, if things are looking particularly dire like he won't play next season. There's a bunch of red tape (Google Major League Rules, pull up the PDF and read the three pages on the Restricted List). A player on the restricted list isn't paid, doesn't accrue service time, and isn't counting against the roster in the offseason. But... like Andrew Toles on the Dodgers... a player on the restricted list does get health benefits. I don't know if it is an option, but it might be a way out of the situation until he is better. The fact that they didn't go that route so far tells me he may not meet all the requirements.

[gehringer_2]

21 minutes ago, Edman85 said:

it's not the 4-5 million I'm worried about; it's the roster spot. A few options:

Non-tender and immediately turn around and sign a minor league deal, heavily incentive laden. Promote him and 60-day him in Spring Training if he isn't ready, that way he's taken care of and isn't tying down a roster spot over the offseason, but he is still taken care of.

The restricted list, if things are looking particularly dire like he won't play next season. There's a bunch of red tape (Google Major League Rules, pull up the PDF and read the three pages on the Restricted List). A player on the restricted list isn't paid, doesn't accrue service time, and isn't counting against the roster in the offseason. But... like Andrew Toles on the Dodgers... a player on the restricted list does get health benefits. I don't know if it is an option, but it might be a way out of the situation until he is better. The fact that they didn't go that route so far tells me he may not meet all the requirements.

This assumes he is even interested in continuing a baseball career. Does anyone know that? I can't see the Tigers doing anything low class. OTOH, they have paid him $8.3M for 42 games over 2 yrs. There would be no reason he should be suffering financially that he needs to remain a ward of the Tigers.

Edited October 6, 2023 by gehringer_2

[1776]

Wayne Comer, member of Tigers' 1968 championship team, dies at age 79

Tony Paul

The Detroit News

 

[Jim Cowan]

1 hour ago, 1776 said:

Wayne Comer, member of Tigers' 1968 championship team, dies at age 79

Tony Paul

The Detroit News

 

Wayne made some brief appearances in Ball Four.

[KL2]

2 hours ago, chasfh said:

We’re probably going to have to be careful how we handle Austin Meadows. It would be a really bad look for the organization  to unceremoniously dump him after his well-publicized mental health struggles, and I would be frankly shocked if we went that route. On the other hand, we can’t go to arbitration and pay him another $4 million to get better. There’s a reasonable limit to the compassion the Tigers are required to show. The best move would probably be to offer him a minor league contract. If he accepts, maybe he finds some way to work his way back, and if he sadly can’t, it’s a fair effort on both sides. If he turns down the minors contract, if he ends up leaving the organization, then it’s his decision, as it should be. 

The Tigers have done more than enough to help and give him time. 

There is no BP hit or 'really bad look' if they non-tender him. It's a business people get that. Nobody would hold it against us to non-tender him after paying him what like $7 million for 43 games. 

[Tenacious D]

I could see them offering him some sort of non-playing role, if he feels his playing days are over.  I suspect they will do right by him, though it won’t be a roster spot.

[holygoat]

I wonder how much having Parker on the team will play into how they ultimately handle Austin.

[Toddwert]

5 minutes ago, holygoat said:

I wonder how much having Parker on the team will play into how they ultimately handle Austin.

I wonder if wanting to play with Austin will help with Parkers Anxiety ... having a familiar face around might help

[SoCalTiger]

Austin was declining as a player in his last year in Tampa and now after two full seasons of basically not playing it's doubtful he will/can return. Struggling in front of large crowds seems counter productive. He has earned well during his career. IIRC he recently had a child so he should retire and enjoy his family while taking care of his challenges. The Tigers have been more than good to him but if they wish to help with his medical care and provide access to his brother and the field for exercise then that would be great. 

Personally I think Tampa should step up and lend a hand as well. He gave them many good years and to just leave it to Detroit is bad form. Perhaps they are/will.

[gehringer_2]

28 minutes ago, SoCalTiger said:

I think Tampa should step up and lend a hand as well.

I wouldn't place any bets on that.

[chasfh]

18 hours ago, KL2 said:

The Tigers have done more than enough to help and give him time. 

There is no BP hit or 'really bad look' if they non-tender him. It's a business people get that. Nobody would hold it against us to non-tender him after paying him what like $7 million for 43 games. 

I would be surprised if we simply non-tender him without comment and let that just be the end of it. Some fans may not care either way but I don’t think the team will take the risk coming off looking heartless by doing that.

BTW, what’s a “BP hit”? Is that a bullpen hit, a batting practice hit, something else? I can’t keep up with the changing acronyms anymore … 😉

[chasfh]

Paging @1984Echoes 

 

[Tiger337]

49 minutes ago, chasfh said:

Paging @1984Echoes 

 

Totally Tigers and Heyman are not the most reliable combo!  However, I have seen elsewhere (I believe Morosi) thst the Tigers have checked in on Yamamoto.