Detroit Tigers 2013-14 Off-season thread

[RandyTiger]

Roster moves:

LHP Blaine Hardy and RHP Jhan Marinez have been assigned to the minor-league camp. Hardy will be pitching for Toledo.

Roster is down to 25 guys, probably the final 25. That means Putkonen and Reed have made the roster, barring any last-minute moves.

Here's what the roster looks like now (Ausmus warned this is not the "official" roster, as anything can happen in 48 hours. Hope that doesn't include more panic moves.):

SP (in starting order):

RHP Justin Verlander
RHP Max Scherzer
RHP Anibal Sanchez
RHP Rick Porcello
LHP Drew Smyly


BP:

RHP Al Alburquerque
RHP Joba Chamberlain
LHP Phil Coke
LHP Ian Krol
RHP Joe Nathan
RHP Luke Putkonen
RHP Evan Reed

Catchers:
Alex Avila
Bryan Holaday

Infielders:
Miguel Cabrera
Nick Castellanos
Alex Gonzalez
Ian Kinsler
Andrew Romaine

Outfielders:
Tyler Collins
Rajai Davis
Torii Hunter
Austin Jackson
Don Kelly

Designated Hitter:
Victor Martinez

[RandyTiger]

The clubhouse received an VIP a few minutes ago, wearing a back brace:

Andy Dirks.

That's a great sign, and I'm looking forward to having him back on the squad.

[RandyTiger]

Contract news - sorta.

Jason Beck is reporting in his blog that the Tigers and Miggy are close to a deal on a long-term contract extension.

He also reported via Twitter that Scherzer and Dombrowski had a meeting earlier this week after that little "statement" and cleared the air.

Still don't think a deal will get done with Max, tho', but like all things, we'll have to see what kind of drama ensues.

Drama. Always drama. *grumble*

[RandyTiger]

Contract news:

Miguel Cabrera has signed a 10-year, $292M) Million contract extension, according to ESPN.

Wowzers, that's all I got to say.

----------

Edit: The new contract adds on to the 2 years remaining on his current one, extending him through 2021.

----------

Edit 2: There seems to be a variance in the numbers being reported: Heyman of CBSSports says 7 years; Jon Morosi says 8 years for $248M; Jerry Crasnick of ESPN says it covers the 2 years on his current plus 8 more; Chris Cotillo of MLBDailyDish says $292M.

----------

Edit 3, hopefully the last: From what multiple sources are saying, it's 8 more years for $248M, adding on to the 2 years, $44M he will get this year and next (total of 10 years, $292M), surpassing the one given to Alex Rodriguez (10 years, $275M) as baseball's biggest contract.

[RandyTiger]

Tigers 9, Braves 3. [Boxscore]

Summary: Tigers slam Braves with power surge and solid pitching.

Pitching: For the second straight day, the pitching staff showed remarkable quality, holding the Braves to 3 runs on 4 hits and 2 walks. Let's go look at the three boys who pitched today.

Scherzer went 6.2 innings, giving up 3 runs (2 earned) on 4 hits (A double and a pair of solo HR's) and 2 walks. His stuff looked absolutely lethal at times as he sent 6 Braves down in flames. He notched the win, irrelevant as that statistic is in ST.

ST line (Final): 4-2, 3.71 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, with 30/3 K/BB in 26.2 IP.

Nathan finished off the 7th and tossed the 8th, and this time, he didn't have any issues putting away batters as he struck out 2, yielding nothing.

ST line: 0-1, 4.70 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, with 6/2 K/BB in 7.2 IP.

Knebel (minor leaguer) finished off the game, striking out 1.

ST line: 0-0, 0.00 ERA, 0.75 WHIP, with 3/2 K/BB in 4.0 innings.

Hitting: The bats warmed up a bit as they knocked out 13 hits and walked twice, stranding 8 on 4-14 hitting with RISP. Let's see how they did:

Kinsler: 1-3 (.281), 2B (5), RS (14).
- Double and RS in the 1st.

Powell (minor leaguer): 1-2 (.500), 2 RBI (2).
- 2 RBI single in the 8th.

Cabrera: 1-3 (.353), HR (4), RS (10), 3 RBI (12).
- 3-run HR to LF berm in the 5th. [Video of HR]

Westlake (minor leauger): 1-2 (.167).
- Single in the 8th.

Martinez: 2-3 (.300), RBI (10).
- RBI single in the 1st; single in the 4th.

Romine: 1-2 (.231), RS (6).
- Single and RS in the 7th; Reached on E-5 in the 8th.

Hunter: 1-3 (.347).
- Single in the 4th.

Collins: 1-2 (.250), 3B (3), RBI (8).
- RBI triple in the 7th.

Jackson: RS (17).
- Reached on swinging K/WP, RS (on E-8) in the 6th.

Holaday: 2-3 (.250), BB (3), 3 RS (3).
- Single and RS in the 5th; Single and RS in the 6th; BB and RS in the 8th.

Gonzalez: 2-3 (.441), 2B (2), BB (4), 2 RS (6), RBI (8).
- BB and RS in the 5th; RBI double in the 6th; Single and RS in the 8th.

Defense: Errors, 1: Gonzalez (1), fielding in the 3rd.

