1984Echoes

This was my second thought. My first thought was: "Looks like a Herschel Walker trade... to me." So... no. But another thought occurred to me during tonight's game... as KP was throwing up 32 points... Milwaukee will say no to these changes... But here I go anyways: Harris, Ivey, Holland, LeVert for Giannis & Kevin Porter Jr. Plus (4) 1sts and the (3) 1st round swaps... plus we have 12-14 2nd rounders over the next 7 years... In the years we lose our 1sts in this trade we keep our highest 2nd rounder, they get all the remaining 2nd rounders. If they say no, c'est la vie. If that trade actually gets done (a shock to mine and everyone's system?): Looking at it from the Piston's Roster: Cade-KPJ-Ausar-Giannis-Duren start. I would take that starting 5 over any in the NBA. Pushed to the bench: Stew-Duncan-Paul Reed at PF?, maybe KPJ has to run all the bench PG minutes so is a little bit staggered with either Cade or KPJ always on the floor? And somehow, some additional guard minutes needed between Lanier-Jenkins-Sasser-Javonte Green? Bench might be a bit of work-in-progress but I think we could get it to a serviceable level... But that's the Giannis trade I would sign off on. Would Milwaukee? EDIT (Just some minor grammar changes...)

There are several points I disagree with... 1) I don't think the Mets are the only outlier. 2) Has everyone forgotten that Dave Dombrowski likes shiny toys? 3) Anyone who wants to take down the Dodgers has their eyes on Skubal. And Tucker or others, etc... But... Skubal. 4) When we traded for Miggy with one year left before FA... We immediately signed him to a long-term extension if memory serves. I believe Boras was his agent? (although I have a faulty memory... was it Rosenhaus?) 5) Boras HAS signed players before getting them to FA before... Not his MO or preference... but meet his and his client's price... And the deal gets done. 6) The Red Sox would be willing to meet their price if they traded for Skubal. So would the Mets. So would the Phillies. Even the Dodgers would do that, as a blocking measure, just to ensure the Mets or Phillies do NOT get Skubal (IMO...). 7) I AGREE that Harris doesn't want to trade Skubal. However, as the top guy for the Tigers, he is going to make the BEST DECISION for the TIGERS ORG. Not the fans. Not the media. Not Boras. Not Skubal. I think his FIRST want is to sign Skubal to an extension... but at a price and term that he believes is in the Org's best interest. If they are pricing themselves higher than what he believes is good for the Org (and Boras definitely will have that price too high), then I am going to guess that Harris, IN THE BEST INTERESTS of the TIGERS ORG... will absolutely accept a Godfather offer. In the interests of the Tigers Org, and NOT just for 2026 and ONLY 2026... He will rightly have concluded that a Godfather offer is superior to having Skubal in 2026 and then a Comp pick in 2027. This may upset everyone on this board. But Harris doesn't answer to any of us. We are ONLY fans. He has a responsibility to the ORG, NOT just for 2026, but for this year and multiple years to follow. If he receives a Godfather offer, he WILL pull the trigger. He will have correctly concluded that 4 (or 3 or 5 or whatever) very highly talented players that he receives in return for Skubal is greater value to the Tigers Organization. ATF and I are correct. Even if that upsets everyone else on this board. Sorry everyone.

I agree with all of this. Which is why I said he will get his shot in spring training. He may end up as being nothing more than a 6th 7th starter in Toledo. Or he may be better than that and grab a 5th spot. It's all up to him, even if he's a long shot. And I also agree with this. It's perfectly fine, by me and I'm guessing a few others here, that Harris is looking for those long shot 5th / 6th / 7th / 8th starters for 2026... because that's what it takes to get through today's 162 game season. But I hope he gets ahold of at least one 2nd or 3rd starter type on a multi-year contract. I'd be happy with Suarez, or Valdes, or King, or Imai... We all have our preferences... I'd like at least one high-level starter though...

He'll have just as fair a shot at opening day as anyone else not named Skubal. I wouldn't bet my life savings on him... He'll just be an interesting story to follow in spring training. And... Somehow, some way... If he's blowing the doors off in ST... Well... Let's just see what happens. I wouldn't recommend holding breath... Although stranger things have happened...

That's easy. Sign Bregman, sign Tucker, sign Imai. McGonigle makes opening day SS. And we are EASILY a better team than they were last year.

