2024 - 2025 Detroit Tigers Offseason

[1776]

13 minutes ago, chasfh said:

I’d be surprised if Harris threw more than three years at Bregman (or if he signed Santander at all), and I’d be equally surprised if Bregman wanted to stay in Detroit more than a year anyway.

💯 

I’d be very happy if Bregman never played for Detroit. 
At the same time, $30 million on two reclamation projects isn’t what I had in mind when the FO was discussing making the team better. I’d hope we’ll have more to show for this offseason than what we have to date. 
 

[gehringer_2]

50 minutes ago, chasfh said:

Do you think Harris is considering the way a big money veteran will affect the way the team works together? Or do you think he’s, like, throw everything he can into win now and worry about tomorrow tomorrow, he might not even have a job after next year?

I don't think so just because that would run counter to his owner's avowed objective, which is a team that wins over time, but you never know. Just because C I. spent a lot of energy preaching that line in the past is no guarantee he hasn't changed his mind. Getting a little more greedy as things get closer to fruition is not exactly a rare human reaction.

[Tiger337]

43 minutes ago, chasfh said:

I’d be surprised if Harris threw more than three years at Bregman (or if he signed Santander at all), and I’d be equally surprised if Bregman wanted to stay in Detroit more than a year anyway.

I doubt they have much interest in Santander.  He's not a good fit.  

[gehringer_2]

10 minutes ago, Tiger337 said:

I doubt they have much interest in Santander.  He's not a good fit.  

Ha! - I didn't think Gleyber was a particularly good fit! I can only assume they've seen something in Gleyber's glove work they think they can fix or more likely they only see him as a rental anyway.

[Tiger337]

1 hour ago, gehringer_2 said:

Ha! - I didn't think Gleyber was a particularly good fit! I can only assume they've seen something in Gleyber's glove work they think they can fix or more likely they only see him as a rental anyway.

Yes, He was an unexpected choice.  He basically replaces Torkelson offensively without improving their defense and perhaps making it worse.  He's a good offensive player in his good years though.  Hopefully, they get one of those years.    

[Tiger337]

Flaherty for a short-term deal would be great.    

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/01/anthony-santander-jack-flaherty-reportedly-open-to-short-term-offers.html?utm_source=twitter

[casimir]

3 minutes ago, Tiger337 said:

Flaherty for a short-term deal would be great.    

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/01/anthony-santander-jack-flaherty-reportedly-open-to-short-term-offers.html?utm_source=twitter

Flaherty had a heck of a season and it’s nice to see guys resurrecting their career like that.  And we got to see it first hand, so that added to it.

Having said that, I can understand why ball clubs might have some reservations to handing him a long term.  Those reservations would be on top of giving any pitcher in this day and age a long term deal.

Just think about what a bargain his contract was last season.  He signed for $14M.  Cobb, Morton, and Verlander signed for $15M this offseason.  Nobody expected what he did last season.  Heck, there were probably plenty of folks that couldn’t understand the $14M he got, myself probably being one of them.

[1776]

I’m trying to get over the fact that Cobb and Verlander both signed one year-$15 million deals…and Verlander’s deal isn’t with the Detroit Tigers and Cobb’s is. 
As a long time Tigers fan, that sucks!

[Tenacious D]

[romad1]

2 hours ago, 1776 said:

I’m trying to get over the fact that Cobb and Verlander both signed one year-$15 million deals…and Verlander’s deal isn’t with the Detroit Tigers and Cobb’s is. 
As a long time Tigers fan, that sucks!

Some subtext from the Austin Jackson appearance on the Tiger Territory podcast was that JV could be a difficult teammate.  They were indicating possible clubhouse dynamics questions. 

[1776]

9 hours ago, romad1 said:

Some subtext from the Austin Jackson appearance on the Tiger Territory podcast was that JV could be a difficult teammate.  They were indicating possible clubhouse dynamics questions. 

