Detroit Tigers Have Five to Re-sign as Offseason Gets Underway

A very successful Detroit Tiger’s season came to an end on Saturday.  It came to a crash and burn ending as a matter of fact.  Don’t make the mistake of judging the season on the last game, though.  Honestly, when the season started, did you really think this team was going to be playing in the American League Championship Series?  My point exactly (and if you did, I tip my hat to you).

Now the focus becomes getting past the same point next season.  The first step is resigning some of the talent that’s about to become available to the public.

Let’s start with Doug Fister.  How can you not do everything in your power to bring him back?  He was 8-1 down the stretch with an ERA under 2.  He did get roughed up in his first post-season start against the Yankees, but he was terrific in his game 5 start in New York.  He was equally as impressive in his one start in the ALCS.  If he’s in Detroit next year, I’m not sure he’s not the number two starter over Max Scherzer.

Delmon Young should also be brought back.  In 40 regular season games in Detroit, Delmon hit .274 with 8 home runs and 32 RBIs.  He hit 4 homers and 32 RBIs in his 84 games in Minnesota.  I’d say the change of scenery did him well.  Throw in his 5 playoff homers, and his grit of playing injuried in the Texas series, and Young looks like a nice piece for the Tiger’s future.  By the way, if you keep him out of centerfield, his fielding percentage is good enough to have him in the starting line-up.

Alex Avila should be a relatively easy guy to lock up.  I mean, his dad is in the Detroit front office for Heaven’s sake.  I’m comfortable believing a deal will be struck with the all-star catcher.  I wouldn’t let the playoff numbers scare you to much.  We’ll be hearing about a knee surgery awfully soon, I’m sure.

The next two decisions may be unpopular choices, but I think bringing back both Austin Jackson and Brennan Boesch would be smart ideas.  I know Austin didn’t have a great post-season, but he’s a kid.  The experience is invaluable, and I think Jackson will continue to get better.  I know that’s tough to see right now since Curtis Granderson was just diving all over Comerica’s center field, but Jackson should stick around.

I want to give Brennan Boesch keys to right field and see how he drives it.  Magglio Ordonez is a free agent and IF he’s brought back, it shouldn’t be any where near the $10 million mark.  Boesch should be given the job, especially considering he hit .283 (and that fell several points just before going on the DL) with 16 long balls.  I know people think he can’t hit lefties, but you have to give him a chance.  Or you bring back Magglio just to hit lefties.

Now, I’m not saying that all of these guys deserve life contracts.  BUT I do feel these players have earned the right to start the season in Detroit next year.  There are others, but I do feel these are the big 5 that need to return.  With 23 million dollars coming off the books from Carlos Guillen and Magglio, it’s not as if we don’t have the money to spend.