2025-2026 Tigers Off Season Thread

[gehringer_2]

49 minutes ago, Tiger337 said:

I am more skeptical of his fielding than hitting.  I think he'll hit well enough to be in the line-up somewhere.  

Colt seem to me to be the kind of guy who needs to develop confidence, so if they can leave him be to get comfortable at 3B I think he's the kind of player that will help.

By the numbers, the sample size is too small at 3b but at least he didn't grade out so badly it jumped out, Neutral RDS and -2 on Statcast. +1 lateral, -1 in, -1 out. I though the best thing in the statcast data was a max throw of 87 mph, which means his shoulder has recovered pretty well and he seems fairly accurate. If he develops even a little more, his arm won't be a show stopper for him. I think a risk for Colt is he lets himself bulk up out of being a decent fielder.

Edited 9 hours ago by gehringer_2

[Sports_Freak]

5 hours ago, Tiger337 said:

There will be changes, but necessarily ones that will affect the infield situation.  I do agree though there will be lots of mixing and matching as usual.  

Thats a real safe bet. Hinch has shown he likes to use his whole roster and he likes guys who can play multiple positions. We have 4 guys who can play, or fill in, at 3rd base for example. Also, a few 2nd base options. Quality utility players, it's the way MLB seems to be heading.

[Sports_Freak]

7 hours ago, casimir said:

At this point I think Keith gets the Opening Day 3B gig.  I’m fine with that.  Give him a defensive role, let him grow into it.  I think the bat will be fine and I think it’s good enough where he’s not a platoon bat.  SS is the only spot on the IF in flux right now, and at worst Baez’s glove still plays there.

Yes, Javy is valuable at SS. So is Parker in CF. But can our lineup handle both of these guys not hitting? We need to get something offensively at those positions. I say Parker is going to hit, at least, I hope so.

[Sports_Freak]

7 hours ago, casimir said:

Ok, ok, enough fish ‘n chips and birthday chat.  Let’s get back into which is the more extreme, Scott Harris’s awesomeness or Al Avila’s awfulness.

And you guys almost got me to admit that I like the Reuben Sandwich at Culvers.

[gehringer_2]

33 minutes ago, Sports_Freak said:

Yes, Javy is valuable at SS. So is Parker in CF. But can our lineup handle both of these guys not hitting? We need to get something offensively at those positions. I say Parker is going to hit, at least, I hope so.

I'd like to believe Parker will hit. I've made arguments about why I think it possible for Parker to get better. And Parker is still shy of 1000 MLB PA. But the probabilities are what they are, not many guys at his age and career path suddenly get much better. Not none, but not many.

[Tenacious D]

24 minutes ago, gehringer_2 said:

I'd like to believe Parker will hit. I've made arguments about why I think it possible for Parker to get better. And Parker is still shy of 1000 MLB PA. But the probabilities are what they are, not many guys at his age and career path suddenly get much better. Not none, but not many.

He did hit at the end of ‘24 and was a catalyst in that lineup that surged to the playoffs.  I’ll give him a mulligan for last season—missed ST and had a bizarre injury that disrupted his season.  I feel much more bullish about a healthy Parker next season.

[Sports_Freak]

1 hour ago, gehringer_2 said:

I'd like to believe Parker will hit. I've made arguments about why I think it possible for Parker to get better. And Parker is still shy of 1000 MLB PA. But the probabilities are what they are, not many guys at his age and career path suddenly get much better. Not none, but not many.

He was doing OK at the end of the '24 season. '25 was an wash, hopefully because of injuries. If he could hit a little, he would make a good leadoff hitter.

[Stormin]

If Colt Keith's throwing arm does not get injured again, and the Tigers can stop playing musical chairs with his fielding position,  I think Colt will be fine at third base.   He is an above average athlete - his base running value on baseball savant is in the 89 percentile. He is not a Castellanos, Malloy, or Jung.  Colt has played the majority of his innings as a professional at third base.

Colt is already an above average MLB hitter (107 OPS+) and getting better.

Contrary to what media talking heads are saying, the Tigers have every reason to provide opportunities for Colt to improve over the next 7 years on a team friendly contract - as opposed to paying Bregman $200 million and watch the 30 something decline over the next 7 years.

[gehringer_2]

41 minutes ago, Stormin said:

If Colt Keith's throwing arm does not get injured again, and the Tigers can stop playing musical chairs with his fielding position,  I think Colt will be fine at third base.   He is an above average athlete - his base running value on baseball savant is in the 89 percentile. He is not a Castellanos, Malloy, or Jung.  Colt has played the majority of his innings as a professional at third base.

Colt is already an above average MLB hitter (107 OPS+) and getting better.

Contrary to what media talking heads are saying, the Tigers have every reason to provide opportunities for Colt to improve over the next 7 years on a team friendly contract - as opposed to paying Bregman $200 million and watch the 30 something decline over the next 7 years.

I'd like a little more certainty we get production from the OF, but to me the IF is the least of this team's problems. The Tigers 1st priority needs to be to have a more reliable rotation and bullpen than last season. They're not going anywhere if it's Skubal, and the 11 Dwarfs again. So far I'm unimpressed on that score.

Edited 3 hours ago by gehringer_2