Kuzul

Great player. Bad move. Terrible contract.

“Why?” That was my first thought when it was first reported by CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman that the Detroit Tigers had extended the contract of Miguel Cabrera through the 2023 season. The deal makes the Tigers total commitment to Cabrera now a 10-year contract worth $292 million. Heyman also reports that there is a vesting option for two more seasons if Cabrera finishes in the top-10 of the MVP voting in 2023.

The numbers are ridiculous and completely unnecessary. There was no need to make this move right now.

The Tigers still had Cabrera under contract for two more seasons at a very reasonable $22 million per season for both sides. Unless Cabrera was voicing his unhappiness behind the scenes and demanding a new deal, it is hard to understand the urgency to make this deal at this time.

The move is just one of many in this curious offseason for the Tigers and general manager Dave Dombrowski. Dombrowski has long been considered one of the best executives in the game, but he has had a very erratic winter.

Detroit is very close to being a World Series team again, and they seem to be operating with that mindset. The Tigers added closer Joe Nathan while trading Prince Fielder to the Texas Rangers for second baseman Ian Kinsler. Both of those moves seem to signal that Detroit was going for it. 

Getting out from underneath the majority of Fielder’s remaining contract was a huge move for the franchise in the long-term. It should have allowed Detroit to lock up ace Max Scherzer. Fielder simply wasn’t producing up to expectations during the regular season, and especially the playoffs, as he was starting to show slight signs of decline at the plate. 

Instead, Cabrera’s extension comes on the heels of the Tigers publicly embarrassing 2013 Cy Young winner Scherzer over his unwillingness to take a deal that Detroit felt was more than fair. Dombrowski has since had to clear the air with Scherzer as reported here by USA Today‘s John Lowe.

Looking at Detroit’s payroll obligations for 2014 and beyond, it is hard to see the Tigers retaining Scherzer. Detroit already has $98 million committed to six players on the 2015 payroll without factoring in Scherzer. It certainly feels like once Scherzer rejected the Tigers’ offer, they made the decision to lock up Cabrera long-term. 

At the same time, Detroit seemed to suddenly pinch pennies, dealing off above-average starter Doug Fister for very little immediate return. On this Tigers staff, Fister was easily the best fourth-starter in MLB. The bullpen and the bench for the Tigers could have clearly stood an infusion of talent. 

This is nothing against Cabrera the player. The 30-year-old Cabrera is already in the midst of a Hall of Fame career that will likely land him in Cooperstown on the first ballot that he is eligible. He has won the AL MVP the past two seasons and will likely battle for the crown again this season barring something unforeseen. 

Unfortunately, though, this deal will take Cabrera to the age of 40. Cabrera struggled through injuries last season, something that impacted his play down the stretch and in the playoffs. Cabrera underwent core muscle repair surgery this past winter to fix the groin/abdominal injury and has looked healthy this spring. With the departure of Fielder, Cabrera will benefit greatly from the move back to first base.

Detroit was freed from a cumbersome contract when they moved Fielder to the Rangers at the beginning of the offseason. It was something that Detroit should have learned from. Now they have gone and put themselves in even more of a precarious position over the next 10 years with Cabrera.

Dombrowski, Cabrera and the Tigers would have been much better served to spend this money by keeping Fister earlier this winter and signing free-agent shortstop Stephen Drew once it became clear that Jose Iglesias was likely going to be lost for the season due to injury. This team is built to win the World Series now, not just the AL Central. 

Instead, Detroit will be going into the season with a below-average shortstop situation, questions in left field and questions in the bullpen while also having weakened the starting rotation in the process. 

Detroit made Cabrera an offer he simply couldn’t refuse. Now, the question is how long before the Tigers regret making the offer in the first place?

Information used from Jon Heyman/CBS Sports, Jon Heyman/CBS Sports, Baseball-Reference, John Lowe/USA Today Sports, Cot’s Baseball Contracts/Baseball Prospectus

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The Detroit Tigers signed two-time MVP Miguel Cabrera on Thursday to the highest payout in MLB history per Jon Heyman of CBSSports.com.

Heyman wrote that the extension was worth $248 million over eight years, which means he will be paid $292 million over the next 10 years with the two years he had remaining on his old deal. The deal was made just a few days after contract talks ceased with Cy Young winner Max Scherzer.

Should the deal with Cabrera influence Scherzer to test the open market after this season?