Appreciate your response. As such, I listened to the podcast you cited. I get his drift but don’t see it as any reason whatsoever to view Verlander for anything other than he is, a HOF pitcher. I know Harris is all about clubhouse culture but can’t imagine Verlander ever being anything but about winning. Verlander is from a different time in baseball and Harris may have concerns about his views running counter to what the guys are being fed every day now. Who knows?

I do know that it would have been really sweet if JV could have finished his career in Detroit. The fan base would have loved it. Since being traded he’s always been very positive in his comments toward Detroit and their fans. I don’t know that he’ll pitch beyond this year. That he likely would have signed with Detroit for the same money and in all likelihood, never was offered, sucks.

[casimir]

10 hours ago, romad1 said:

Some subtext from the Austin Jackson appearance on the Tiger Territory podcast was that JV could be a difficult teammate.  They were indicating possible clubhouse dynamics questions. 

Was it that he was a difficult teammate or that he just didn't like to be talked to on his game day?  I remember hearing the latter, but not necessarily the former.

[IdahoBert]

A quote I grabbed off the Internet from the podcast — "Verlander... he puts his headphones on from the time he opened his car door to the time he got in... It's not intimidating, just more of like not as approachable as a guy like Miggy... The more I got to know Ver, we developed a coll little bond but Miggy was more approachable, but he was a jokester.”

I’m wondering if JV is like this all the time or only on the days when he pitches and he’s hyper focused on staying in “the zone.”

[monkeytargets39]

With all the focus on the free agent pitchers, another possible way to go is to try and get Dylan Cease from SD.  They’re reportedly trying to trim a bit of payroll-  and Cease is good enough where I’d be fine with some prospect capital going their way.  He’s still on the right side of 30 and hasn’t had injuries.  

[1776]

9 minutes ago, casimir said:

Was it that he was a difficult teammate or that he just didn't like to be talked to on his game day?  I remember hearing the latter, but not necessarily the former.

I think that’s where the gray area is. I’d heard the same about JV regarding his starting day routine. I’ve heard that a lot of pitchers are the same way on a starting day. They just want to get in their zone and be left alone. 
 

[romad1]

22 minutes ago, casimir said:

Was it that he was a difficult teammate or that he just didn't like to be talked to on his game day?  I remember hearing the latter, but not necessarily the former.

 

14 minutes ago, IdahoBert said:

A quote I grabbed off the Internet from the podcast — "Verlander... he puts his headphones on from the time he opened his car door to the time he got in... It's not intimidating, just more of like not as approachable as a guy like Miggy... The more I got to know Ver, we developed a coll little bond but Miggy was more approachable, but he was a jokester.”

I’m wondering if JV is like this all the time or only on the days when he pitches and he’s hyper focused on staying in “the zone.”

You never know what is going to knock you out of consideration for a gig.  If Harris and Hinch (and Fetter?) all knew JV and knew their own clubhouse, you'd have to ask why he didn't pursue.  Or, is it that JV felt that was a time in his life he wanted to move on from.  Maybe there was a particularly mean kid on the leafy streets of Birmingham or Gross Isle that JV was bullied by?

Edited January 12 by romad1

[monkeytargets39]

22 minutes ago, romad1 said:

 

You never know what is going to knock you out of consideration for a gig.  If Harris and Hinch (and Fetter?) all knew JV and knew their own clubhouse, you'd have to ask why he didn't pursue.  Or, is it that JV felt that was a time in his life he wanted to move on from.  Maybe there was a particularly mean kid on the leafy streets of Birmingham or Gross Isle that JV was bullied by?

Shh shh it’s ok Justin.  Billy Butler can’t hurt you anymore.

[romad1]

5 minutes ago, monkeytargets39 said:

Shh shh it’s ok Justin.  Billy Butler can’t hurt you anymore.

Jim Thome also prob in his nightmares.

[1776]

My wife decided that JV is probably a better fit in SF at this point, all things considered, so I’ll just have to live with it. 
 

fwiw, JV is three years older than Fetter. 

