The Detroit Tigers are once again favorites to triumph in the American League Central this season.
However, the four-time reigning division champions are no certainty to prevail in arguably baseball’s tightest division.
The Kansas City Royals and Cleveland Indians are now established contenders, and an outstanding offseason for the Chicago White Sox has brought them into the picture.
As per usual, the Tigers have had another busy winter. A paradigm shift, which was initiated last offseason, gives this team a different hue to what they featured just a few seasons ago.
Last winter’s acquisitions of Rajai Davis and Ian Kinsler signalled a new era of speed and dynamism in Detroit. November’s trade for outfielder Anthony Gose continued that theme. The return of Jose Iglesias from injury and the addition of Yoenis Cespedes will also markedly improve Detroit’s defense.
That’s the good news. What’s concerning is the state of the starting rotation.
Veterans Max Scherzer and Rick Porcello have both fled and taken their 124 combined victories over the past four years with them.
But, after coming up empty-handed in recent years, a cultural shift was needed in Detroit. A more audacious, speedy outfit that plays and better defensive could vindicate the decisions of team president/ general manager Dave Dombrowski in the years to come.
Read on for more comprehensive analysis of the Tigers as spring training looms just over the horizon.