Scherzer is fresh off his best season as a big leaguer, setting career-highs in wins (21), ERA (2.90) and WHIP (0.970), including taking home his first Cy Young award. The 29-year-old is currently on the books for a one-year, $15.53 million deal.

Jon Morosi of Fox Sports tweeted on March 23 that the Tigers offered Scherzer six years and $144 million but the right-hander was looking for eight years, per ESPN’s Jim Bowden. The club did not help its cause when it issued a statement making their Cy Young winner sound difficult to negotiate with.

The Detroit Tigers have made a substantial, long-term contract extension offer to Max Scherzer that would have placed him among the highest paid pitchers in baseball, and the offer was rejected. As we have reiterated, it has been the organization’s intent to extend Max’s contract and keep him in a Tigers uniform well beyond the 2014 season. While this offer would have accomplished that, the ballclub’s focus remains on the start of the upcoming season, and competing for a World Championship. Moving forward there will be no further in-season negotiation and the organization will refrain from commenting on this matter.

With Scherzer set to be a free-agent, it would not be a bad idea to look for a new club to pitch for. The Tiger’s will be paying four players at least $16 million each in 2015, including Cabrera and Justin Verlander, who will make $22 million and $28 million respectively.

In a rotation that already features Verlander and Annibal Sanchez, why not give Scherzer the money he wants? It seems odd that the Tigers wouldn’t fork over the deal he is looking for and keep one of the best rotations in baseball intact. 

Not giving him eight years gives Scherzer an incentive to get out of town. It gives an impression that the organization doesn’t value him as much as they value Verlander. Especially considering the performances of each righty last season.

That doesn’t mean that Detroit wouldn’t be willing to give $24 million annually to Scherzer, which is what the deal that was offered would be worth. The eight-year deal he wants would put the contract number at $192 million.

But for a guy who has improved his numbers over the past three seasons, as seen in the chart below, can you argue with him wanting eight years? Jeff Passan of Yahoo Sports argues that Scherzer’s total pitch count after six major league seasons is far lower than other aces when they received their big extensions.

“Of course, he and agent Scott Boras can argue his wear and tear pales compared to those peers and thus positions him in the proper place to seek more,” wrote Passan.

It would make perfect sense for Scherzer to test the open market. There would be no shortage in teams interested in his services. He has pitched at least 30 games each season over the past five years and has a career strike out rate of 9.4 per nine innings.

On top of that, Bowden says Scherzer has injury protection through an insurance policy. It would make the former Missouri Tiger more willing to test free agency if he doesn’t get the deal he wants.

Scherzer has been one of the top pitchers in baseball over the past couple of years. He should test the open market and get the deal he is looking for after this season.

All stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com

You can follow Trey on Twitter @treydwarren

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The Kansas City Royals acquired the services of Omar Infante through free agency this offseason.  It was a clear move to improve a clear weak spot in the team’s offense.  It may not have been a solid move toward consistency at the position.

Infante is suffering from a bone spur in his right elbow.  The ailment has kept him from game action on a regular basis this spring.  Concerns have surfaced that he may not be ready for Opening Day, according to Andy McCullough of the Kansas City Star.  McCullough goes on to share the likely plan for Infante:

Manager Ned Yost plans to bring Infante with the team to Milwaukee for a two-game exhibition series that starts Friday. Infante will play in minor-league games here on Wednesday and Thursday. In the second game, he would only take at-bats as the designated hitter.

The larger concern with Infante opening the season on the disabled list is the lack of depth behind him at second base.  The lack of depth at middle infield is a growing concern for the Royals.  The Royals have few options behind Infante.

Mike Moustakas played second in spring

The man they call “Moose” found himself at second base earlier this spring for a few innings.  It was a move done simply for emergency purposes.  Should the team find itself needing a second baseman due to injuries in the depth chart ahead of him, Moose may take the field in a strange position.

Moose projects as the Royals third baseman and, given his impressive spring numbers, a key part of the offense.  Moving him around would be disruptive to a player who is finally putting it all together at his own position.  Ultimately, the Royals will not play Moose at second unless it is absolutely necessary. 

Johnny Giavotella is the only natural second base option

The lack of production from Giavotella was one of the leading factors for the team to sign Infante in the first place.  However, the team acquired Infante and did not invest in another man who played second base primarily.