[romad1]

 

15 minutes ago, 1776 said:

My wife decided that JV is probably a better fit in SF at this point, all things considered, so I’ll just have to live with it. 
 

fwiw, JV is three years older than Fetter. 

If I had a chance to spend a meaningful part of my career in the bay area I'd give it a go.   Nice place.   Texas is its own weird thing;  Michigan gives you the  amazing summers and the bizonkers fans;  New York was probably a fun stint especially with Kate's modeling world.   But, yeah...if I had a choice I'd at least give the Bay area a brief prolonged stay.

[1776]

My son and his family lived in the Bay Area several years pre-Covid and enjoyed it. He and his family fell in love with the A’s. Green & Gold apparel everywhere. Going forward he decided to go full time with the Giants at the end of last year with the departure and destruction of the A’s. He is now stoked that Verlander will be wearing the Orange & Black this year. 
Our visits to the area were very enjoyable over the several years they were out there. We managed to see games at the Coliseum and Oracle on separate visits. His buddy sent him a clear vial of infield dirt from the final Oakland A’s home game this year as a Christmas gift. That’s what you call a true friend. They use to attend games together in Oakland frequently. 
But alas, his wife has decided to be a Dodgers fan and his oldest a Braves fan. The diaspora of MLB allegiances can be a difficult family chapter. 

[gehringer_2]

1 hour ago, romad1 said:

 

You never know what is going to knock you out of consideration for a gig.  If Harris and Hinch (and Fetter?) all knew JV and knew their own clubhouse, you'd have to ask why he didn't pursue.  Or, is it that JV felt that was a time in his life he wanted to move on from.  Maybe there was a particularly mean kid on the leafy streets of Birmingham or Gross Isle that JV was bullied by?

Another possible take is that JV didn't want to come back to the scene where he was such a dominant pitcher knowing he was no longer likely to be that guy but that that's what the fans would be expecting. Maybe less potentially disappointing for all concerned to just pitch somewhere that he could do the best he has left without the baggage.

Add to that that JV is chasing stats (total wins) and there may be no manager in baseball less likely to help you do that than Hinch.

Edited January 12 by gehringer_2

[IdahoBert]

Two things. First, I have nothing against Austin Jackson, but I haven’t thought about him once in 10 years and I don’t know how much I actually have to infer from what he said. I mean, it’s not like he’s Joe Falls or something. <rimshot>

Second, the reality of the situation is that the club probably doesn’t want JV blocking one of the new guys who might otherwise be having a breakout season. Someone else already mentioned the “blocking“ issue and I think that’s a salient insight.

An adjacent issue is the whole camaraderie band of brothers thing which is a really fetch thing, but there’s not a lot of room for that or for nostalgia to be in play in this situation. He’s a grown man. The Tigers made their decision and he made his and that’s that. 

[Graterol]

I actually like the fit of Santander.

Vs RHP/LHP:

1B: Keith (Santander some ABs vs LHP)

2B: Torres (Keith some ABs vs RHP) 

SS: Sweeney/Baez

3B: Jung/Vierling

LF: Greene

RF: Santander/some Vierling

CF: Meadows/ some Vierling

DH: Carpenter/ Santander 

Vierling becomes a super sub and gets close to full time work by playing full time against LHP ( at 3B, CF or RF) and playing a super sub role against RHP.

[holygoat]

21 minutes ago, IdahoBert said:

Two things. First, I have nothing against Austin Jackson, but I haven’t thought about him once in 10 years and I don’t know how much I actually have to infer from what he said. I mean, it’s not like he’s Joe Falls or something. <rimshot>

Second, the reality of the situation is that the club probably doesn’t want JV blocking one of the new guys who might otherwise be having a breakout season. Someone else already mentioned the “blocking“ issue and I think that’s a salient insight.

An adjacent issue is the whole camaraderie band of brothers thing which is a really fetch thing, but there’s not a lot of room for that or for nostalgia to be in play in this situation. He’s a grown man. The Tigers made their decision and he made his and that’s that. 

Stop trying to make "fetch" happen, Bert. It's not happening.