Detroit Tigers: Who is General Manager Al Avila trying to fool?

The MLB Winter meetings are well underway in San Diego, with the Detroit Tigers being present and just spectators for the most part. Who does GM Al Avila think he’s fooling? Detroit fans are much more intelligent than he gives us credit for.

The Detroit Tigers finished dead last in Major League Baseball last year. It was a season to forget. The 2019 season had plenty of similarities to Detroit’s dreadful 1999 season. The Tigers don’t have a roster that will entice fans and families to the ballpark. Al Avila is saying all the correct things but his lack of enthusiasm tells a different story.

It’s a roster anchored by an aging, over the hill, former superstar in Miguel Cabrera. The name will still draw a select few to the park, but the days of a shoulder to shoulder concourse are few and far between.

The only time over the last couple of years the ballpark had been sold out was then the Tigers retired Jack Morris and Alan Trammell‘s jerseys. Perhaps if ownership decides to retire Lou Whitaker‘s number one (they won’t), it would draw at least one sell-out in 2020.

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Yesterday Al Avila spoke while in attendance at the Winter meetings trying to drive home his message that the team is ready to start competing again. The Detroit Tigers are prepared to begin tending up. Do you actually believe that?

I mean, while the New York Yankees are signing Garrit Cole, and the Angels are bringing in Anthony Rendon, the Mets have signed Rick Porcello and Michael Wacha. New York re-upped Brett Gardner, all while the Detroit Tigers land catcher Austin Romine. Yes, former Detroit Tigers utility man Andrew’s brother.

First off, did Miguel Cabrera ok this? Don’t forget the boxing match at home plate between the two that ended in a dust-up on the ground. I’m sure the two will laugh about it, but maybe their lockers shouldn’t be side by side? Just a thought.

Al Avila indicated the team is ready to start spending, yet opt for Romine over the likes of Jason Casto? OK. The fact is, Detroit isn’t prepared to spend, and if you believe it, they’ve got their intended message across to you.

Detroit won’t be prepared to spend until Prince Fielder is off the books. Prince still accounts for 8% of the Detroit Tigers team salary. Miguel Cabrera earns about $32-millon per season, Jordan Zimmermann makes a whopping $25-million this season. Detroit moved on from Nicholas Castellanos for a couple of reasons, one being not wanting to shell out a new contract for his services.

Austin Romine hit .281 with 8 home runs last year with the New York Yankees. He’s a career .239 hitter, who wants to make a bet he will struggle to hit his career average next season? Al, please don’t tell me you are prepared to spend now. It’s a lie.

If you wanted to spend, you would have traded for a perennial 20 home run hitter in Nomar Mazara from the Texas Rangers. The White Sox landed Mazara for pennies on the dollar in the grand scheme of things.

Al has mentioned he wants to add a corner outfielder, how did he miss on that? Plus, Mazara is a much needed left-handed bat. Again, Jason Castro is a much better hitting catcher overall than Romine, plus left-handed also, but out of the ‘willing to spend’ Tigers price range.

Detroit needs a first baseman, why hasn’t Avila landed someone like Justin Smoak? I have a feeling we will be getting a heavy dose of Brandon Dixon and Jeimer Candelario at first base in 2020 because unlike what Avila is saying, Detroit doesn’t want to spend.

dark. Next. First Base Options For The 2020 Season

Do you wonder why Chris Ilitch gave Al Avila a contract extension? It’s because he’s the perfect puppet for Chris to control. When it comes to the Tigers, Chirs is just dollars and cents. His real investment is across the road and up Woodward avenue a block.

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