Giavotella has been optioned to Triple-A Omaha but could easily be recalled if a player is put on the disabled list.  While the Royals would likely recall him in order to provide some depth, there is very little chance that manager Ned Yost will entrust him with the everyday job, even temporarily. 

Danny Valencia was signed for emergencies like this

Valencia projects as the Royals’ backup infielder.  A natural third baseman, he has been discussed this spring as an option at other positions around the infield.  While he may not be the most ideal choice at second base long-term, he is quite likely the obvious choice there while the team waits for Infante to be ready.

Valencia is likely the player the Royals will use at second base for a short time while Infante prepares to debut for the team.

Infante has not appeared in a major league game since the injury occurred over a week ago, so a disabled-list placement could be backdated.  This would minimize the amount of time he would miss in the regular season, giving the Royals some added flexibility.

Until then, they will look to the above options to fill the gap.

Bill Ivie is the founder of i70baseball.com
Follow him on Twitter to discuss all things baseball throughout the season

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Mike Pelfrey‘s legendary speech to Wichita State may not give you goosebumps, but it will make you laugh out loud. 

MLB Fan Cave caught just one of the myriad ways that MLB players decide to prank their teammates. This time, Twins closer Glen Perkins and manager Ron Gardenhire collaborate to pull a fast one on one of their starting pitchers. 

Pelfrey walks into the skipper’s office, where it is explained that Wichita State loves to hear from celebrities and may want an inspirational speech to keep the team rolling along in the NCAA tournament. 

We were all underwhelmed on both counts. 

Pelfrey, being an alumnus, is the perfect man to give an impassioned speech that would make Ray Lewis envious. 

Unfortunately, his ability to knock the walls down with a booming voice and colorful language is on par with the manner in which you give out driving directions. 

The 30-year-old sounds like he is ordering pizza, leaving Gardenhire to try and get something more from his pitcher, which is kind of how their relationship normally works. 

Of course, there is no Wichita State. 

Well, there is, but the Shockers were off somewhere safe from things like, “You guys always remember how good you are and what got you there” and “so go [expletive] get ’em.”

Thanks to hidden cameras, we get to see it all play out. Still, we have to think Pelfrey should have seen this coming. 

First, who gives inspirational speeches via phone? This is only slightly worse than giving a rousing text to your alma mater. 

Second, Perkins nearly gives things away from the start. Do we really believe “Darren” from the Wichita State athletic department is going to start any conversation out with, “Hey, Gardey. How are you doing?”

It’s “Mr. Gardenhire, sir,” and don’t you forget it. 

The best part of the entire charade is the end, when Perkins offers, “We appreciate that. The funny thing is, though, we are out in the clubhouse, Mike, you Munson.”

Where do we keep getting Munson from?

Now we have a glorious video that serves two purposes. On one hand, we have a wonderful look into a loose clubhouse that knows how to laugh. If we might be so bold, we might ask the comedy troupe of Perkins and Gardey to deliver another shortly. 

On the other hand, we now know exactly how a March Madness speech from Pelfrey would go, so feel free to use this however you’d like next season, Shockers. 

Perhaps, and this may just be our undying love for baseball talking, if Pelfrey was able to give this thing before the weekend, the Shockers might still be alive and kicking in the Big Dance. 

Something tells me his words could do more than move mountains. They can absolutely decimate a clubhouse. 

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Take a look at their 11-13 record in spring training, and you might be convinced that the Kansas City Royals are due to disappoint in 2014 after a momentum-building 86-win campaign in 2013.

But come on, who takes spring training records seriously anymore? If anybody’s going to be optimistic or pessimistic because of spring training, it should be because of other things.

And that’s the thing about the Royals this spring. In the “other things” department, they’re doing more than OK.

Notably, Kansas City’s offense is mashing. Per MLB.com, the Royals have combined for a .298/.364/.450 batting line and an .814 OPS this spring. The only stats there that aren’t tops among MLB‘s 30 clubs are the .450 slugging percentage and the .814 OPS, both which rank second.

Also notable is that the Royals have enjoyed solid starting pitching, especially from the top three in their projected rotation. James Shields has been terrific, and so have Jason Vargas and Yordano Ventura.

Which is good, because the loss of Ervin Santana to free agency left a big question mark as far as who would be Shields’ partner in crime in 2014. That Vargas and Ventura have both had strong springs is therefore quite encouraging.

