2024 - 2025 Detroit Tigers Offseason

[RandyMarsh]

1 hour ago, Tiger337 said:

I feel like their off-season moves probably haven't improved the team much, but there is a lot of potential for improvement within.  I also feel like they caught lightning in a bottle at the end of the year and they will have to improve more than their final record suggests.  

Agreed. I do think though that we tend to underscore how good this team as when Greene, Carpenter and Meadows were all in the lineup. I'm going off memory so I'm sure I'll be off some but IIRC the stat correctly they played at over a 100 win pace in the 50 some games they all played.

Small sample and given the injury histories between them getting them to all play 150 games would be pretty fortunate but the team did play to an elite level with them so just having them stay more healthy could lead to a team improvement.

Also you would have to expect an improvement from Keith and even though he wasn't great a full season of Sweeney at SS should be an upgrade over what we had last year. 

[AlaskanTigersFan]

I don't mean to be debby downer, but we aren't making the playoffs next year. Even with Bregman..... Our team outperformed by a mile this past year. Cool story, was fun, but I'd be absolutely astonished if it happened again.

Lets look at our infielders Avg/OBP (From last year): (I'll even include Bregman)

Bregman - .260/.315
Sweeney - .218/.269
Torres - .257/.330
Keith - .260/.309
Jung - .241/.362 (79 AB's)

Catcher
Dingler - .167/.195
Rogers - .197/.255

OF
Karpenter - .284/.345
Greene - .262/.348
Meadows - .244/.310

 

We have basically 2 Average to slightly above average hitters out of 9...... In what world does that make the playoffs again. 

I pray to the heavens I'm wrong. But this team needs more talent. They need guys that can get on base more. They got lucky last year and it was an aberration. Now if they take massive steps forward, then we could be talking. But it'd have to be quite a few massive steps........ 
 

 

[Ancient Fan]

On 1/26/2025 at 12:06 PM, chasfh said:

1973 Chevy Vega. It was a ripoff at $850 in 1978. Had to put in a quart of oil every hundred miles or so, because it had faulty valve cover seals. It got so I had to buy motor oil by the case and keep it in the hatchback.

I also owned a '73 Vega (lemon yellow) . Drove it about 1000 miles before the oil problem started. Had no rear seats, kids had to lay down on the back panel wherever we went.

[Ancient Fan]

5 minutes ago, Ancient Fan said:

I also owned a '73 Vega (lemon yellow) . Drove it about 1000 miles before the oil problem started. Had no rear seats, kids had to lay down on the back panel wherever we went.

Also remember an interview with a Chevy engineer about all the Vega problems. His reply was, "What do you expect from a $2000. car?"

[Longgone]

20 minutes ago, AlaskanTigersFan said:

I don't mean to be debby downer, but we aren't making the playoffs next year. Even with Bregman..... Our team outperformed by a mile this past year. Cool story, was fun, but I'd be absolutely astonished if it happened again.

Lets look at our infielders Avg/OBP (From last year): (I'll even include Bregman)

Bregman - .260/.315
Sweeney - .218/.269
Torres - .257/.330
Keith - .260/.309
Jung - .241/.362 (79 AB's)

Catcher
Dingler - .167/.195
Rogers - .197/.255

OF
Karpenter - .284/.345
Greene - .262/.348
Meadows - .244/.310

 

We have basically 2 Average to slightly above average hitters out of 9...... In what world does that make the playoffs again. 

I pray to the heavens I'm wrong. But this team needs more talent. They need guys that can get on base more. They got lucky last year and it was an aberration. Now if they take massive steps forward, then we could be talking. But it'd have to be quite a few massive steps........ 
 

 

Pretty much everyone you mentioned here is a young, ascending player, for sure, not all of those pan out, but early stats are surely not indicative of future performance.

[Tigermojo]

21 minutes ago, AlaskanTigersFan said:

I don't mean to be debby downer, but we aren't making the playoffs next year. Even with Bregman..... Our team outperformed by a mile this past year. Cool story, was fun, but I'd be absolutely astonished if it happened again.

Lets look at our infielders Avg/OBP (From last year): (I'll even include Bregman)

Bregman - .260/.315
Sweeney - .218/.269
Torres - .257/.330
Keith - .260/.309
Jung - .241/.362 (79 AB's)

Catcher
Dingler - .167/.195
Rogers - .197/.255

OF
Karpenter - .284/.345
Greene - .262/.348
Meadows - .244/.310

 

We have basically 2 Average to slightly above average hitters out of 9...... In what world does that make the playoffs again. 

