If the Detroit Tigers season started today, the roster would look much different of course then how we left it on October 4th, 2015.
Al Avila has put a ton of work in to this team with what seems to be an improved rotation and a better (tough to get worse) bullpen. The offense I think will have questions, but lets see what else Al may still get done.
Regardless, lets see how this team looks on “paper” if the season started today…
Catcher
Starter: James McCann
Backup Battle: Jarrod Saltlamacchia or Bryan Holladay
Infield
Starters: Miguel Cabrera, Ian Kinsler, Jose Iglesias, Nick Castellanos
Backup Battle: Dixon Machado, Andrew Romine, Jefry Marte
Outfield
Starters: Cameron Maybin/Tyler Collins, Anthony Gose, J.D. Martinez
Backup Battle: Collins, Steven Moya, Wynton Bernard
Designated Hitter
Starter: Victor Martinez
Starting Rotation
Justin Verlander, Anibal Sanchez, Jordan Zimmerman, Mike Pelfrey, Daniel Norris
5th Starter Battle: Norris to lose, Michael Fulmer, Matt Boyd, Shane Greene, Kyle Lobstein
Bullpen
Closer: Francisco Rodriguez
Set-up: Mark Lowe
Rest of Pen: Blaine Hardy, Alex Wilson
Battle for the pen (3 spots potentially): Buck Farmer, Kyle Lobstein, Boyd, Greene, Angel Nesbitt, Bruce Rondon, Kyle Ryan, Jose Valdez, Drew VerHagen
My Projected Opening Day Lineup
1. Cameron Maybin, LF
2. Ian Kinsler, 2B
3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B
4. Victor Martinez, DH
5. J.D. Martinez, RF
6. Nick Castellanos, 3B
7. James McCann, C
8. Jose Iglesias, SS
9. Anthony Gose, CF
There’s a lot to be determined still between rumors of Detroit adding a left fielder, another bullpen arm hopefully, and then the spring training roster battles. That said, we saw a major issue with the pitching last season and GM Al Avila is surely addressing it.
