2022-23 Detroit Tigers Offseason Thread

[Tigermojo]

Mario Feliciano scouting reports:

https://www.prospectslive.com/scoutingreports/mario-feliciano

https://www.mlb.com/prospects/2020/brewers/mario-feliciano-666128

Younger version of Haase? I read an article he has worked with Yadier Molina in the past on his catching. Average catching skills with above average bat. Why did the Brewers give up on him?

Found the answer on mlbtraderumors. Shoulder impingement in 2021 and his power numbers were reduced this year. Sounds like the Brewers kept him on their roster without giving him any playing time. He still has one option left.

 

Edited December 21, 2022 by Tigermojo

[mtutiger]

6 minutes ago, casimir said:

Is Conforto's health or LHH bat a real problem?  Neither are ideal, but if he's healthy, he's a better option than whomever else is slated for LF.  I know some folks want to see Carpenter or Baddoo in LF, but a healthy Conforto is a better player than either.

No argument here in terms of Conforto  being an upgrade over Carpenter or Baddoo, but in general having an all lefty outfield is a legitimate problem (ie. one fans that should be concerned about) that would likely still need to be addressed with a hypothetical Conforto signing.

In that respect, though he's not as good as Conforto, AJ Pollock may still be the better signing because he fills that need for a RH bat and adds versatility to the roster.

Edited December 21, 2022 by mtutiger

[Tenacious D]

given the number of years being thrown out, I suspect we will be out of the superstar free agency business until things come back down to earth.

[Toddwert]

2 minutes ago, mtutiger said:

No argument here in terms of Conforto being a problem and being an upgrade over Carpenter or Baddoo, but in general having an all lefty outfield is a legitimate problem (ie. one fans that should be concerned about) that would likely still need to be addressed with a hypothetical Conforto signing.

In that respect, though he's not as good as Conforto, AJ Pollock may still be the better signing because he fills that need for a RH bat and adds versatility to the roster.

I like Conforto more because hes 6 years younger and if he plays better they always have the option to trade him or keep him

[Toddwert]

1 minute ago, Tenacious D said:

given the number of years being thrown out, I suspect we will be out of the superstar free agency business until things come back down to earth.

whats to say this isnt the new normal?

[mtutiger]

23 minutes ago, alex said:

Actually I am ok with the moves so far for the MLB team: Boyd, Lorenzen, Ibanez and even Feliciano (also Malloy). The upper management has improved it would seem along with scouting, player development, conditioning, the hitting philosophy and other areas where there is potentially upgraded personnel coming aboard.

My concerns, and it may be early still, are with the depth of the MLB team. Injuries are going to happen. Right now we do not even have a complete team to put on the field. When (not if) an injury or two occurs we currently have no depth.

I actually do think the team has a chance to still be decent - provided some smart moves are made. We are not in a strong division really. Two years ago we came on strong and were thought to be turning the corner (then injuries and down years took place). No one gave Cleveland a chance at this time last year and for that matter well on into May - but it happened.

There is some time still. Some players to had - be it FA and/or trade. However, if the mindset is to 'Come to Detroit to get better' that IMHO does not attract many 'position' players (aka Comerica Park, listen to Lorenzan Presser). Veterans know what coaches are for. Many hire their own personal coaches in several areas. Not every player need be 24 or under for this team to get better. If that were the case then just follow minor league teams - but the Tigers are a MLB team.

BTW, we will get even more 'prospect' talent in the next draft, ex 3 picks in the top 46? We just have to start developing players (esp positional) regardless and that should be perhaps the organization's main focus - but many of us would not mind a few more MLB players as well along the way.

 

This is a good post. 

The glass is half full take is that, pitching wise, they are in a better position depth wise, even with injuries, than they were at the end of last offseason, which at least likely means that the focus on the front office until the end of the offseason will be on improving the offense. And there is still time to accomplish that... if today were Jan 20 and not Dec 20, it might be different, but there is still time to improve offensively.

[mtutiger]

2 minutes ago, Toddwert said:

I like Conforto more because hes 6 years younger and if he plays better they always have the option to trade him or keep him

I get that, but again, if you sign him, you still have an issue where every outfielder on your 40 man roster bats left handed. Which means signing him likely necessitates another move.

Also not clear on why age matters if both guys are being signed to short term deals (Conforto and Pollock are both looking like 1-2 year guys tops)... maybe you get better production out of Conforto, but neither guy is a long term solution under those circumstances.

[mtutiger]

Maybe reading too much into things here, but with the DFA of Madris, the Tigers are now down to only four non-utility outfielders on the 40 man roster (Baddoo, Greene, Meadows x2). Guessing it won't remain that way.

[chasfh]

17 hours ago, oblong said:

You would think these paragons of capitalism would institute that in their sports here rather than socialism where everybody makes a profit if they want and there’s no incentive to pull up by your bootstraps.  
 

"Nanny socialism for me; dog-eat-dog capitalism for thee ..."

[RatkoVarda]

Feliciano is just part of the churn; as was Madris; neither of them will be on the 40

[Tenacious D]

56 minutes ago, Toddwert said:

whats to say this isnt the new normal?

I think it will be for many teams.  I just hope we learned the painful lesson with Miggy.

