The Tigers started the year with a payroll just over 115 millions dollars. The following players have help contribute to the issue the Tigers face with their payroll.
Gary Sheffield 9 million dollars *
Nate Robertson 7 mil
Dontrelle Willis 10 mil
Magglio Ordonez just under 19 mil
Carlos Guillen 10 mil
Jeremy Bonderman 12.5 mil
49 percent of our payroll goes to those last 5 guys, which is unreal considering how they've played. To be fair, Bonderman and Guillen have been hurt all year but it's still mind boggling how these big money makers have underperformed. All these guys are on the books for at least next year with some extending to 2011.
* Denotes that the Tigers still had to pay Sheffield 9 million dollars for cutting him, but was not part of the Opening Day payroll.
Thursday, June 18, 2009
Are The Tigers Bound For a Fall?
Going into tonight's finale with St. Louis, the Tigers stand at 34-31 with a 1.5 game lead in the AL Central. They've currently lost four in a row and are 4-6 in their last 10 games. But this team is in some serious trouble and it's in more then one area.
Pitching: It's no secret that the Tigers have gotten outstanding pitching from Justin Verlander, Edwin Jackson and Rick Porcello. However, the back end of the rotation (Armando Galarraga and Dontrelle Willis) have been so bad that it cancels their work out. Galarraga hasn't won in his last 10 starts after starting out 3-0. His ERA has ballooned to a fat 5.56. His problem has been a combination of things. He fails to get ahead of hitters, his slider is hanging way too much which has lead to 14 home runs and fastball has been eratic at best. I'm not sure if this the dreaded sophomore slump or Galarraga coming back to Earth.
Willis has been well basically D-Trained since coming over in the trade in the winter before the '08 season. Now after his recent start of 3.2 innings pitched on Sunday which saw him give up 8 earned runs and 8 walks he's going back on the DL with more anxiety issues. The Tigers are bringing up 24 year-old Alfredo Figaro from Double A Erie to replace Willis but who knows what to expect from him. Figaro is 5-2 with a 4.10 ERA through 11 starts this year.
Lastly, Nate Robertson needs to be released. He proved last year he couldn't be a valuable starter and now he's proving he can't be a decent relief pitcher. Robertson is 1-0 in 18 appearances this season with a less than stellar ERA of 7.97. But releasing him would cost 7 million dollars. Trades will have to be the only option this year, which we'll explore later.
Hitting: Outside of Miguel Cabrera and Brandon Inge, Tigers' hitters are struggling. Yes Granderson has 16 home runs but he's hitting .264. Magglio Ordonez has hit an extreme power failure, with only 11 extra base hits through 57 games played. Placido Polanco is hitting a meager .259, he's hit near or above .300 since coming over a few years ago. Ramon Santiago, Adam Everett and Inge have all cooled off as of late. Gerald Laird a career .274 hitter is hitting .214. Good news is Marcus Thames is hitting .282 since coming off the DL, but how long until he cools off? If the Tigers don't start hitting and protecting Cabrera, he could be pitched around more which would be bad news for the Tigers.
Trade Possibilities: The Tigers desperately need a lefty in their rotation. Jarrod Washburn would be the cheapest and best bet. Outside of that I don't expect the Tigers to make any big moves for two reasons. They don't have to money to pay the big name guy right now and they don't have very many prospects. With Rick Porcello and Ryan Perry in the majors, their best prospect is Wilkin Ramirez who is expected to crack the lineup in 2010 or 2011 as Ordonez's replacement. And bad trades have left the cupboard bare. Don't expect to see Dusty Ryan or Scott Sizemore traded as they could be replacements for Polanco and Laird next year.
This leaves you with the following guys who could be traded: pitchers Brooks Brown, Casey Fien Charles Furbushand Jonah Nickerson. Hitters Mike Hessman, Will Rhymes, Jeff Frazier, Brent Clevlen, Alex Avila, Cale Iorg and Casper Wells.
Think the Tigers wish they still had Jair Jurrjens and Gorkys Hernandez?
Pitching: It's no secret that the Tigers have gotten outstanding pitching from Justin Verlander, Edwin Jackson and Rick Porcello. However, the back end of the rotation (Armando Galarraga and Dontrelle Willis) have been so bad that it cancels their work out. Galarraga hasn't won in his last 10 starts after starting out 3-0. His ERA has ballooned to a fat 5.56. His problem has been a combination of things. He fails to get ahead of hitters, his slider is hanging way too much which has lead to 14 home runs and fastball has been eratic at best. I'm not sure if this the dreaded sophomore slump or Galarraga coming back to Earth.
Willis has been well basically D-Trained since coming over in the trade in the winter before the '08 season. Now after his recent start of 3.2 innings pitched on Sunday which saw him give up 8 earned runs and 8 walks he's going back on the DL with more anxiety issues. The Tigers are bringing up 24 year-old Alfredo Figaro from Double A Erie to replace Willis but who knows what to expect from him. Figaro is 5-2 with a 4.10 ERA through 11 starts this year.
Lastly, Nate Robertson needs to be released. He proved last year he couldn't be a valuable starter and now he's proving he can't be a decent relief pitcher. Robertson is 1-0 in 18 appearances this season with a less than stellar ERA of 7.97. But releasing him would cost 7 million dollars. Trades will have to be the only option this year, which we'll explore later.
Hitting: Outside of Miguel Cabrera and Brandon Inge, Tigers' hitters are struggling. Yes Granderson has 16 home runs but he's hitting .264. Magglio Ordonez has hit an extreme power failure, with only 11 extra base hits through 57 games played. Placido Polanco is hitting a meager .259, he's hit near or above .300 since coming over a few years ago. Ramon Santiago, Adam Everett and Inge have all cooled off as of late. Gerald Laird a career .274 hitter is hitting .214. Good news is Marcus Thames is hitting .282 since coming off the DL, but how long until he cools off? If the Tigers don't start hitting and protecting Cabrera, he could be pitched around more which would be bad news for the Tigers.
Trade Possibilities: The Tigers desperately need a lefty in their rotation. Jarrod Washburn would be the cheapest and best bet. Outside of that I don't expect the Tigers to make any big moves for two reasons. They don't have to money to pay the big name guy right now and they don't have very many prospects. With Rick Porcello and Ryan Perry in the majors, their best prospect is Wilkin Ramirez who is expected to crack the lineup in 2010 or 2011 as Ordonez's replacement. And bad trades have left the cupboard bare. Don't expect to see Dusty Ryan or Scott Sizemore traded as they could be replacements for Polanco and Laird next year.
This leaves you with the following guys who could be traded: pitchers Brooks Brown, Casey Fien Charles Furbushand Jonah Nickerson. Hitters Mike Hessman, Will Rhymes, Jeff Frazier, Brent Clevlen, Alex Avila, Cale Iorg and Casper Wells.
Think the Tigers wish they still had Jair Jurrjens and Gorkys Hernandez?
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