papalawrence

If a market like Houston is trading off pending FA like Tucker and letting Bregman walk, not sure what chances Det will have for keeping players like Skubal and Greene. MLB is becoming a ~5 team contender and 27 teams emulating the Rays of the past decade.

Speaking of Navin Field, I just bought a postcard of Navin Field from the 1910s on eBay. It's en route

Very cool story - would have been a dream job of mine to work at Tigers stadium in the 70s or 80s

A few times in my life I've been asked what player would I choose from Henderson's era to start a franchise and I've always said Rickey. If it were any player in their prime it would be between Henderson and mid 70s Joe Morgan. Both were so electric and could rattle pitchers with their speed. When they came up everyone took notice. Mike Schmidt would also be up on my list

I have a hunch they will add a versatile right handed bat, someone who will take a shorter deal. They will balance winning now with a larger focus on longer-term success. I think Jung will get a long look at 3rd. Tork will have a shorter leash but still have a chance to prove himself at 1st. Malloy will get more at-bats. And Dingler. Harris will not make a big splash but will trade for or sign a bat similar to Vierling. Several rated infielders are a couple years away. This is why I still think trading Skubal is a real possibility. I do think Flaherty is a real possibility yet this winter. He was texting Detroit players during their run last season. He clearly liked it in Motown. If Det matches other offers I actually think he would choose Detroit.

Santana to Cleveland

Santana back to Cleveland. Naylor traded to AZ

Truly and all time great. So fun to watch. Terribly sad news! RIP Rickey

USA Today ranks MLB farm systems. And they have the Tigers #1. It's USA Today......but still It's nice to see https://www.usatoday.com/story/sports/mlb/2024/12/20/2024-mlb-farm-system-rankings/77076639007/

But now we are seeing elite teams in large markets (Houston) dump stars on the cusp of big paydays. I agree people have panicked before, but this feels different to me.

SI is suggesting the Tigers consider Carlos Santana. He's 38 but can still field and hit 23 HR with 109 ops+. He seems to crush Detroit. Switch hitter. Anyway, thought it was an interesting idea. https://www.si.com/mlb/tigers/news/why-signing-carlos-santana-makes-perfect-sense-for-detroit-tigers

Into John Wick would put more keesters in the seats

He is reportedly very close with Yu Darvish. SD is a very real possibility.

Tigers have also been linked to Bohm and supposedly Philly is asking for the moon, which seems silly. Please avoid. I think once Sasaki signs with LAD (I'm jaded about LAD at this point) other dominos will fall. Or Little Caesars. Pizza Pizza

I'm in Minneapolis and will go to aaa Twins games in St Paul when they play Toledo. It's a great stadium and atmosphere. It's where the independent league St Paul Saints (owned by Veck and Bill Murray) used to play

Get some Culver's onion rings

Last season Badoo had a -0.5 WAR. 500 of him is a whole lotta bad

The Tigers have been linked to him for a while now. But are the links speculation or is there some substance? I'd trust evening radio guy.....afternoon? Not so sure

We don't know how Harris will approach this yet. Contending never stopped the Rays. After skubal they have Greene and we don't yet know how hi Illitch will allow the payroll to grow. I hope you are correct. I want Skubal extended today.

With escalating starting pitching prices, don't you think there is a decent chance they trade him? With Jobe and Hamm coming up, I think it's at least in the back of Harris' mind

I don't see Harris going much, if any higher than the 6/156 Houston reportedly offered. He turns 31 in March and is showing signs of decline. His BB were way down last year. This might be the last year they have Skubal. I would like to see them upgrade the offense now, but not sure Bregman is the way to go.

Wow, big trade day! Tucker heading to Cubs. Parades and others to Houston. Is Houston out in Bregman now? https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/12/cubs-to-acquire-kyle-tucker.html

Yankees trade for Devin Williams https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2024/12/brewers-trade-devin-williams-yankees.html

Yankees suck

This is interesting - according to this article Detroit is Vegas odds on favorite to land Bregman, and tied for favorite to land Verlander https://www.houstonpress.com/news/detroit-tigers-remain-odssmakers-frontrunners-to-land-alex-bregman-19491823