2026 DETROIT TIGERS REGULAR SEASON THREAD

[Tigermojo]

8 minutes ago, Tiger337 said:

 

SportsFreak gets the blocked centerfielder he wanted.

Harris really does read this forum.

I would have received my quarter zip by now if so.

[Tigermojo]

Sux are in first place and pythag makes this race look wide open.

[Motor City Sonics]

I am looking at James Outman's numbers.      Really?    This guy?    He's worse than Jones.    He's the outfield counterpart to Short.     I don't get this one at all.        What is so bad about Ben Malgeri's game that they not only won't dump Jones for him, but the put this guy ahead of him too.     Does somebody watch Toledo games?    Is Ben a total fraud.  Is his .312 BA, .414 OBP and .940 OPS fake?   Is he worse than Perez in the field?     They must really hate this guy. 

[Edman85]

You have to wait two days after claiming somebody off waivers to DFA them again. I wouldn't count this as some "woe is Malgeri" situation. This could be a spot where they are sending Perez down (running with that assumption), and then using this as a way to get Outman into the org, but call up the guy you want when you try to slip Outman through waivers next week.

[casimir]

10 hours ago, Edman85 said:

You have to wait two days after claiming somebody off waivers to DFA them again. I wouldn't count this as some "woe is Malgeri" situation. This could be a spot where they are sending Perez down (running with that assumption), and then using this as a way to get Outman into the org, but call up the guy you want when you try to slip Outman through waivers next week.

Sure, that's a line of thinking about it.  But it still doesn't answer what value to the organization as a whole does this acquisition make?  Even if they need OF depth in Toledo, do they have to go through this charade because the reward of Outman is worth it?

[Edman85]

1 hour ago, casimir said:

Sure, that's a line of thinking about it.  But it still doesn't answer what value to the organization as a whole does this acquisition make?  Even if they need OF depth in Toledo, do they have to go through this charade because the reward of Outman is worth it?

Sure, why not? He is three years removed from a 3-4 win season. May as well kick the tires for a bit, especially while a few guys at the back of the roster have been sub-replacement. Worst case, you have some extra depth.

[SoCalTiger]

35 minutes ago, Edman85 said:

Sure, why not? He is three years removed from a 3-4 win season. May as well kick the tires for a bit, especially while a few guys at the back of the roster have been sub-replacement. Worst case, you have some extra depth.

Especially if Baez and Meadows are done for the season. And if Keith starts to hit with some power and Torres and Carpenter stay healthy we can carry a defensive first centerfielder. Any rebound in his bat is gravy.

[chasfh]

16 hours ago, 4hzglory said:

Since it says he's out of options, I wonder which of Jones/Perez/Short this means the end of.  No help with the bat, but sounds like a good OF/PR option which is more than Jones has been.

As a LHH, Outman doesn’t replace Jones’s presumed lefty-killing magic.

[gehringer_2]

jones has been as a big a case of the team being stubborn as any. if he had any track record before last season it might be one thing, but he’s racked up a full negative WAR just as a PH, which ain’t easy to do in 1/3 of a season. You caught a little lightning in a bottle last season. bank it and move on. you platoon because numbers support it. when they don’t what are you even doing?

[theroundsquare]

Perez has been better as a RHH anyway.  Move on from Jones and Perez is the RH pinch hitter and at least he can be an average OF

[4hzglory]

15 minutes ago, chasfh said:

As a LHH, Outman doesn’t replace Jones’s presumed lefty-killing magic.

But Perez could as he is currently hitting much better RH.

[Tiger337]

Outman is appropriately named at the plate and in the outfield (assuming he is still a plus defensively).  I can see him being a frequent defensive replacement and maybe starting when a flyball pitcher is on the mound.  

[chasfh]

39 minutes ago, gehringer_2 said:

jones has been as a big a case of the team being stubborn as any. if he had any track record before last season it might be one thing, but he’s racked up a full negative WAR just as a PH, which ain’t easy to do in 1/3 of a season. You caught a little lightning in a bottle last season. bank it and move on. you platoon because numbers support it. when they don’t what are you even doing?

He must be looking to them like he is perpetually on the brink of breaking out of it and they've been giving him enough of a chance to do that. I do agree that after 88 tries, he might be out of chances.

[monkeytargets39]

2 hours ago, Tiger337 said:

Outman is appropriately named at the plate and in the outfield (assuming he is still a plus defensively).  I can see him being a frequent defensive replacement and maybe starting when a flyball pitcher is on the mound.  

This is honestly a big need right now—a late inning defensive replacement for Carpenter/Perez/Vierling and even Greene.  You can add Malgeri to the 40 and call him up, but he wouldn’t be playing every day most likely—so they would rather use a roster spot on a guy like Outman who can sit on the bench and we don’t have to worry about stunting any development.
 

People on here have been vocal about Zach Short, but we really need the good defense he gives us as a late inning sub.  I can see the complaints about him starting more games than he should, but as a bench player on the roster he has some value.  Moreso than Workman and Jones at least.

Edited 3 hours ago by monkeytargets39

[Sports_Freak]

19 minutes ago, monkeytargets39 said:

This is honestly a big need right now—a late inning defensive replacement for Carpenter/Perez/Vierling and even Greene.  You can add Malgeri to the 40 and call him up, but he wouldn’t be playing every day most likely—so they would rather use a roster spot on a guy like Outman who can sit on the bench and we don’t have to worry about stunting any development.
 

People on here have been vocal about Zach Short, but we really need the good defense he gives us as a late inning sub.  I can see the complaints about him starting more games than he should, but as a bench player on the roster he has some value.  Moreso than Workman and Jones at least.

Agreed. Hinch likes to start Short when a ground ball pitcher, like Valdez, starts. But for other pitchers, he should only be a late inning defensive replacement.

[Edman85]

3 hours ago, Tiger337 said:

Outman is appropriately named at the plate and in the outfield (assuming he is still a plus defensively).  I can see him being a frequent defensive replacement and maybe starting when a flyball pitcher is on the mound.  

Or when a groundball pitcher is on the mound for the other team...

[IdahoBert]

Wow… I knew JV had given up at least a couple home runs, but I didn’t realize he’d given up four. Can’t see limiting Montero‘s contributions to this team out of sentimentality, at least in relation to Verlander.

[Edman85]

Well, it's not Wenceel...

Jones with Wenceel taking his spot as the RH platoon guy?