That Kansas City’s offense has been so good is equally encouraging. This is, after all, an offense that ranked 11th in the American League in runs scored in 2013. More offense in 2014 would be nice.

Here’s as good a place as any to begin a deeper dive into how much optimism is warranted. So strap on your scuba gear and meet me below this conveniently placed video.

Now, one thing about team-wide spring training numbers is that it’s not clear on the surface how those numbers are being generated. Teams use many different hitters in the spring, and overall numbers can be inflated and deflated by scrubs who aren’t actually projected to be important players.

This isn’t the case with the Royals’ offensive numbers this spring. If we take a look at how the players in their projected Opening Day lineup are doing, we see some some good stuff:

“OppQual” stands for opponent quality. On a 1-10 scale, an eight is Triple-A-quality competition and a 10 is MLB-quality competition. What you’re looking at is a collection of hitters who have feasted on quality competition.

And yes, it’s particularly good that Mike Moustakas is leading the way, as such was the hope after he spent the winter getting in shape and fixing his swing after a brutal 2013 campaign.

If you’re a Royals fan, it’s hard to ask for more than this.

…But if you are indeed a Royals fan, this might feel awfully familiar because of how the lineup Ned Yost trotted out on Opening Day last year did this in spring training:

Kansas City’s key hitters were even more dominant last spring and against slightly better competition to boot.

Which, of course, is not so encouraging, as it upholds conventional wisdom that spring performances aren’t predictive of what’s to come. An elite offensive performance last spring didn’t lead to an elite offensive performance once the games began to count.

I’d still say there’s room for optimism, mind you. Last year’s offense didn’t have Norichika Aoki or Omar Infante. With them in the mix, the No. 1 and No. 2 spots in Yost’s starting nine should do better than the .309 and .322 OBPs that they produced in 2013.

And while Moustakas’ hot spring last year didn’t lead to anything, there’s reason for optimism with him too. He entered 2011 as a top-10 prospect and then produced an .817 OPS and 15 homers in the first half of 2012. He has the necessary talent, and the adjustments that preceded his hot spring could be the key to him getting back on track.

Where any optimism should begin to taper off, however, is with thoughts that Kansas City’s offense might be elite this year. I’ll wager that the club’s offensive ceiling is higher this year, but anticipating a leap from mediocre to elite based on what’s happened this spring is unreasonable. As we saw last year, it just doesn’t work that way.

Consider that one bubble burst, but what about Kansas City’s hot starting pitching?

Behold what Kansas City’s projected 2014 rotation has done this spring:

Collectively, Royals starters have done well. Especially when you compare this to what the club’s season-opening rotation did last spring, as Shields, Santana, Jeremy Guthrie, Wade Davis and Luis Mendoza combined for a 4.20 ERA and 3.20 K/BB ratio. 

But one thing you notice is that one member of Kansas City’s top trio of starters has done his good work against lesser competition. Vargas has faced nearly Triple-A-level opposition, so the numbers he’s put up this spring have to be taken with an even bigger grain of salt than usual.

That’s the opposite of what you would hope for with Vargas. He should eat plenty of innings, but his 96 ERA+ over the last four seasons suggests they’ll be roughly league-average innings. The quality of the opposition he’s faced this spring says it’s not wise to expect anything better than that.

If anything, the expectations should be more on Ventura after what he’s done this spring. It feels like we’re living in the age of the young pitching phenom, and I’ve already laid out my two cents on why Ventura could be the next in line.

Ventura began his pro career drawing comparisons to Pedro Martinez and was a rising prospect even before spring training. The exhibition season has seen him tease that two of the biggest knocks on him may no longer apply. He already had killer velocity and a wicked curveball, and now he may have the command and changeup to go with them.

In other words, Ventura’s rise to power this spring has the feel of a legitimately worthwhile development. Precisely what they had in him was very much a question mark at the outset of spring training. It’s much less of a question mark now, as he’s compiled excellent numbers against quality competition while also teasing that two of his primary weaknesses may now be strengths.

At the same time, this development will only be worth so much if Vargas does turn back into his league-average self once the regular season begins. If that happens, all Ventura’s rise to power will have done is assure that the Royals’ 2014 rotation is as top-heavy as their 2013 rotation.

