Detroit Tigers MLB 2015 News, Rumors: Is the Starting Rotation Worse Off?
One of the Detroit Tigers' strength the last few seasons was its starting rotation. However, that starting rotation came at a very hefty price in terms of salary and at the start of the 2014 season their GM went about trying to balance out that cost. That off-season he traded away Doug Fister, and last year at the trading deadline he dealt away young left hander Drew Smyly. He did get back one of the most dominant left-handed pitchers in the game today in David Price, but he is only signed through the 2015 season.
This off-season Dave Dombrowski traded away Rick Porcello. This means over a little more than a calendar year the Tigers have lost two front line pitchers (Max Scherzer was lost in free agency) and a back of the rotation lefty. What is left still looks pretty good, but is the starting rotation better off?
The Tigers do still have a very good righty in Justin Verlander and if he bounces back from an off-year, he is the kind of talent that can carry a rotation on his own. They also have Price and Anibal Sanchez who is a very solid mid-rotation pitcher. The big question marks right now are the new comers Alfredo Simon and Shane Greene whop were picked up in the clubs off season dealing.
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Kevin Ruprecht of SB Nation broke down the stats. He concludes that in 2015 season, the rotation is a little bit worse off. However, longer term, these deals may just work out to the team's benefit. He points out that only Verlander and Sanchez are signed past the coming MLB season, meaning the Tigers have flexibility to rebuild on the fly.
When we stop and consider that losing Scherzer and trading Porcello enabled the team to resign DH Victor Martinez and acquire LF Yoenis Cespedes we see that while the rotation is weaker, the overall team roster may in fact be stronger.
