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I want JV and Miggy to retire Tigers too. I just think that if they are trying to get rid of older guys with big contracts, that now, or at least soon, would be a good time to get the best bang for the buck. Their returns will diminish sooner rather than later. Kinsler falls into this category too, imo.
The issue that I see with one more big run is that the Tigers just can't afford it. They were hit with the luxury tax this year. Next year's tax is, I think, 30% of what's spent over the cap (is that how that works?). According BBRef, their estimated payroll is between $207-220M (that's without replacing Aybar and Salty), which is well over the $189M cap. Which works out to be about a $5.5 - 9.3M tax. Mike Ilitch is wealthy, but that hurts.
Even if all of my numbers are off a bit, the Tigers are looking at spending a lot of money next year for a slightly older version of this year's team. Apparently Mr. I and Al Avila are not okay with that.
I say it's time to pull a few David Price type trades where we unload a few really good guys to get a bunch of potentially really good young guys. Fulmer-Boyd-Norris showed me that type of deal is possible, even if it stings.
I just worry that JV, MIggy, and Kinsler (while all still healthy and not looking to go downhill) could turn into V-Marts, where they are old and expensive and no one will want them because of that. Or worse yet, they turn into Sanchezs, where they are expensive and suck. If the Boss and GM think its time to get younger and leaner, trade the guys who can get the most bang for the buck while the trading is good.
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