All told, here’s us looking at the essential reality of the situation. Though exciting, the positive storylines the Royals have generated this spring are typical of spring training storylines: They have to be taken for what they’re worth.

It’s not asking too much for Kansas City’s offense to be better in 2014, but expecting it to live up to its spring training performance is asking too much. If the Royals offense improves, the improvement will likely be a move from the back of the pack in the American League to the middle of the pack.

The corresponding hope would be for Kansas City’s starting pitching to improve on what was a perfectly acceptable 3.87 ERA last year. But last year’s rotation was top-heavy with Shields and Santana at the top. It will likely take a breakout year from Ventura just to ensure that the Royals have a replacement for Santana. Even then, they’re still likely to have a top-heavy rotation.

Neither Baseball Prospectus nor FanGraphs project the Royals to have a winning season in 2014. I think there’s more room for optimism than that, but not enough to view last year’s 86 wins as anything more than a mark to beat.

Note: All stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com unless otherwise noted/linked.

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The Cleveland Indians shocked the baseball world a year ago.

Improving by 24 wins from 2012, manager Terry Francona led the Tribe to a second-place finish in the AL Central and the team’s first playoff appearance since 2007. The city and its fans welcomed Nick Swisher, Michael Bourn, Mike Aviles, Ryan Raburn and veteran power hitter Jason Giambi to the team, as the offseason’s free-agent spending spree helped put the team over the top.

Coming into this season, the Tribe are hungry to build upon their success and have their sights set on dethroning the Detroit Tigers for the division crown.

As always, the key to a title lies within a pitching staff. While Cleveland has a number of questions in both its rotation and the bullpen, the Tribe has assembled an exceptional lineup heading into 2014. The following slides depict how that lineup might look come Opening Day against the Oakland Atletics on March 31.

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Barring major spring training injuries, the 2014 Detroit Tigers profiled as the team to beat in the American League Central. Yet, if Jose Iglesias—last year’s AL Rookie of the Year candidate—misses significant time, the Tigers actually could be an even bigger lock to reach the postseason.

Of course, that’s assuming that Detroit uses its financial muscle to lure free-agent shortstop Stephen Drew off the street and onto the Comerica Park diamond to replace a now-injured Iglesias. 

The news and accompanying Drew-to-Detroit theory was offered by ESPN and Sirius XM baseball analyst Jim Bowden. Outside of media work, the former Reds and Nationals executive is familiar with front-office thinking around the sport.

ESPN’s Jerry Crasnick later confirmed these reports, as it looks like the All-Star break could be the earliest Iglesias returns:

With shin issues sidelining the Tigers infielder, manager Brad Ausmus thinks reinforcements could be necessary, per Jason Beck of MLB.com.

“Depending on how long he’s going to be out, we may or may not need two shortstops,” Ausmus said. 

In this case, the connection is easy to make. Detroit is a legitimate World Series candidate, with or without a high-caliber shortstop. Yet, after trading for Iglesias’ dynamic glove, youth and upside last summer, the team was prepared to watch the 24-year-old infielder graduate into a dynamic two-way player in 2014 and beyond.   

With those plans on hold for the majority of 2014, Drew’s free-agent plight can become a blessing in disguise for a veteran team eager to win a championship before the roster ages and decays into a mediocre outfit. 

Drew isn’t a difference-making player, but he represents an upgrade from the young, unproven Iglesias. 

At this point, swapping Drew for Iglesias actually would bring the veteran Tigers closer to the World Series ring that has alluded them over the course of a highly-successful run atop the AL Central.  

During Drew’s eight-year career, the left-handed hitting shortstop has averaged 11 home runs per season and posted a .329 on-base percentage. While those numbers aren’t eye-opening, they are much more prolific than what the light-hitting Iglesias did with the bat during a 294-game minor league apprenticeship. 

Prior to last year’s call up in Boston, Iglesias owned a career minor league OPS of .622. Barring an unexpected uptick in offensive production, Detroit’s future shortstop will rack up value almost solely with his dynamic glove. On the other hand, Drew is more of a complete, all-around shortstop.  

Not only is Drew a clearly better offensive player, Fangraphs’ defensive numbers actually painted him as the better shortstop last season. Despite the highlight plays from the young and athletic Iglesias, Drew had a tremendous defensive season in Boston. 

While the average fan might call Drew a defensive downgrade, the numbers refute that notion. 