I pray to the heavens I'm wrong. But this team needs more talent. They need guys that can get on base more. They got lucky last year and it was an aberration. Now if they take massive steps forward, then we could be talking. But it'd have to be quite a few massive steps........ 
 

 

If you take their worst stat and completely ignore their pitching, defense and baserunning, things do look bleak. Their wRC+ wasn't great but was better than their OBP.

[Tiger337]

13 minutes ago, AlaskanTigersFan said:

I don't mean to be debby downer, but we aren't making the playoffs next year. Even with Bregman..... Our team outperformed by a mile this past year. Cool story, was fun, but I'd be absolutely astonished if it happened again.

Lets look at our infielders Avg/OBP (From last year): (I'll even include Bregman)

Bregman - .260/.315
Sweeney - .218/.269
Torres - .257/.330
Keith - .260/.309
Jung - .241/.362 (79 AB's)

Catcher
Dingler - .167/.195
Rogers - .197/.255

OF
Karpenter - .284/.345
Greene - .262/.348
Meadows - .244/.310

 

We have basically 2 Average to slightly above average hitters out of 9...... In what world does that make the playoffs again. 

I pray to the heavens I'm wrong. But this team needs more talent. They need guys that can get on base more. They got lucky last year and it was an aberration. Now if they take massive steps forward, then we could be talking. But it'd have to be quite a few massive steps........ 
 

 

Carpenter (160 wrc+) and Greene (135 wrc+) were way above average last year.

They probably won't get him, but Bregman was 118.

Meadows was 111 

Fangraphs project 112+ for both Keith and Torres next year.

They need steps forward, but not massive ones (other than signing Bregman).  Of course, healthy pitching is always a wildcard.    

 

 

[chasfh]

54 minutes ago, AlaskanTigersFan said:

I pray to the heavens I'm wrong. But this team needs more talent.

They are actively working on this as we speak.

[Tiger337]

9 minutes ago, chasfh said:

They are actively working on this as we speak.

OK Scott 😃

[chasfh]

1 minute ago, Tiger337 said:

OK Scott 😃

I don't know why you apparently think Harris is not working on bringing more talent to the team, but the evidence indicates that is wrong.

[Tiger337]

16 minutes ago, chasfh said:

I don't know why you apparently think Harris is not working on bringing more talent to the team, but the evidence indicates that is wrong.

Of course he is as is every other GM in baseball.  

[papalawrence]

Mike Illitch and DD were all-in and willing to take risks. Made for one of the best decades in Tigers baseball. But also resulted in albatross contracts to aging, slowed vets, and ultimately one of the worst 7 year stretches in Tigers history. Harris seems on the other end of the spectrum. Very calculated. Bregman is just too much of a risk. I do sense they're going in a direction similar to Tampa. I actually hope not. I hope they'll take some risks. Flaherty would be a risk. Not a huge risk to jeopardize the future, but some risk. You can never have too much pitching. 

 

Edited Thursday at 04:04 PM by papalawrence

[Tigermojo]

Flaherty has a bad back. We just went through that with Mize. Get back and elbow/shoulder surgery, miss two years then come back mediocre and maybe get two good years out of five? No thanks.

[chasfh]

23 minutes ago, papalawrence said:

Mike Illitch and DD were all-in and willing to take risks. Made for one of the best decades in Tigers baseball. But also resulted in albatross contracts to aging, slowed vets, and ultimately one of the worst 7 year stretches in Tigers history. Harris seems on the other end of the spectrum. Very calculated. Bregman is just too much of a risk. I do sense they're going in a direction similar to Tampa. I actually hope not. I hope they'll take some risks. Flaherty would be a risk. Not a huge risk to jeopardize the future, but some risk. You can never have too much pitching. 

 

You might be right, although I will sense the Tigers are going in a direction similar to Tampa when they actually go in a direction similar to Tampa.

We’re not the only team not signing Bregman. The Red Sox, Blue Jays, and Cubs, all of whom are in need of a third baseman, have also not signed Bregman. Only the Astros have a live offer for Bregman at 6/156, so for us to sign him, we would have to substantially beat that offer in, I assume, guaranteed money and possible more years—if he even wants any years here. Not sure where you stand, but I would not want to commit to Bregman for six or more years, and I would think none of the other teams outside of Astros are eager to, either.

As for Flaherty, his track record makes him too risky that he’ll either be hurt or just flat out suck (a la 2023). Plus, his lipping off publicly by essentially blaming Harris for costing the Tigers the ALCS by trading him this past July can’t help his case to re-sign here.

[chasfh]

Check that: the Red Sox are not in need of a third baseman, although Bregman is on record as being willing to move to second base for the opportunity to play there. So among the non-Astros teams, they would appear to have the inside track on Bregman if they want him.

