The light is at the tunnel’s end. After the $69 million to Cabrera, Zimmermann, Fielder, and Verlander, Detroit has very few financial obligations. After posting a payroll in excess of $207 million in 2017, the Tigers dropped all the way to $135 million in 2018 and will probably wind up somewhere about $125 million in 2019. The guaranteed cash after the 2020 season is to Cabrera. That contract is horrendous, however, the Tigers will have a lot more flexibility.
Among the biggest issues for the Tigers heading into 2019 is that they don’t have a roster that embodies the current state of Major League Baseball. Comerica Park is a factor, but the Tigers have been 28th in home runs last season, trailing only the Giants and Marlins, who are forced to have a pitcher bat at least two times per game.
The Orioles Rangers recorded fewer strikeouts. As far as K/9 goes, the Tigers were the A’s and 26th, ahead of those teams. The game is predicated on hitting punching tickets and dingers. The Tigers were among the worst in baseball both of these things.
That’s only one of several reasons why this rebuild is moving at a snail’s pace. The Tigers are trying to use the Comerica Park factors to their advantage, by relying on some pitch-to-contact kinds that induce a great deal of fly balls, but that only goes so much better. The Tigers were 26-55 on the street, although 38-43 at home.
All of that said, you’ll find a couple of silver linings. The Tigers were 43-45 against groups that are losing that are fellow. It had been the teams that were .500 or better that shattered Detroit last year, since the Tigers were just 21-53 against those teams.
Are they the group that picks up some losses, Since the branch enriches around the Tigers? Will the return of Miguel Cabrera and the addition of a better pitching depth help the Tigers exceed expectations? Let’s try to answer these burning questions.
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