I can easily see a big trade helping the Tigers this year. I'm not saying the same impact as having Skubal... Nor that every guy they get in return... But a couple guys who just broke into MLB or are in AA or AAA and ready to break through... Can help the Tigers. Whether they are top 100 guys or close to it... I think Harris will demand that.

Buster Olney says Tigers are listening to Skubal offers. Not shutting talks down at this point. At any point they can do that, shut down the talks and say "we're keeping him". But they haven't done so yet. I'm still on the Sign him to an extension OR get a Godfather offer. Olney says the Tigers' asking price is very, very high at this point. To be continued...

For some reason... I've always been extremely attracted to petite, beautiful women. Not married ones that is. But my Ex is 5' 2". Now if I could only talk Eva Longoria into a date...

I would kill for 5' 10" All my family is there or better. But alas... I think I got all the brains instead of height and... Well, I'll just have to live with that...

I'd turn Glasnow into our closer. And ask for one more high-end prospect.

Please. I mean... that's not what I actually want to say.... What I REALLY want to say is: OMI****ING GOSH!!! QUIT ****ING AROUND and get COSSA up here NOW!!! But... Yeah... Please.

You know... There ARE roster limits in MLB... Even in L.A.

Here is the end of Democracy... Right there. Trump will turn ICE into his brown shirts and overthrow our Constitution.

I think Harris should tell those guys: We want ALL 3 of you... and we'll add whatever necessary to help with the transition...

Munetaka Murikami - draft pick cost: 0. Posting and contract money only on a RH'd 3B (can also play 1B and maybe OF) from the Japanese leagues. 26 y.o. next year, has a high hit tool and patience with good power... but ... converting from Japan to USA? Career .275 BA in Japan, .395 OBP, .550 SP%. Could be a good 3-4 year bet rather than going HIGH years HIGH dollars with Boras/ Bregman. Can start at 3B at least beginning 2026... Tigers can adjust as needed. I would prefer Bregman as a "known commodity". But if Harris could swing a signing of both Murikami and Imai...? I'd give him MAJOR PROPS for that. Speaking of which... Tatsuya Imai - draft pick cost: 0. Posting and contract money only on a RH'd pitcher from the Japanese leagues 28 y.o. next year, had a 1.62 ERA last year in Japan, 164 inn's, 101 hits, 45 BB's 178 K's. Would probably slot in as a #2 or 3 ahead of, or behind, Flaherty. Getting the two of them together may "ease the pain" of transitioning to the US as they'd be doing it together on the same team. That's the only thing I got... Maybe bring Maeda back as a team ambassador/ translator/ coach/ advisor...? Would that help? I say Tucker. And trade Kerry Carpenter. Unless there's a CF'er that's as good an option as Tucker? Or Tucker-lite that's less expensive? But I don't see one so... Tucker? Or... how about a trifecta? Add in Kazuma Okamoto who can play 1B/3B/OF and let Hinch have some fun!!! Turns 30 next year at end of June but.. no draft pick cost, fits high hit/ patience tool that Harris wants... RP's...? Finnegan plus Diaz/ Suarez/ Fairbanks/ Keller...? Whoever Hinch can wrangle?

I'd rather have Imai.

Looking good there Rob...

And they are HITTING a lot better this game than the last one. Very physical, using their size for physicality... Leading 4-2 with a minute to go in the 2nd... Must. Do. Always.

It's on nights like these that I want Bob Probert on this team.

This should have started several months ago... IMO.

You can do that if EVERY player is available... But they're not. There are one or two FA position players who are great fits for Detroit and specifically Harris's hitting profile. Therefore, forget your "attack the weakest link" theory... Just get a player or two who add the most to the Tigers and move the rest of the existing roster around to fit. IMO.

