CaliforniaDreaming

Outside of injury, there is no way Verlander is not in the starting rotation to start the season....even if Drew Anderson gives up zero runs in spring training. (If you ask me why, I will tell you that I'm just a dumb poster making claims I can't prove. What comes to mind, though, includes: pissing off the fans who want to see Verlander and, more importantly, will pay $$ to see him...Verlander not being happy about it which can't be a helpful...recognizing it is long season and Anderson will get his chance sooner or later...Anderson being a good option out of the bullpen until needed as a starter.)

Are we really going to have this Harris/Avila debate AGAIN? I'm sorry, but it is getting a bit old and tiresome to me. I've read all the opinions multiple times as they have been hashed and rehashed in multiple threads and there is no way to either "prove" or "disprove" any of them. We are just going to recycle the same opinions again. If there is interest in prolonging this endless debate, could someone start a separate thread for it...please?

Troy Melton will start the season in AAA but will be in the rotation by July 1 and will make it impossible for them to take him out.

I actually like the new uniforms as well and am happy with less of the city connects. But if they EVER bring back that tiger coming through the D logo again, I will never forgive them.

My softball story....I was in a league where just over the left field fence (standard 5 foot chainlink fence) was a playground for little kids. Big guys would regularly hit homeruns right onto the playground where the kids were playing. I wrote to the city telling them about the danger but heard nothing back. After the next ball landed in the playground I wrote them again. I was seriously scared for the kids and must have written 5 or 6 times through out the summer. In my last message to them I noted that I was keeping a copies of all my messages to them and when a kid is ultimately hit and killed, I will give it to whatever lawyer is representing the kid's parents. The fence was extended 20 feet higher within the week.

This. It is the smart move.

I never realized that the Tigers didn't use uniform #35 since Verlander left in 2017.

I'm guessing this is his farewell tour...all of his home starts will be sellouts...the Tigers more than recoup their $13 million.

This would be the smart move. I'd take the guaranteed extra year of control over the possibility of getting a draft pick any day. It gains you a lot more playing time when he should be playing really well while losing less playing time when he is still developing.

Amen. i completely agree with this.

I don't think they trade Skubal...and this is what I was hoping they would do. Sign his "replacement" a year early and greatly increase our odds of not only making the playoffs but having a long run in the playoffs in 2026. Assuming that is what they do, I like how it sets us up for the future. If we make a long postseason run this season, it makes us an appealing destination for a FA pitcher (including Skubal) next offseason. They would get to pair with an already signed top quality starter and enjoy the fruit of our developing hitting prospects.

Well...that is disappointing. Do you think there could be any leaks, or are both sides pretty willing to play by the rules?

💰Happy Skubal Arbitration Day!💰

But can he bowl?

I think he gets a 6 year contract with an opt out after 2. If he continues winning awards, he could go back on the market after 2. If he doesn't, the team isn't on the hook for 10 years.