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DETROIT TIGERS

First in the AL Central

2012 Record : 88-74

It may have taken the Tigers the first half of the season to get going last year, but get going they did. An AL Central title seemed a certainty in a relatively weak division, but they were made to fight for it.

The squad remains largely the same. Veteran Hunter replaces Delmon Young, who, despite some decent performances had off-field issues that brought negative publicity to the team. While the AL Central is set to be a more competitive division this year, the Tigers, with the All-Star trio of Verlander, Fielder and Cabrera, will remain the team to beat. It wouldn’t surprise many people if the Tigers found themselves in the Fall Classic come October.

INCOMINGS

C Ramon Cabrera – Trade (PIT)
2B Jeff Kobernus – Trade (BOS)
IF Gustavo Nuñez – Rule 5 Return (ARI)
OF Torii Hunter – Free Agent (DET)
LHP Kyle Lobstein – Trade (NYM)

OUTGOINGS

C Gerald Laird – Free Agent (ATL)
IF/OF Justin Henry – Trade (BOS)
OF Delmon Young – Free Agent (PHI)
RHP Marcelo Carreno – Trade (CHC)
LHP Andy Oliver – Trade (PIT)
LHP Daniel Schlereth – Free Agent (BAL)

Outfielders

37-year-old Torii Hunter replaces Delmon Young, and while he is no longer the perennial Gold Glove winner, he is still as solid as they come.  Austin Jackson and Andy Dirks complete an outfield trio that all hitting .300 or better last season.

Dirks batted .322 in 88 games, while Jackson hit .300 as the full-time centre-fielder. The 26-year-old has lived up to early reputations and has become one of the premier lead-off batters in the game. Quintin Berry and Brennan Boesch, both lefties, will be the main reserves, but both are a big step down from the starting trio. Three of the five top prospects in the Tigers system are outfielders, lead by 21-year-old Avisail Garcia, who batted .319 in 21 games with the big club in 2012.

Infielders

The Tigers have two of the best hitters in the game manning the corners. Triple-crown winner Miguel Cabrera is coming off a .330/44/139 season for the ages, while big Prince Fielder wasn’t exactly a slouch, hitting .313 and whacking 30 balls out of the park.

The best duo in the game? It sure seems like it.

The experienced pair of Jhonny Peralta and Omar Infante could be the best hitters in some teams, but they will find themselves near the bottom of the stacked Tigers line-up. Solid defensively and both with some pop, you know exactly what they are going to provide. Victor Martinez will be the primary DH but can play both at first base and catcher. The 34-year-old is coming off a missed season and it will be interesting to see how he copes.

Experienced Ramon Santiago will start the season on the bench, but despite a stacked roster, the depth is thin with few other options should injuries occur.

Catchers

Alex Avila will be the primary catcher. Despite hitting just .243 last season, his OBP was over .350. Oddly, he had both incredibly high strikeout and walk ratios, but also has the strength to hit the long ball. New signing Brayan Pena will provide cover, with Martinez another possibility.

Starters

The Tigers have one of the best and youngest rotations in the game, headed by Justin Verlander. It seems amazing to think he’s just 30-years-old, with this being his eighth season. His 121-65 record and 3.40 career ERA make him unquestionably one of the top pitchers in the game.

Behind him will be the solid quartet of Doug Fister, Max Scherzer, Anibal Sanchez and Rick Porcello. The latter was the only one to have an ERA over 4.00 last season, but at just 24-years-old he has his best years in front of him. Youngster Drew Smyly proved a solid option last season, recording a 3.99 ERA in 23 games (18 starts) last year, while Casey Crosby, 23, is the second ranked prospect in the system and could see time as either a starter or reliever once injuries inevitably kick-in.

Relievers

Gone is Jose Valverde, who notched 110 saves in his 3 year stint in Motown. Bruce Rondon is set to replace him, but at 22 and with little experience he is a potential weak link. He started at A+ last year, ending up in AAA, claiming 29 saves, with a 1.53 ERA.

Behind him are the experienced set-up duo of Phil Coke and Joaquin Benoit, who are both capable of stepping up to the closer role if Rondon struggles. The man of many clubs, Octavio Dotel, will also be a crucial, while Duane Below, Al Alburquerque and Brayan Villareal will round out the bullpen.