 

[mtutiger]

2 hours ago, RatkoVarda said:

Feliciano is just part of the churn; as was Madris; neither of them will be on the 40

One way to look at Feliciano is that at catcher depth, we went from Ali Sanchez to Michael Papierski to Feliciano, a guy who used to be a pretty high prospect in the Brewers system who is only 24 in about three transactions. While retaining Papierski after his DFA.

It isn't sexy, but it's how you build depth in an organization. Avila never did that kinda stuff.

Edited December 21, 2022 by mtutiger

[Tiger337]

11 hours ago, Longgone said:

I'm not sure where this angst comes from. MLB has a problem with parity, the other leagues don't. It's hard to argue that players aren't well compensated. If you think too many teams qualify for the playoffs, just state that, without conflating it with irrelevant issues like relegation.

I don't think it's irrelevant.  I see relegation as an alternative to expanded playoffs.  Many feel thatrelegation is a terrible idea.  I feel the same way about expanded playoffs.  I realize relegation will never happen and is just a theoretical argument.  It's like talking about deadening the ball.  It will never happen, but I feel like it would solve problems with the game which I think exist.  

 

[Tiger337]

10 hours ago, Toddwert said:

Im not saying its the only answer but one league is popular world wide and the other is slowly dying

I think some are assuming that relegation would have to be done the same way here as it is done internationally.  

n.  

[RatkoVarda]

1 hour ago, mtutiger said:

One way to look at Feliciano is that at catcher depth, we went from Ali Sanchez to Michael Papierski to Feliciano, a guy who used to be a pretty high prospect in the Brewers system who is only 24 in about three transactions. While retaining Papierski after his DFA.

It isn't sexy, but it's how you build depth in an organization. Avila never did that kinda stuff.

no doubt. giants found yaz and wade this way

[Longgone]

1 hour ago, mtutiger said:

One way to look at Feliciano is that at catcher depth, we went from Ali Sanchez to Michael Papierski to Feliciano, a guy who used to be a pretty high prospect in the Brewers system who is only 24 in about three transactions. While retaining Papierski after his DFA.

It isn't sexy, but it's how you build depth in an organization. Avila never did that kinda stuff.

Injuries have taken the shine off of Feliciano's skills. If he can recover those, he's a very promising pickup.

[Tiger337]

1 hour ago, mtutiger said:

One way to look at Feliciano is that at catcher depth, we went from Ali Sanchez to Michael Papierski to Feliciano, a guy who used to be a pretty high prospect in the Brewers system who is only 24 in about three transactions. While retaining Papierski after his DFA.

It isn't sexy, but it's how you build depth in an organization. Avila never did that kinda stuff.

Yes, it's no risk with possibly small reward.  I like it.  

[Motor City Sonics]

We signed Mario Feliciano................Feliz Navidad everyone. 

[RatkoVarda]

McCann to Baltimore; Os pick up $5M

 

[Cruzer1]

3 hours ago, Motor City Sonics said:

We signed Mario Feliciano................Feliz Navidad everyone. 

They didn't sign him, they claimed him...

[Longgone]

14 hours ago, Tiger337 said:

I don't think it's irrelevant.  I see relegation as an alternative to expanded playoffs.  Many feel thatrelegation is a terrible idea.  I feel the same way about expanded playoffs.  I realize relegation will never happen and is just a theoretical argument.  It's like talking about deadening the ball.  It will never happen, but I feel like it would solve problems with the game which I think exist.  

 

Relegation, to me, smacks of the mentality that the best way to manage is through fear and punishment, and I've just never subscribed to that, that is that worst way to manage any system.

[mtutiger]

14 hours ago, Longgone said:

Injuries have taken the shine off of Feliciano's skills. If he can recover those, he's a very promising pickup.

The Brewers Reddit seems to really like him and think he just needs more chances. 

Even with Haase and Rogers ostensibly being the top two guys, hard to imagine Feliciano wouldn't get some big league ABs this year, assuming he remains the third catcher on the 40 man roster.

[mtutiger]

10 hours ago, RatkoVarda said:

McCann to Baltimore; Os pick up $5M

 

Time to sub out McCann for Eduardo Escobar in all those hypothetical Mets deals lol

[Longgone]

9 minutes ago, mtutiger said:

The Brewers Reddit seems to really like him and think he just needs more chances. 

Even with Haase and Rogers ostensibly being the top two guys, hard to imagine Feliciano wouldn't get some big league ABs this year, assuming he remains the third catcher on the 40 man roster.

I'm not sold on Haase as a regular catcher, I think his best role is as a utility guy.

[RatkoVarda]

5 minutes ago, mtutiger said:

Time to sub out McCann for Eduardo Escobar in all those hypothetical Mets deals lol

crazy trying to predict what Mets will do. dumping McCann saved just a little bit of money. Are Escobar and and Carrasco really getting moved? dumping Ruf (3M) and Voglebach (just 1.5M) seem to be better choices. keeping EE, a SH who can play 2b and 3b and DH is better baseball choice IMO.

Baty is still Harris's best target; will cost a lot; some combo of Soto, Lange, Manning, Olson, Madden, Wentz