Bless You Boys

While shortstop remains atop the Detroit Tigers free agency shopping list, starting pitcher is not far behind. The organization has three pillars in Casey Mize, Matt Manning, and Tarik Skubal, but there is a strong need for veteran experience and durability as the team begins to move back into contention. It looks like the Detroit

Major League Baseball’s owners have proposed replacing the current arbitration system with one that uses FanGraphs’ version of WAR (wins above replacement) multiplied by a dollar figure determined by service time to determine salaries for players who have accrued more than three years, but are not yet eligible for free agency. The proposal, which is

The Detroit Tigers clearly need some serious help this offseason if they’re to contend for a postseason berth in 2022. While adding pitching has to be part of the plan, the crux of their roster issues are centered at the shortstop position. We’ve already looked at Carlos Correa and why he’s the best all-around solution

Over the past few days, the hot stove has gotten rather toasty with rumors of the Detroit Tigers checking in on a host of free agent pitchers. Obviously Justin Verlander was the most prominent of that group, but perhaps not the most likely. Former Colorado Rockies starter Jon Gray doesn’t have that kind of upside,

We’re back with another episode of the Bless You Boys podcast. Assistant editor Ashley MacLennan and I haven’t caught up in a minute, so it was time for a little summit as the hot stove season gets underway. Of course, the looming ice storm of the CBA negotiations and a likely December 1 lockout of

After missing the entire 2021 season and all but one start of the shortened 2020 season, Tigers legend Justin Verlander is back on the mound. Monday afternoon, Verlander threw in front of representatives of 15-20 teams as he looks to make his comeback at age 39 from Tommy John surgery. I know the question you

Minor League free agents might not grab headlines or be as exciting as the big contracts, and for good reason. For the most part they are journeymen or underperformers. Sometimes one of these players can work out. The Detroit Tigers know this in the form of Niko Goodrum. Every so often one of these players

On Sunday evening, qualifying offers were due from MLB teams to eligible players. The Houston Astros extending qualifying offers, worth $18.4M, to both Justin Verlander and star shortstop, Carlos Correa. This was obviously not a surprise. However, the Astros also reportedly made a final bid on a long-term deal to Correa, though it seems designed

As the Arizona Fall League enters the final two weeks of the 2021 season, an experiment is taking place that could be a game-changer for pitchers. As Baseball America reported on Saturday, the second half of the AFL schedule will be conducted using balls constructed with a naturally tackier cover that the typical MLB ball

MLB teams had until Sunday night to make a “qualifying offer” of $18.4 million to their own free agent players if they hope to receive compensation should the player sign with another team. 14 free agents who received qualifying offers now have ten days to accept the offers and stay with their current team for

This winter’s free agent market features a number of quite talented starting pitchers, including a few who would immediately step in as the presumptive ace of the Tigers. Naturally, they are drawing eyes from Detroit’s fans, as this team needs an anchor for the rotation. However, the Tigers also need to pick up some pitching

The major league baseball players’ association (MLBPA) made a second proposal for a new collective bargaining agreement (CBA) to club owners on October 29, according to Evin Drellich and Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. With the current agreement set to expire on December 1st, and looming threats of a possible lockout of players, and a

As the Detroit Tigers 2021 season came to an end, general manager Al Avila made it plain that the club was going to try and contend for a playoff spot next season. Wednesday’s trade for catcher Cincinnati Reds’ catcher Tucker Barnhart was a quick strike that signaled to any lingering doubters that this isn’t going

The Detroit Tigers made their first move of the 2021 offseason less than 24 hours after the final out of the World Series, acquiring catcher Tucker Banhart from the Cincinnati Reds, as first reported by Jon Heyman on Wednesday afternoon. Jason Beck confirmed the news and added that prospect third baseman Nick Quintana is heading

When the current collective bargaining agreement (CBA) between major league baseball’s owners and players expires at midnight on December 1, 2021, MLB could see its’ first work stoppage since 1994, when labor strife led to the cancellation of the post season. ESPN reports that a work stoppage is all but certain. LINK It is possible

The Detroit Tigers took a big step toward respectability in 2021. The coming off season promises to be active for the club as they continue their return toward contending in 2022. With all eyes on the free agent market, possible trades, arbitration eligible players and non tenders, MLB players and owners are meeting behind closed

Yes, Al Avila and company are at it again. On Tuesday, it was announced that Stephanos Stroop, another Los Angeles Dodgers minor league pitching coach, has been hired by the Tigers as a minor league Pitching Coordinator. New player development honcho Ryan Garko has really raided the Dodgers’ player development system to build his staff

NLDS Game 5: Dodgers (106-56) at Giants (107-55) Series tied 2-2 Time/Place: Thursday, Oct. 14, 9:07 p.m., Oracle ParkSB Nation sites: True Blue LA, McCovey ChroniclesMedia: TBS, WatchTBS, MLB.TVPitching Matchup: LHP Julio Urias (20-3, 2.96 ERA) vs. RHP Logan Webb (11-3, 3.03 ERA) ALCS Game 1: Red Sox (92-70) at Astros (95-67) Time/Place: Friday, Oct.

When the Tigers brought Alex Lange into the organization, conversation about the deal focused on Nick Castellanos’ departure to Chicago rather than Lange and fellow pitcher Paul Richan’s arrival. To that point in his career, professional baseball hadn’t been kind to Lange. Detroit, hoping to unlock the potential that scouts had once seen in him

One final telling detail illustrating A.J. Hinch’s mentality and mentorship of his players this season emerged in his post-game interview after the Tigers’ season-ending victory over the Chicago White Sox. Hinch had actually given his end-of-the-season speech the day after the Detroit Tigers were officially eliminated from the postseason back in mid-September. The point? To