Sports
Help is on the Way for Tigers.
Tigers need free agency help and here's five guys that provide it

Let’s state the obvious here first — the 2015 season didn’t go well for the Detroit Tigers.
I know, I’m paid to come up with these keen observations, and I’m certain each of you are impressed by my insight and thinking I’m overpaid, too.
Don’t worry, it gets better….
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But honestly, the season — it stunk.
A dismal 74-84 finish to the campaign (a mark that earned the team the bottom spot, which is mind-blowing if you think about the expectations coming into the season, in the American League Central Division, I should add) has myself, and other Tigers fans, wondering if the run of the past several seasons is officially done.
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Are we about to enter the dark and cavernous tunnel of rebuilding?
Will tickets once again be given away at Krogers with the purchase of Pizza Rolls and a Milky Way candy bar?
Are we on the cusp of a stretch of potential 100-loss seasons?
Will our mighty Tigers be reduced to nothing more than one of those adorable little kittens we all watch, and deny that to our friends, on YouTube.
No. They won’t
This, my friends, is the beauty of modern Major League Baseball.
It’s a landscape where many billionaires look at the league as a living game of Strat-O-Matic (I’m dating myself, I know, but it was a good game).
Players can be moved.
Money can be dumped by one team — and scooped up by another.
And fans, alas, there is always free agency.
Tigers owner Mike Ilitch wants a World Series title, that’s clear.
And the good news for us is that as long as those $5 Hot ‘n Ready pizzas keep flying off the hot plates at Little Caesars all over the country — hope lives.
Ilitch is going to spend some money and this team will improve.
There, I’ve said it.
Who is going to get this money?
Let’s take a look at four players who could land here, and really help the Old English D, next season — and one that might surprise but it could happen.
- Jordan Zimmerman, starting pitcher
Would I rather see David Price? Absolutely. However, Zimmerman is a quality top end of the rotation guy and he will not be asking, nor getting, a deal north of $200 million like Price. Zimmerman’s 201 innings of work last year is nice. His 3.66 ERA is nice. His 13 wins are nice. His projected $110-$120 million price tag over the next five or six years is real, real nice. In fact, it’s a bargain in today’s world. And, he’s not too long in the tooth, either, just 29 years old. Good pitcher. Great fit in Detroit.
- Chris Young, outfielder
The dude had a dynamite season in 2015 considering; hitting over .250 with 14 home runs and 42 RBI. Ok, he’s not Miguel Cabrera. I know this, but his price tag isn’t either. Young would be the everyday leftfielder, no doubt, and is clearly an upgrade on Tyler Collins. He would also fill the gap nicely as stud-prospect Steven Moya develops. And, he would come at a very reasonable price.
- Antonio Bastardo, relief pitcher
This isn’t a hope — it’s a burning desire. Bastardo is the best man for the job, too. To me, this is the must-get-guy. Problem is, the Tigers aren’t going to be the only team in the mix, and you can’t blame the other suitors. What’s not to like? Nada. He appeared in 66 games, threw 57.1 innings, struck out more than one-batter-per inning on the average, and he’s left-handed. I’ll be ordering my Bastardo jersey soon.
- Shawn Kelley, relief pitcher
Maybe he’s not the sexiest name on the market but the guy can pitch. Another reliever who could really bolster the bullpen — and another guy that can strike batters out. That’s never a bad thing. Kelly is coming off a 2015 campaign that saw him post a 2.45 ERA and have a WHIP hovering around the 1.00 mark. Good enough for me. Good enough to really help the Tigers.
- Chris Davis, outfield/first base
Ok. It doesn’t seem like the logical move, and it will be expensive, but let me explain. Davis, Cabrera, Martinez and Martinez (J.D.) — need I say more? This move takes me back to an earlier point — Ilitch’s yearning to hoist a World Series crown sooner rather than later. He’s willing to spend the money. Why not on a guy like Davis? This is a guy who would add smash to smash to smash and to more smash — and put people in the seats. Where would he play defensively? Who cares. He’s consistently been one of the game’s top run producers. And guess what? In the end, you need to score more runs than the other team. Simple as that. It’s a longshot, but Fielder was too. Don’t be surprised if it happens.
Well, there it is.
Now get out there and buy some pizzas.
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