Tigers move forward after losing Max Scherzer to Nationals
It didn’t come as a surprise, but watching Max Scherzer sign a seven-year contract worth $210 million with the Nationals still had to sting in Detroit.
There’s no way around it. The Tigers lost one of the top starting pitchers in baseball and for the first time in a few years there are questions about Detroit’s ballclub that don’t include the words bullpen, Valverde, relief pitching, Nathan, and proven closer, with a number of expletives mixed in.
With Scherzer gone, David Price, who just avoided arbitration by agreeing to a one-year deal for $19.75 million, Justin Verlander, Anibal Sanchez, and newcomers Alfredo Simon, and Shane Green make up the starting staff.
“We’re very happy with the rotation we have,” Tigers president and general manager Dave Dombrowski said on Monday.
However despite what Dombrowski said, Detroit has been linked with right-hander James Shields, the best free agent starter left on the market. Whether or not they land Shields, who would help and will come much cheaper than Scherzer, the Tigers are still in win-now mode in 2015. They re-signed designated hitter Victor Martinez and swung a trade with Boston to get power-hitting outfielder Yoenis Cespedes. They’re will be some new faces at Comerica in the spring but overall the team is still good enough to contend.
Above all, what the Tigers really need is a rejuvenated Verlander and a healthy Miguel Cabrera, two over-30 stars they’re committed to long term. And that’s where Detroit’s most crucial questions come up.
Last season Verlander’s fastball velocity dipped to a career low 92.3 mph according to FanGraphs and he had his worst year since 2008, posting a 4.54 ERA. He’s owed $168 million over the next five seasons. He was too good for too long to dismiss just yet, but the warning signs are worrying. Have we seen the last of dominant Verlander?
Cabrera was effective at the plate in 2014, hitting .313 with a .371 OBP and 25 home runs, but he was definitely a step back from his otherwordly form of seasons prior. He has eight years left on his mega-deal that will net him $262 million. His status for opening day is questionable after offseason ankle surgery. Cabrera has been extremely durable throughout his career, never missing more than 14 games in a season. Is he finally starting to break down?
The Tigers have been class of the AL Central for a half-decade, but the gap is closing and it’s closing fast. What happens with Verlander and Cabrera will dictate Detroit’s ability to hold off the challengers in the division.
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Israel Fehr is a writer for the Yahoo Sports blogs. Have a tip? Email him at [email protected] or follow him on Twitter. Follow @israelfehr
