casimir

Yup. Holliday is an everyday position player that just made his debut. Skubal is a power pitcher with injuries on his resume and only under control for 2 seasons / 3 postseasons. There's an argument that the quality of the players which tips in Skubal's favor but its offset by the remainder of controlled years. Now, I don't want him dealt necessarily. However, if Holliday is included as the main cog going back, then maybe other teams decide they really, really like Skubal and up the ante. Maybe that occurs in the offseason. Baltimore doesn't get the ring this postseason, Burnes leaves, and Skubal can backfill as that ace at the top of the rotation. And then the bacchanal of trade offers can go from there.

He's old for the controlled salary scale that he is on. He's under control through 2028. I think there's a case to keeping him because he'll never be a big contract. At the same time, a team like the Dodgers or Yankees with salary commitments out the whazooo might see the value in this lower end contract.

Nope, I don't think they find a taker for Urshela. I suspect Ibanez' platoon vs LHP and salary are enticing as an acquisition. And as far as his trade value, now is the time to move him.

I am going to predict the Tigers trade away Flaherty, Kelly, Canha, and Ibanez. I don't know how they backfill Flaherty, pitching depth seems to be a bit of a quagmire. Dingler up for Kelly. Torkelson up for Canha in a put up or shut up. Vilade up for Ibanez. You can take those to the bank or put them in a coffee can and bury it in your yard.

Well then, might as well win this game.

I'd be fine with a Carpenter/Malloy platoon in theory, but would want to see the rest of the roster. Is Jung ready for MLB quite yet, both offensively and defensively? Who plays 1B next season? Does Keith stay at 2B?

Jose Ramirez. Is his career trajectory hall of fame or hall of really freaking good?

I don't know. McKinstry stealing the run was fortunate. Cleveland had a couple of base running mistakes. Rogers probably should have been cut down going from 2nd to 3rd on a ground out to the left of SS later in the game, but the throw went to 1B.

Perhaps one of those other OFs not named Greene becomes trade bait for a prospect or two? Or maybe they make some changes on the IF which includes Vierling as a starting 3B? Greene plays every day. Now its down to Meadows, Perez, Carpenter, and Malloy for 2 OF spots and DH.

Agree. I know people like to focus on a possible return from Baltimore for Skubal being chock full of position players. But the Tigers need to find some pitching prospects as well. The depth that was talked about going into this season has weathered away pretty quickly.

Caba sounds like fun.

What’s going on there?

One day at a time, homey, one day at a time.

I don't think anyone questions they need better position players. Whether the threshold is an .800 OPS or maybe something more along the lines of OPS+ based, this offense needs help. I think Flaherty has pitched himself to a point where a trade return is going to be better than the qualifying offer compensation. Maybe that's debatable given his recent back issue, I don't know. I think he gets traded before the deadline. As fun as the Tigers have looked lately, its tough to see this stretch continuing given the pitching rotation health. They've given themselves a puncher's chance, but let's see how they get through Cleveland and Minnesota. The other issue is that they're chasing teams down, so they have to rely on their downfalls as well. I think Skubal could still command a similarly high return during the offseason. I think he'll be kept unless the offer is too much to decline. I do disagree with what you said about replacing him directly. The Tigers can ask for a top tier pitching prospect as part of a trade package. I suppose we can debate whether or not that is a replacement for Skubal based on current value, and that's fine. But they're also going to need to find some arms this offseason to begin with. Almost certainly in the bullpen, but probably more rotation depth as well.

Whoa, hold on. Don't get greedy. Can't do that today. It's only the 2th game of a 4 game series. Might as well win this game today.

I didn't prove anything for you. Is the internet working for you? Can you not research your own theory?

She’s a Cleveland fan before they moved to this stadium. She understands losing.

3 runs is curly fries. 8 runs is the team bus chauffeur gets to pitch an inning.

I shudder to imagine how this could’of gone without this early sage advice.

I don’t want to see him dealt, but if the Tigers get an offer that they cannot refuse, it’s understandable. They’re closer to the playoffs than they’ve been in a long time. Unfortunately Flaherty probably gets dealt and Olson just landed on the IL. Mize has been on the IL, and Maeda has been awful. The rotation has really kept them around for this long. But with the Flaherty and Olson situations, it looks like a daunting task to make up ground between now and the playoffs. Dealing Skubal leaves a giant hole in the rotation. I don’t know how a team fills that void. It starts with better depth. But there needs to be quality with the quantity and Skubal is of utmost quality.

Yes, I think the mandated 4 or 5 guys over .800 is a stretch (although that’d be awfully darn fun). I glanced through some of the better offenses and only the Dodgers, Orioles, and Phillies fit the bill.

My wife is a Cleveland fan and our driveway is dry. Play on.

I'm disappointed he wasn't eating something whilst giving the speech.

Word.