Next game: Friday, March 28, Rays (15-6, pending the results of a night game with Baltimore) @ Tigers (14-12), 1:05 Eastern.

Starters: Unknown vs. Smyly (2-1, 3.80 ERA in 21.1 IP).

Tampa Bay media: none.
Detroit radio: WXYT 1270.

Note: This is the final game for the Tigers in Lakeland or Florida this spring. Saturday's game will be against the Nats in Washington, D.C.

[RandyTiger]

Seems that Smyly isn't starting after all - Ausmus is going with a "bullpen" group, with Chamberlain starting, for their last Florida ST game. My guess is that he's going to use Smyly, Porcello, and Sanchez in tomorrow's game in Washington.

Makes sense, considering the next start for those three is going to be late next week.

[David Watts]

I had a really bad dream last night. Scherzer turned down the Tigers multi year contract offer. Then Miggy did as well. Dombrowski then said some regrettable things in the press and in a state of panic signed Don Kelly and Phil Coke to 10 year deals.

[RandyTiger]

Yikes. 'Tis a nightmare, indeed.

Go play some OOTP, dump The donkelly and Coke, sign Scherzer and Miggy to multi-year deals. You'll feel much better.

[RandyTiger]

Tigers 6, Rays 3. [Boxscore]

Summary: Tigers outlast Rays in final Florida game.

Pitching: Ausmus decided to do everything in reverse; that is, the bullpen guys first, the starter last. It worked out very well as the bullpen did an excellent job. The starter did so-so. Here's how they did in order:

Chamberlain pitched the 1st inning, walking 1 and striking out 1. He was credited with the win.

ST line: 1-0, 3.38 ERA, 1.75 WHIP, with 5/4 K/BB in 8 IP.

Krol followed in the 2nd, surrendering a hit and punching out 1.

ST line: 2-0, 6.75 ERA, 1.71 WHIP, with 7/4 K/BB in 9.1 IP.

Alburquerque took over for the 3rd, walking 1 and whiffing 1.

ST line: 0-0, 1.00 ERA, 1.33 WHIP, with 14/4 K/BB in 9.0 IP.

Coke tossed 1.2 innings, yielding a hit and striking out 1.

ST line: 1-0, 3.18 ERA, 1.41 WHIP, with 9/3 K/BB in 11.1 IP.

Drew VerHagen, the Tigers #13 ranked prospect, went 4.1 innings, giving up 3 runs on 6 hits (A double and HR) and a walk, striking out 2. He earned the save.

ST line: 1-0, 1/1 SV/Opps, 4.26 ERA, 1.42 WHIP, 2/2 K/BB in 6.1 IP.

Offense: The bats were active, hammering out 12 hits - and unusually for them, no walks, stranding 8 on 4-14 hitting with RISP.

Here's who did what:

Davis: 1-3 (.326), RS (6).
- Single and RS in the 1st.

Kinsler: 2-3 (.300), 2 RS (16), RBI (9).
- RBI single and RS in the 1st; Single and RS in the 3rd.

Miggy: 1-3 (.353).
- Single in the 1st.

Krizan (minor leaguer): 0-1 (.000), RS (1).
- Reached on E-3 and RS in the 7th.

Martinez: 2-3 (.317), RBI (11).
- RBI single in the 3rd; Single in the 5th.

Ficociello (minor leaguer): 1-1 (.250), RS (1), RBI (1).
- (PR, Martinez, 5th inning), RS on E-6 in the 5th; RBI Single in the 7th.

Hunter: 1-3 (.346).
- Single in the 5th.

Jackson: 2-3 (.429), RBI (14).
- RBI single in the 1st; Single in the 3rd; Reached on E-6, 5th inning.

Avila: 1-3 (.306), HR (1), RS (9), RBI (4).
- Solo HR to right center, 6th. [No video posted.]

Holaday: 1-1 (.268).
- Single in the 8th.

Defense: Errors: 1, Ficociello (1), missed catch, 9th. (Playing 1B, no less.)
DP, 1: 1-6-3 (VerHagen-Romine-Ficociello), 6th inning.

Next game: Saturday, March 29, Tigers (15-12) @ Nationals (15-13) (In Washington, D.C.), 2:05 Eastern.

Starters: Sanchez (0-0, 3.00 ERA in 9 IP) vs. T. Roark (1-0, 3.29 ERA in 13.2 IP)

- Detroit Radio: 97.1 The Ticket.
- Washington TV: MASN (In progress). Radio: WJFK 1580 AM, 106.7 The Fan.

[CONN CHRIS]

Ficociello is the guy that I saw in A ball last summer that that couldn't get his signals straight with the SS on steals.

[RandyTiger]

Explains the error, then. Needs better concentration, perhaps.

[RandyTiger]

Game cancelled: Today's game against the Nat's @ Washington, D.C. has been cancelled due to inclement weather.


End of Spring Training.

Contract news:

The contract of OF Tyler Collins has been officially purchased from Erie (AA), putting him on the 40-man roster.


All further posts shall be made in the Detroit Tigers 2014 season thread.

[cephasjames]

Goodbye off-season thread, hello season!!

[RandyTiger]

The regular season couldn't come fast enough for me, if only to terminate any further injury opportunities. It's been a nasty spring in that aspect, with 3 guys we need out for significant time.