[Arlington]

Flaherty did fail the Yanks physical 6 months ago.  That could be tainting his chances at a long term contract.  Maybe he's a 1973 Vega

[1776]

14 minutes ago, Arlington said:

Flaherty did fail the Yanks physical 6 months ago.  That could be tainting his chances at a long term contract.  Maybe he's a 1973 Vega

He may have an aluminum arm.

[SoCalTiger]

Strangely making the playoffs last year has forced Harris to accelerate his plan and he will only do that without ruining his game plan which is based on the next wave of minor leaguers, (his players), combined with the bounty he gets for Skubal and one year flips ( Cobb-Gleyber-Kahnle etc) plus the end of Javey's contract/reentering the free agent market.

It's one year free agents hires, safe small trades and waiver pick ups until then. 

I'm ok with it as long as we are competitive most of the summer even falling short of the playoffs and the light at the end of the tunnel  (minors) is getting very bright which it seems to be happening. 

[RatkoVarda]

3 hours ago, AlaskanTigersFan said:

I don't mean to be debby downer, but we aren't making the playoffs next year. Even with Bregman..... Our team outperformed by a mile this past year. Cool story, was fun, but I'd be absolutely astonished if it happened again.

Greene and Carpenter are both performing at a high level, and maybe we cannot expect more, but in many ways we can expect more IF they are healthy.

every other player has a reasonable chance of out-performing their 2024 numbers.

not all will, some will regress, some will get injured, but not crazy to think most of the team has it's best baseball in front of them.

Bregman and Torres both have a solid chance to improve on their 2024 stats as well

[Sports_Freak]

4 hours ago, chasfh said:

You might be right, although I will sense the Tigers are going in a direction similar to Tampa when they actually go in a direction similar to Tampa.

We’re not the only team not signing Bregman. The Red Sox, Blue Jays, and Cubs, all of whom are in need of a third baseman, have also not signed Bregman. Only the Astros have a live offer for Bregman at 6/156, so for us to sign him, we would have to substantially beat that offer in, I assume, guaranteed money and possible more years—if he even wants any years here. Not sure where you stand, but I would not want to commit to Bregman for six or more years, and I would think none of the other teams outside of Astros are eager to, either.

As for Flaherty, his track record makes him too risky that he’ll either be hurt or just flat out suck (a la 2023). Plus, his lipping off publicly by essentially blaming Harris for costing the Tigers the ALCS by trading him this past July can’t help his case to re-sign here.

So, never sign any player because they may struggle? Pitchers seem like they would be the bigger injury risk. But Bergman would be out there every day. Kinda like an even more expensive Javy. I can see Harris just rolling the dice with players that got us to the playoffs last season. I don't like it but I can see it.

[chasfh]

I don't think we should sign Bregman for six or more years, and I don't think signing Flaherty for any more than two years tops is a good bet.

Can you imagine the mishegoss that would occur if we signed Flaherty and he sucked and then got hurt? The peanut gallery would be screaming for Harris's head.

[Tiger337]

I think Harris will need to take risks at some point during his tenure with the Tigers.  It's pretty rare for a team to have long-term success solely based on their own products.  The perfect contract for the perfect free agent is never going to happen.   

 

[RatkoVarda]

 

 

[Sports_Freak]

2 hours ago, chasfh said:

I don't think we should sign Bregman for six or more years, and I don't think signing Flaherty for any more than two years tops is a good bet.

Can you imagine the mishegoss that would occur if we signed Flaherty and he sucked and then got hurt? The peanut gallery would be screaming for Harris's head.

But at least with Flaherty we would only be complaining about his ineffectivness every 5 days, if he's healthy. With Bregman, it would be every at bat. 😆

But...I never complain about players sucking or the fact that a pitcher makes a million $$ per start...lol 

[Sports_Freak]

29 minutes ago, Tiger337 said:

I think Harris will need to take risks at some point during his tenure with the Tigers.  It's pretty rare for a team to have long-term success solely based on their own products.  The perfect contract for the perfect free agent is never going to happen.   

 

Bregman is about as close as any. A veteran to help the kids. A proven winner. A position of need. And a history with our manager. Really, it's a no-brainer. And so many fans act like it's their money being spent. Fun fact...if we don't sign him? Tickets won't cost less. And if he doesn't work out? It's not like we would spend the money on other players, it would just be saved for additional bottom line profits. Has Harris signed any position players, long term? He's made limited trades. I think the longest contract he's given out is 2 years, to Maeda. And like I've said, I'm not sure if he has a payroll limit or what. Making the playoffs last year after dumping all our veterans was fun but I really doubt it can be repeated. I hope so but...we'll see.