As the Detroit Tigers complete their season, it is time to realize that the offseason is upon us. It is not too bold to say that the upcoming offseason will be extremely important in determining the direction of the franchise. Are the Tigers destined to take the next step and become contenders again? Or will the organization continue to flounder in mediocrity as it has for over a decade?

Most followers are aware of the Tigers impending free agents. Starting pitcher Jason Johnson , outfielders Rondell White and Bobby Higginson , infielder Fernando Vina , and catcher Vance Wilson will all be free to seek employment elsewhere this offseason. Both Vina and Higginson have spent nearly the entire 2005 season on the disable list, as their careers appear to be winding to a close. The financial freedom awarded the organization with the expiration of Higginson's overwhelming contract will be a welcome advantage heading into the free agent season.

After coming over from the Mets, Vance Wilson was expected to provide both solid offense and defense from the backup catcher's role. While his overall numbers have been disappointing, his playing time has been more erratic than originally expected. It appears Ivan Rodriguez ' dramatic offseason weight loss has left him in better condition to handle catching on a more regular basis. With such sporadic playing time, Wilson has struggled to find the consistency often necessary for offensive success. There is a slim chance the Tigers opt to bring Wilson back as a member of the bench in 2006, but it is likely there are cheaper options that can provide adequate production.


Rondell White and Jason Johnson provide an interesting case for the front office. The Tigers can offer both players arbitration, allowing them to receive compensation picks in the 2006 draft should they decide to sign with other teams. However, if either player accepts arbitration, the Tigers are forced to bring them back for another season.

White's case is a particularly tricky one; complicated further by his shoulder problems. Rondell has always been injury prone, and with continued shoulder problems, his ability to play the field continues to diminish. The last thing the Tigers need is another designated hitter taking up space on the roster. Offering arbitration to White is a gamble that is unlikely to pay dividends for an organization that needs to move forward.

Johnson on the other hand, would be a useful player to have on the roster in 2006. Jason's improvements under pitching coach Bob Cluck have made him a valuable veteran cog in an otherwise young rotation. After a season in which Johnson has posted 4.54 ERA in 204 innings so far, he would be likely to receive a slight raise from his 2005 salary of $4 million. If the Tigers opt to offer arbitration to Johnson (or sign him outright), some pressure to help complete the 2006 rotation will be alleviated.

In addition to the aforementioned free agents, both Dmitri Young and reliever Jamie Walker are likely to return to Detroit in 2006. The contract signed by Dmitri Young after arriving from Cincinnati allows him to remain a Tiger in 2006 after having reached 500 plate appearances this season. However unfortunate this may be from a perspective of value, the Tigers have no one to blame but themselves.

Since signing with the Tigers prior to the 2002 season, lefty Jamie Walker has consistently ranked as one of their top relievers. Detroit recognized his value last offseason, resigning him to a one-year contract with an option for 2006. If the Tigers choose to exercise Walker's option, it will be in the amount of $1.25 million with some minor incentives that could push the total value to $1.4 million. With Walker having logged another very good season, it is likely the Tigers will choose to solidify their bullpen by keeping Jamie in the fold.

Additional players whose contracts expire in some sense include: starters Jeremy Bonderman , Mike Maroth and Sean Douglass , relievers Franklyn German , Craig Dingman , and Vic Darensbourg , and position players Brandon Inge , Craig Monroe , Carlos Pena , and Joey McDonald. Those least likely to return are Darensbourg, McDonald, and possibly Carlos Pena.

Pena's continued first half struggles and general lack of improvement leave the organization with no choice but to move on with Chris Shelton as the first baseman of the future, but with another hot fall, Pena has made a case for sticking around. Both Douglass and Dingman have been reasonably effective since joining the club this summer, and they could be asked to return if other options are not considered upgrades or a better value.

Bonderman, German, Inge, Maroth, and Monroe are all arbitration eligible this offseason and all will likely be offered the opportunity to return. Unless a significant upgrade is found, usurping their spot on the roster, we should expect to see all four return to Comerica Park next season.

Considering Bonderman again showed improvement in 2005, it may be prudent to begin negotiating a long-term contract that essentially buys out his arbitration eligible seasons, and possibly his first two or three years of free agency. If the Tigers are looking for a guide to start the negotiating process, they need not look further than Oakland's Rich Harden , who signed a 4-year, $9 million contract extension in April. Bonderman and Harden are both considered two of the top young pitchers in baseball, and both warrant similar contracts that will provide the team and the player with added security.

With at least $20 million sure to come off the books at the conclusion of the season, and a promise from owner Mike Illitch to continue adding payroll, The Tigers are expected to be players in a rather weak free agent season. While some of that money will be taken up by increases for many of the players mentioned above, the Tigers will still have significant flexibility to sign free agents to fill their needs.

In their current state, the Tigers should be continuing to explore opportunities to upgrade the team at any position; without restriction. In particular, the lineup is in need of an upgrade at third base, and a powerful left-handed bat.

While Brandon Inge has made significant progress at the plate since 2003, he continues to demonstrate that he simply isn't cut out to be an everyday Major Leaguer. The Tigers may be best suited by upgrading third base, allowing Inge to move back to the role of "super-sub," where his versatility and athleticism can truly benefit the team.