This. Solutions...? Can Ratledge handle Center? He struggled this year because it was new to him. So he either figures it out and we have our Center for 2026... or this needs to be one of our top priorities. Everything O flows from this position right here. If he still is struggling to understand C next year... Has Kinsgsley Eguakon been coached up to where he is an actual viable candidate? If not... priority FA signing? Top two rounds draft pick? The guards fall out from there... Frazier and Mahogany need health though... and they need to be at the level needed by the Lions to make our O-Line run correctly... Maybe not a TOP FA priority... but can we find a decent starting level Guard to provide competition or depth? Speaking of which... Is Manu going to be ready to properly back up Decker? He has to get good enough to be able to take over ecker's starting spot... which at least makes him a top backup at LT and he just has to wait until Decker hands over the keys... But until then... Is that our answer to backup LT? If not, what then...? Those are a lot of key questions about our O-Line... As for our D-Line... I feel like we have enough DT starters coming back from injury and/or depth that... Our focus really needs to be finding Hutch some help... In other words, 1st round Defensive End. Doesn't have to be a world beater the 1st year... just has to replace Davenport's lost games (IE: be healthy...) and give something, anything, towards a pass rush opposite Hutch. I feel like all the other DE's on the team can fill in the blanks/ bench/ depth. IMO. Top offseason priorities: 1) Resolve Center. 2) Draft 1st round DE 3) Resolve the rest of the O-Line issues 4) Draft secondary depth at FS and CB. PS: I'm not certain Arnold/ Reed/ Amik plus depth locks in the CB position. But I'm uncertain at the moment how to resolve that just yet... FA for depth...?

Fleshing this out further... Call this the "Ideal World Version" of the Tigers... In an ideal world, both McGonigle and Rainer make it to Detroit and become stars. What happens if we sign Bregman? (I'm going to add in Tucker because I think he is in the "Ideal World"...); But starting with Bregman... to your point... Rainer and McGonigle are in NO danger of being blocked. And Rainer may be at least a couple more years before he gets to Detroit (I have no idea of any kind of ETA for him at the moment...) So... In an ideal world, McGonigle can handle SS until Rainer makes it to Detroit and then slide over to 2B when that happens (because BOTH are going to be a STARS!!!) If Rainer ends up at 3B before he gets to Detroit, then we can cross that bridge when we get there. But I would also anticipate the need to "protect" Bregman a little from the rigors of 3B so he may be at 1B/DH/other by that time. I don't see any problems here... and if anything, the "squeezes" will roll down hill, with these 3 at the top of the hill. Does Keith get squeezed? Torres is here for only 1 year. And if McGonigle can handle SS, Keith can handle 2B in 2027. Or maybe it's Bregman 2B, McGonigle SS, Keith 3B in 2027? I'm not really worried about Keith, to be honest... I think they'll find a place for him. Even in 2026 if we sign Bregman. Bregman Tork and Torres are all RH'ers... which should give Keith a day or two per week at 2B, or 3B, or 1B, or DH. Hinch will fit him in... somewhere. What about McKinstry, Hao Yu Lee, Max Anderson, Trei Cruz, Baez, etc...? I think these are the guys that will get squeezed. They are all utility guys at this point... Anderson is not a fielder (maybe they'll give him a 1B glove?). So... Baez is gone soon, but here as long as his contract runs... and he can always play some D at SS and CF which I think is useful. McKinstry is 31. He'll be here until he gets pushed out the door... which I hope is soon. Both Cruz (switch-hitter) and Lee can play all over the IF so one of them needs to make a move... does the loser of those two get squeezed to Toledo? Or elsewhere? Anderson will play a lot of DH. But if his bat/ strike zone control play... they'll find a spot for him on the team. I'm really not worried about anyone getting squeezed if we sign Bregman. Why Tucker? Because I REALLY WANT to be able to follow Hinch/Harris's philosophy of "Controlling the Zone"!!! And how can we do that with a team OBP of .316? (14th in MLB in 2025...) I see Tucker (.377 OBP) and Bregman (.360) as EXACTLY the right kind of leadership to implement Harris's philosophy. And any fallout from that (Carpenter gets squeezed out with a trade, just as an example... with his .292 OBP...) as being INCONSEQUENTIAL to CHANGING how this team approaches hitting. And I'd like to start that right now. With Tucker and Bregman. Just my 2 cents...

I think other teams are getting the idea that taking out Seider takes out 100% of the fight, whatever is there, of the Wings... And they are probably right. It wasn't just Kastelic... Seider was run at several times by several players... probably trying to throw his game off, or worse. Seider held his own until Kastelic went after him. And Kastelic went DIRECTLY at him, into the boards, and then started cross-checking Seider in the chest... literally forcing Seider to fight. Kastelic was hunting him for that...

You are showing for all to see here... Your abject... Ignorance.