Over the long haul, the Tigers would be foolish to contemplate keeping Drew in favor of Iglesias. Over the next four or five years, Detroit could have a cheap, ascending option at shortstop, allowing the front office to spend lavishly on veterans like Max Scherzer and Miguel Cabrera. 

If a contract discussion with Drew’s agent—Scott Boras—does commence, expect a one-year deal to be as far as Detroit would be willing to go for a shortstop stopgap. Blocking Iglesias’ path and future in Detroit makes little sense.

However, with the Royals and Indians owning the potential to crack the 90-win plateau and challenge an injury-plagued Tigers team in 2014, general manager Dave Dombrowski and owner Mike Ilitch can’t sit around and wait for Iglesias to heal.

For some teams, 2015 and 2016 represent windows to contention and championship baseball. In Detroit, 30-or-over stars are the norm and potential big-money free-agent cases hang over the fate of this franchise.

From Torii Hunter (38) to Victor Martinez (35) to Joe Nathan (39), the Tigers aren’t built for tomorrow. In fact, at Comerica Park, there is no tomorrow.

Max Scherzer—the reigning AL Cy Young winner—is set to hit the open market next winter, perhaps carrying a price tag of $150-plus million. Miguel Cabrera—attempting to win three consecutive AL MVP crowns—could do the same after 2016, with an outside chance of scoring the biggest contract in the history of the sport. 

Through a combination of offense, veteran acumen, underrated defense and desperation for a place to play baseball in 2014, Stephen Drew represents the perfect antidote to what ails the Tigers heading into the final weeks of spring training. 

If Drew simply held the fort and kept Detroit afloat at shortstop, this fit would be obvious. But a stroke of luck has allowed the Tigers the avenue to pursue a shortstop better equipped to help win a title in 2014. 

Iglesias will be the better player over the next handful of years, but Drew is better now.

For the Tigers, that’s all that should matter. 

Agree? Disagree?

Comment, follow me on Twitter or “like” my Facebook page to talk about all things baseball.

Statistics courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com and FanGraphs, unless otherwise noted. All contract figures courtesy of Cot’s Baseball Contracts. Roster projections courtesy of MLB Depth Charts.

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The Kansas City Royals prepare for their season in Surprise, Ariz., every year.  The excitement level surrounding the club during spring training in recent years has greatly increased.

The excitement is deserved.  The team is playing well, players they are depending on are producing and they seem to have the right pieces in most every spot you look.  The Royals are on the verge of discovering the success that has eluded them for more than 20 years.

Along the way, the players on the field tend to see their stock rise and fall.  Quality production, staying healthy and consistent work will lead to a rise in stock.  Failing to stay healthy and on the field, not being a veteran leader or finding yourself suddenly in minor league camp can bring that stock down.

The Royals have their fair share of news this spring.  A quick look around can show the varying stock of six players.

Statistics are courtesy of MLB.com unless otherwise noted.

Begin Slideshow

Justin Verlander is healthy and on the path back to reclaiming his throne as the top pitcher in the American League.

For now, that much was clear during his 52-pitch outing against the Toronto Blue Jays at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, Fla. Although it’s too early to surmise or predict another American League Cy Young campaign for the 31-year-old righty, Verlander looked comfortable and in rhythm in just under four innings of work.

That comfort and rhythm eluded Verlander for most of the 2013 season. From Opening Day through the end of August, the former American League MVP sported an uncharacteristically high ERA of 3.73.

Then, almost instantly, Verlander transformed back into the stopper of old. From that moment through the end the of Detroit’s ALCS appearance against the Boston Red Sox, the Tigers‘ tenured ace threw 63 innings of dominant baseball, posting a 1.57 ERA and 79 strikeouts.  

Those issues—along with the subsequent turnaround—were overshadowed during the offseason when it was revealed that Verlander needed core surgery. According to MLB.com’s Jason Beck, Verlander believes the injury to his core last season led to mechanical issues that took nearly a full season to uncover.

Just overall last year, there was a tilt in my shoulders. I look back at pitches I made in the past and right when I’m about to fire to throw home, everything’s parallel. My shoulders are almost parallel, my arm’s up behind my head, and everything’s firing on a parallel plane. Last year, if you were to take a snapshot, there’s a lot of pitches where my lead arm’s up here and I’m firing from down here, almost below my neck.

