Not even a toy bullpen car
https://www.ebay.com/itm/356273065749?mkcid=16&mkevt=1&mkrid=711-127632-2357-0&ssspo=9QQjqESrRxy&sssrc=4429486&ssuid=kqHvYtTeTyS&var=&widget_ver=artemis&media=COPY
I'm optimistic about the Tigers and am more confident in sustainable quality baseball. Part of me is still braced to lose Skubal, eventually Greene, etc. There hasn't been a situation yet to offer huge contracts. I suspect we'll see more Colt Keith like contracts. But I also think we as fans will also see any superstars move on following team control. Have to wait and see. Morris, Lou, Tram and Parish would have all past team control just prior to 1984. Different era altogether. Hot dogs are the same.
Mike Illitch and DD were all-in and willing to take risks. Made for one of the best decades in Tigers baseball. But also resulted in albatross contracts to aging, slowed vets, and ultimately one of the worst 7 year stretches in Tigers history. Harris seems on the other end of the spectrum. Very calculated. Bregman is just too much of a risk. I do sense they're going in a direction similar to Tampa. I actually hope not. I hope they'll take some risks. Flaherty would be a risk. Not a huge risk to jeopardize the future, but some risk. You can never have too much pitching.
Yeah, Beltran is another who should be in with Lou and Schilling. He has 400+ home runs, 300+ stolen bases, 2700+ hits, obp .350, 9x all-star, ROY, 3 gold gloves.
2026 veterans ballot for hof. Lou is up, and he is up against several other players on the bubble. I fear Lou will get passed up again. One of these guys make sense - that Rolen and Helton don't stand out against this list and they are already in
If you take away his 5 starts as a 21 yo rookie and his covid season, his only terrible stretch was with Baltimore for 9 starts, after being traded for the first time. Career era 3.63, fip 3.91, whip 1.18, k/9 10.2. I'm not pushing for Harris to just do anything. I am not for giving Bregman a huge contract. Flaherty was a very good fit here. A 4 year deal takes him to sge 32. Any FA signing brings an element of risk. That's one I would take
https://www.baseball-reference.com/players/f/flaheja01.shtml
Flaherty was on the Foul Territory podcast today. While it's obviously part ploy to get a contract, he also seems very genuine when he says how much he enjoyed being in Detroit and he would welcome the chance to return. He will be 29 the entire 2025 season. The Tigers should pay this guy. They likely will lose Skubal in 2 years, if not sooner. I don't know what they're asking, but 4/100 to 5/120 would seem reasonable. I keep reading he is asking for 5 yrs. Just go get him Harris!
Far too many guys start significant decline in their early to mid 30s. After the Miggy, Zimmerman, Fielder, Baez, etc contracts, I just don't see Illitch agreeing any more long-term deals post 30. That's why I am convinced they will not be retaining Skubal. The Yankees and Mets will get into a bidding war.