Dave Dombrowski - Make my offseason

But while you list holes at 3B, 2B and SP and in the lineup, getting rid of Betemit (if you’re not going to trust him in the playoffs at all, cut ties) only opens a hole at 3B. Re-signing Delmon gives us a #3 or #6 hitter. Austin Jackson isn’t going anywhere at #1 (God knows why, but seriously, Smokey loves him). Turner is a lock to make the starting rotation, filling in for Penny. Rayburn isn’t really an answer, but there isn’t a whole lot out there available for second base, so he’s likely getting the first crack at it (where everyone will whine and complain until July). So really, that just leaves 3B as an open spot that can realistically filled via free agency. Enter Ramirez. I’ve heard the complaints – he’s turning 34, he’s expensive, he’s cursed from the Cubs lol – But that’s a lot of what was said about a guy like Maggs when he came over, except Maggs was coming off risky surgery. Ramirez has always hit and will continue to hit for the next few years for sure, especially if you give him Detroits lineup protection. His defense isn’t great, but is Betemit’s? Is Inge’s anymore? Pay the man to fill the hole at third. Your 2012 lineup would be: Jackson, Boesch, Delmon, Miggy, V-Mart, Aramis, Peralta, Avila, Rhino. Rotation of: Verlander, Fister, Scherzer, Porcello and Turner.

I really don’t see a problem with any of that.

i doubt he’d be worth the posting fee and the contract.
while he’s an elite japanese arm and young, i don’t think he would want to come to a market such as detroit (nothing against detroit, but we are not big in the asian player market, which would be concerning if we were not big in latin america)

also, japanese or any foreign player for that matter, are always a crapshoot, much like the draft. while he could be a completely dominating pitcher, he also may end up being a complete scrub. now, with his pure stuff and strength along with his track record, it’s very unlikely he becomes a bust, but as with any elite prospect, you never know.

rambling aside, i would love Darvish on the tigers. it would bring a big asian market to detroit, and a really good looking prospect, but one) i don’t know if the tigers would/could outbid teams for negotiations and two) i don’t know if Darvish would want to go to the D.

Our minor league system suggests it’s the one area that we can hopefully fill from within, especially since I believe we are decent at #1-4. With three or four guys in the high minors that are close to MLB ready, some with ceilings as high as #1 or 2 starters, we shouldn’t need to make a big SP signing in the next 3 or 4 years.

With Tigerdog’s numbers somewhere, we really only have about 10M or less to play with next season unless payroll increases. Now, Tigerdog thinks, and I agree, that payroll might increase. However, if it doesn’t, we’re left with holes at 2B, 3B, and SP5 to fill for 10M.

If 3B doesn’t go well on the free agent or trade market, I think it’s very possible we’ll see an Inge / Kelly combination.

If 2B doesn’t go well, we could see Worth / Raburn. I think 2B or 3B will probably be addressed somehow, but I doubt it will be both.

And then a ball rolled between his legs on the next pitch