With the procedure in the mirror, Verlander’s first spring start was scheduled for last week. Yet as the Florida weather turned to rain, it was pushed back to this week against the Blue Jays. 

If you didn’t know about Verlander’s surgery, lackluster five-month stretch in 2013 or mechanical issues that threatened to curtail a successful Tigers team last year, those facts wouldn’t have been evident when watching him pitch against Toronto.

From the opening pitch of the game—a strike to Jose Reyes—to a lazy fly ball to left field to a broken-bat ground ball back to the mound, Verlander breezed through the first inning, allowing only a single. His control, during the first live competition since the 2013 ALCS, was slightly off, but far from alarming. 

In the second, Verlander allowed a walk to start the frame. From there, defense took over in the form of a caught-stealing attempt and easy out on a ground ball to shortstop. 

During Verlander’s third inning—his final full frame of the day—the rhythm and fastball life seemed to return to what you would expect from one of baseball’s most accomplished arms. Although the radar gun didn’t reveal any 95-plus MPH fastballs, Verlander was sitting at 88-94 for his outing. Much like during the best games of his career, he had more life on the fastball as the outing progressed.

Yet, despite the ability to limit runs and feature velocity during a strikeout in the third inning, it was an at-bat by Toronto’s Maicer Izturis in the fourth inning that should stay with Tigers fans.

Although the 10-pitch battle curtailed Verlander’s outing before he was able to complete four frames, the at-bat showed that stamina isn’t an issue for the expensive righty. 

After breezing through the first three innings—using only 38 of his allotted 50-55 pitches for the day—Izturis fought to start the fourth, coercing Verlander into his first double-digit pitch at-bat of the season.  
The result was a seemingly innocuous fly ball to left field, but it meant more to both Verlander and the Tigers. 

After surgery, a difficult season and admitted struggles with mechanics, Izturis‘ at-bat was the moment where a rusty Verlander could have been expected to falter, leaving a pitch over the plate and allowing an extra-base hit.

When it didn’t occur, Verlander’s successful day was all but done. 

There are still major hurdles for Verlander to clear in order to become the consistent and dominant starter of old. If the mechanics of today can’t be repeated during his next start, concern will arise. If soreness or comfort issues return before Opening Day, the Tigers’ perch atop the AL Central will be in question.

In Lakeland, the Tigers and manager Brad Ausmus will take it day-by-day with their $20-million arm.

For now: So far, so good.

If Verlander can build off this and stay healthy into April, there’s little reason to believe he won’t soon return to the top of the AL pitching ranks. 

Agree? Disagree?

Comment, follow me on Twitter or “like” my Facebook page to talk about all things baseball.

Statistics courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com and FanGraphs, unless otherwise noted. All contract figures courtesy of Cot’s Baseball Contracts. Arbitration numbers and projections courtesy of MLB Trade Rumors. Roster projections courtesy of MLB Depth Charts.

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As the Chicago White Sox get set for their final 18 Cactus League games, several players have stood out. Some have seen their stock rise, while others have had their stock fall in advance of what is going to be a transitional season.

And make no mistake, the 2014 campaign will be one of discovery for the White Sox.

Now much of that discovery will be centered on how some newly acquired players fit into manager Robin Ventura’s system, while some will regard how prepared a handful of prospects are to take the next step in their development.

It must be noted here that guys like Adam Eaton and Alejandro De Aza will not be included in this discussion. See, even though Eaton has a 1.230 OPS and De Aza is slugging .471, they are already on the 25-man roster. Stocks don’t get much higher than that, do they?

No, they don’t, so we will look at players vying for a spot on the White Sox’s Opening Day roster or prospects who are all but assured to begin the season at Double-A or Triple-A. 

Regardless, the first three weeks of spring training have been revelatory. Let’s take a look.

Stock on the Rise

Charlie Leesman and Donnie Veal

Charlie Leesman and Donnie Veal are battling for the final spot in the bullpen, and both are pitching quite well to this point.

In four appearances covering 5.1 innings, Leesman has struck out five batters, walked one and has given up four hits. He did need 44 pitches to make it through two innings against the Kansas City Royals during his third appearance, but he has looked sharp otherwise

Veal, on the other hand, has been dominant.

In four innings, the left-hander has allowed one walk and has a 0.250 WHIP. He’s only recorded two strikeouts so far but has looked quite sharp with his location and delivery. And after last season’s mercurial performance, consistency will be the key for Veal.