Over the course of the season, dominating right-handed pitchers have exposed the Detroit lineup. Without enough left-handed bats (particularly power threats), the Tigers offense has been susceptible to being overmatched by top-notch righties, late in games. In addition to these needs, an organization can never have enough pitching, particularly effective bullpen arms; meaning upgrades on the mound are certainly possible.

This offseason poses several intriguing questions for the Tigers; and that is without looking beyond the Major League roster. The decisions faced below the veneer of the Major League team will be just as critical in determining the direction of the organization as those highlighted above. Check back tomorrow for Part 2, and a look at the remainder of the 40-man roster, players with upcoming Rule 5 eligibility, and the ongoing dilemmas throughout the minor league system.
Last time, I discussed the important off-season variables at the Major League level; today I will delve into the less-publicized side of the "Hot Stove League," those moves made throughout the minor leagues and small changes to the 40-man roster.

Whether we realize it or not, all the moves made below the Major Leagues are intertwined, with ramifications felt on the 40-man roster as well as subsequent promotions and demotions throughout the system. The first important step of this process is to evaluate the talent (or lack there of) on the organization's 40-man roster.

The list of free agents described in Part 1 of this article (Johnson, White, Vina, Higginson, etc.) will all come off the 40-man roster at the beginning of the free agent season. With the removal of these players, the Tigers will be left with 39 players with which to work (Higginson, Vina, and White are all presently on the 60-day DL and do not count against the 40-man roster).


Now, opinions on who should be removed from a 40-man roster and who should be added are as varied as anything. From my perspective, the following players could easily be removed from the 40-man roster at minimal risk to the overall health of the organization: Doug Creek , Vic Darensbourg , Craig Dingman , Matt Ginter, Jason Karnuth , Preston Larrison , Adam Peterson, John McDonald , and Carlos Pena .

The aforementioned players, while certainly valuable in some respects, are players that are quite easily replaced. None of them are the type of player an organization should be overly concerned with holding too close to the vest. While not all of these players will be removed from the roster, several will likely be jettisoned in favor of incoming free agents and other scrap heap reclamation projects.

Aside from making room for incoming free agents, another critical aspect of clearing room on the 40-man roster is to protect some of your own minor leaguers from the Rule 5 draft. Each year, every organization faces several important and difficult decisions about which players must be protected from being selected by another team in the December draft.

This year, the Tigers are faced with four players who almost certainly must be added to the roster; super prospect Joel Zumaya , former top pick Kyle Sleeth , breakout pitcher Jordan Tata , and highly touted outfielder Brent Clevlen . If not added to the 40-man roster, it is likely that another team would find a way to carry them on their active roster for the 2006 season. All four players have the potential to make an impact at the Major League level, and the Tigers must make sure they recognize this fact.

In addition to the obvious four players, there are several other players who may be of interest to teams in the Rule 5 draft. Players like David Espinosa , Juan Tejeda , Kody Kirkland , Humberto Sanchez , Eulogio de la Cruz, Brian Rogers , and even Virgil Vasquez could end up being a good fit for an organization in need of help on the cheap.

It is unlikely that any of these players would be chosen, as each player has their significant faults at this point, but the Tigers must carefully consider each one for fear of losing talent that could easily be kept. The Tigers, as an organization, should still be in a mode of talent acquisition by any means available, rather than risking the loss of talent through something like the Rule 5 draft.

As players are dropped from the 40-man roster, lost to the Rule 5 draft, or even lost as minor league free agents, spots throughout the organizational ladder will open up, providing opportunities for other players to advance. At the top of this list are Erie's offensive duo of Juan Tejeda and David Espinosa. Despite very nice 2004 seasons from both players, they were relegated back to AA for another season. In 2005, both players displayed the ability to be successful in the Eastern League yet again, and will certainly need to be challenged by a trip to Toledo in 2006. If the organization opts not to promote them, it may be best for them to start thinking about another organization they might like to play for.

One enormous task that has been on general manager Dave Dombrowski's plate since he arrived in Detroit has been to rebuild an empty farm system. While Dombrowski has increased the depth and overall talent of the minor league system, the Tigers have not managed to rid themselves of organizational fodder that is blocking the progress of more promising youngsters.

Players like Andrew Graham , Edwin Almonte , Russ Cleveland , and Derek Nicholson have no place in an organization that needs to challenge it's young players with difficult assignments, and get it's top talent to the Major League level in short order. This off-season provides a perfect opportunity for the Tigers to scrub their system clean of players with little future at the higher reaches of the organization, allowing them to challenge newcomers like Jeff Larish , Michael Hollimon , and even the recently signed Cameron Maybin .

Overall, this off-season represents an opportunity for the Tigers to improve in several facets. Not only are they losing players who were hardly contributing to the success of the team (Higginson and Vina), but they are beginning to narrow down the list of positions that are in dire need of an upgrade. Rather than seeking upgrades all around the diamond, the Tigers can focus on areas of more precise concern, such as third base, adding power to the lineup, and potentially more starting and relief pitching. This is a much improved circumstance than the one Dombrowski and crew found themselves in just two years ago.

While improving at the Major League level, the organization must continue the momentum gained by having a minor league system that led baseball in organizational winning percentage, by getting rid of players with little future and allowing their own prospects to blossom in the roles opened by those vacancies.

The Tigers are in position to take the next, albeit not the final, step towards becoming a competitive franchise once again. If they make the right moves and place their focus on the long-term health of the organization, this off-season could prove to be pivotal in the grand scheme.
Link #1

Link #2