As we have all heard, the Tigers and their two-time defending MVP have just agreed to the largest contract in sports history (soon to be broken in the near future by Mr. Trout). Now, I'm really not here to discuss whether the deal was a smart, secure move for the Tigers, or whether Detroit is still mesmerized by Miggy Mania. What I am here to talk about is whether Detroit's trend of making blockbuster move after blockbuster move helping them inch closer to a title or just keeping them in the clubhouse watching eventual champions celebrate.
Recently, the Tigers have seen themselves be picked by countless analysts as their preseason world series champions. Heck, there have even been analysts' picking them to be champions deep into the playoffs and once even in the world series. Having said this, they still look down at the back of their hands day after day to find their fingers lacking jewelry.
I understand that the Tigers must be doing something right. I mean they have had the AL's past THREE MVPS, two of the past three Cy Young winners, and a front runner for this year's Rookie of the Year race, all while being all over the front page of everybody's newspapers.
The Tigers started their reign of big time moves in December of '07, when they sent their top two prospects (Cameron Maybin and Andrew Miller), along with two other high prospects, to Miami for "D-Train" Willis, and of course, Miguel Cabrera. The '08 season following the blockbuster trade saw the Tigers fall to a 74 win season, with a 130-plus million dollar payroll.
The following year saw a similar result in the Tiger's pursuit of a title, where they once again failed to reach the playoffs.
Poised to make another splash in the off-season, the Tigers traded their star Curtis Granderson, along with big name pitcher Edwin Jackson in a three-team deal that landed Max Scherzer and Austin Jackson in motor city.
But once again, the Tigers found themselves on the outside looking in during the 2010 playoffs.
After another disappointing year, the Tigers decided to steal one of the biggest names on the free-agent market at the time, Victor Martinez from the Sox for a measly 4-year, $50 mill deal. Playing well throughout the year, the Tigers started searching for a mid-season acquisition that could really put them in the world series conversation. They ended up three more of their top prospects for Seattle pitcher, Doug Fister.
They team got hot and went for a run. They won the division, they had the best pitcher on the planet, and they were playing an unexperienced Rangers team in the ALCS. Somehow...they lost the series.
After almost tasting the sweet champagne of an ALCS victory, the Tigers wanted more, and they figured more off season moves were the way to make their wish come true. That winter, they signed big Prince Fielder to [what was then] the biggest deal in club history, landing the biggest name on the market in Detroit. The season was going well for them, but they needed another piece to really make another run at a title. Just before the deadline the Tigers traded their top pitching prospect, Jacob Turner, to Miami for Omar Infante and one of the bigger names on the block, Anibal Sanchez. With four big moves in two years, a salary over $130 million and the eventual triple crown winner, the Tigers finally broke through an made it to the World Series. But, as you can probably guess, the trend of not winning the series continued as they were annihilated by the Cards 4-0.
That off-season, the Tigers decided it was time to spend again. They signed Torii Hunter to a two year deal worth $13 million a year, resigned Anibal Sanchez for an absurd 5 year/$50 million and extended Verlander for five more years with $180 million! With expectations higher than ever, the Tigers entered the season at the top of almost everybody's world series predictions. They played well, resulting in a division title, another MVP for Miggy and a ticket to the ALCS to face the improbable Red Sox. Even with the return of recently suspended Johnny Peralta, the Tigers came just short of winning the series and advancing for another shot at a title. (https://www.youtube.com/watch?v=rckLF6V2-a0).
This brief history finally brings us to the present. They decide to part ways with mega-star Prince Fielder and send him to Texas, resulting in all-star 2B Ian Kinsler coming to Detroit. They offer Max Scherzer an extension that would have made him one of the richest pitchers in baseball history, only to be turned down. Next, they decide to make Miguel Cabrera the owner of the richest contract in sports history.
With all these big moves aside, let's look at the Detroit Tigers. They have a payroll hovering around $160 million, with 7 guys making over $10 million (2 over $20) and two guys lined up to make a combine $60 million from years 2016-2019 (Verlander and Miggy). Jose Igleasias and rookie sensation, Nick Castellanos are are their two young saviors, but Igleasias will never be a hitter and nobody can be quite sure what Castellanos will bring the club for the next few years. The Tigers have one of the best rotations in the league, when healthy, but desperately lacks depth and it's hard to see any true big leaguers coming up their system. Scherzer looks poised to leave Detroit, Miggy is bound to follow the other monster deals that preceded him and everyone is wondering how long Verlander's heater will last. The Tigers have gotten themselves into sticky waters. If they do not end up winning one of these upcoming world series, they are in for a dark future. The Royals can beat just about anybody, Shapiro always finds a way to make his Indians competitive and the Twins and White Sox look they are really starting to amp up their rebuilding process.
The Tigers are going to be as competitive as anybody this year, and probably even next year, but at some point they're going to have to look at themselves and revaluate what winning a championship entails. Other than the '09 yankees, world series champions have experienced small, but effective moves to attain their elusive goals. Detroit needs to stick to their guns and rebuild their system if they not only want to be crowned as champions, but also make sure Miggy is on a competitive team down the road.
Final thoughts- As a sox fan, I like the signing of Cabrera, mostly because it means there are ten more years of not seeing him in the Bronx. But as a Tigers fan, I'm biting my nails hoping they beat out some good 2014 teams for that title, or else I am in for a long 9 years of watching Miggy, Verlander, Castellanos and company come up just short.
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