One thing to consider here is that Leesman has a 9.5 opposition quality (OQ) while Veal’s OQ is a rather meager 7.6, according to Baseball-Reference. And on a scale of 1-10 with 10 being MLB-caliber hitting, that gives Leesman a slight edge. It will be interesting to see how the rest of spring training plays out for these two.

Jake Petricka

Since surrendering a two-run home run during his first appearance against the Los Angeles Dodgers, Jake Petricka has been untouchable. In his last three outings, he has four strikeouts and has thrown 19 straight pitches for strikes, according to the splits available at WhiteSox.com.

Sure Petricka’s OQ is only 7.7, but he has dominated those hitters and struck out the side against the Seattle Mariners last week. He will likely open the season at Triple-A Charlotte, but if he continues to impress, he may be the first reliever called up if someone underperforms or hits the disabled list.

Carlos Sanchez

Carlos Sanchez has been nothing short of fantastic this spring. At the plate, he is hitting .545 and has a 1.182 OPS with two stolen bases and four runs driven in. In the field, he has been fluid at second base and has spent some time at shortstop. That type of versatility will play well into his future at the major league level.

The timing couldn’t be better for Sanchez. On the heels of a disappointing campaign in 2013, he “boosted his status and expectations once again following a strong Winter League effort in Venezuela,” according to MLB.com’s Scott Merkin. Couple that showing with his performance to this point, and the sky is the limit for the middle infielder.

Micah Johnson

On March 6, against the Royals, Micah Johnson went 3-for-5 with a stolen base and two runs scored. Four days later, he ran for Beckham in the sixth inning, hit a single in his only at-bat and scored two runs. It is that type of production that has many excited about his future.

Johnson simply makes the most out of whatever is presented. To top it all off, he has a 9.3 OQ, which means he is doing this damage against the players that matter. On the spring, he is hitting .556 with five hits in nine at-bats.

Stock Falling

Matt Davidson

Matt Davidson has been a disappointment. Truth be told, that is an understatement. In 19 plate appearances, the 22-year-old had two hits (both of them doubles) and one walk, while striking out three times.

To be sure, it wasn’t as though he was supposed to come in and be the best player in camp, but his swing has looked long and almost anything off-speed seems to mystify him. How poor he has looked is quite surprising.

He will need a few at-bats in Triple-A before getting the permanent call to man the hot corner. That was probably the expectation coming into spring training, though.

Marcus Semien

After batting .308 with an .802 OPS for the White Sox in 19 games last season, a few things were expected out of Marcus Semien this spring. Granted, making the 25-man roster was not one of them, but it was hoped that he would be able to build off the momentum he created last year. So far, he has done everything but.

In 13 at-bats, Semien has done next to nothing (.231/.333/.231) and has looked out of sorts at the plate. His struggles coupled with Davidson’s poor play leave Conor Gillaspie “the only real certainty to be ready for third” when the bell rings this season, per the Chicago Tribune’s Paul Sullivan.

Felipe Paulino

Felipe Paulino wasn’t brought in to turn the starting rotation into a World Series-caliber unit. He will, however, be asked to do more than trot out to the mound every five days. Unfortunately, things are not going well for the right-hander so far this spring.

In two starts covering 4.2 innings, Paulino has allowed seven earned runs, 12 hits and has a 3.000 WHIP. He is averaging a solid 11.6 strikeouts per nine innings and has a 9.4 OQ, but he’s getting hit quite hard.

The way things are going, Paulino’s not even guaranteed a roster spot, according to Sullivan. His showing thus far had been quite problematic, and his stock has fallen considerably.

There are concerns outside these three, of course.

At the plate, Jose Abreu (.154/.214/.462) is off to a slow start and all three catchers—Tyler Flowers, Josh Phegley and Adrian Nieto—are hitting below .215. On the mound, Mitchell Boggs has looked pedestrian at times and Matt Lindstrom is battling an oblique injury which has kept the competition for the closer’s role largely on hold.

It’s early, though. The roster is far from set.

There is still plenty of time for guys like Paulino, Flowers and Phegley to assuage our concerns.

Then again…maybe not.

Game stats are courtesy of box scores available at MLB.com. Unless otherwise noted, all statistics are courtesy of Baseball-Reference and are accurate as of Sunday, March 9.

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