Hindsight is 20/20: what if we knew Victor Martinez was going to be injured?

by crc33 on Jan 28, 2012 1:31 PM EST

It's impossible to predict when a player will go down. In Victor Martinez's case, it was essentially a freak ACL injury that put him out for the season, and brought Prince Fielder to the Tigers for the next nine seasons. It was clear that Illitch and Dombrowski were looking to add an impact bat that could truly replace Victor's spot in the lineup. But of course, at the time of Victor's injury, Fielder was essentially the only big free agent left that could replace him. But how would the Tigers handled free agency if we had known that there was going to be a vacancy at DH this year?

In terms of total money, it could be said that that adding Jose Reyes and C.J. Wilson would have had a bigger impact on our team together for less money. Reyes is set to receive $106 million over 6 years with an option and Wilson will receive $77.5 million over five years. This would have caused a change in our infield defense, with Peralta moving to either 2B or 3B, but this seems like a smoother transition than Cabrera making the move to 3B, and doesn't create a logjam in 2013 when Victor returns. The main problem I have with this is the backloading on the deals, with Reyes receiving $22 million on his final three years of the deal, and Wilson receiving $18 and $20 million on his final two years. This would push the yearly salaries up for 2014 and 2015 dramatically, and would make holding onto current players much more difficult. But I imagine the Tigers would avoid this sort of backloading if they were to hypothetically sign these players, but nothing is certain. Players tend to like backloading as it acts as a sort of no-trade clause. Maybe sign Mark Buehrle at $58 million for four years instead?

As fun as it is to consider these possibilities, it's really nothing more than an exercise in hindsight. But if you were the all-knowing GM and foresaw Victor's injury, what would you do with $214 million and a hole in the DH spot?

This is a FanPost and does not necessarily reflect the views of the Bless You Boys writing staff.

Tweet Comment 17 comments | 0 recs |

Do you like this story?

Comments

None of those other players excite me or would bring me to the ballpark

The Tigers will get a lot more of my money now because of Prince Fielder. I’m happy enough to pay more than double for a box seat ticket. I’d even pay regular ticket price just to watch the Tigers on TV. That’s how much I love this Prince Fielder deal.

by Keith-Allen on Jan 28, 2012 2:04 PM EST reply actions

WOW you really like this signing

I go to a few games a year to watch the Tigers, now that we have Fielder I’m probably gonna try to go to 15 or 20. But that is because I think it’s gonna be a magical season and I want as many memories if they go on to win the WS this year : )

by msivits on Jan 28, 2012 2:10 PM EST up reply actions

This post is 100% true

I was thinking to myself Mr. I went way out of his way to keep this team in contention with V-mart getting hurt…….That being said, I’m still pumped about this signing, with that also being said………

We could of spent 214 million in better ways, Jose Reyes, CJ Wison and my favorite is Burehrle. Oh my god how we could of spent 214 million….

by msivits on Jan 28, 2012 2:07 PM EST reply actions

Wilson?

He’s gonna have a short prime and we have four good starter and two great prospects, wouldn;t want him…Reyes, I guess but I would rather have Fielder if we knew V-Mart was going down…Buerhle willbe good but he’s starting to get older and like I said, our rotation is slmost set. I would rather have Garza over either of those two pitchers

"I will play tomorrow unless I am dead when I wake up" - Victor Martinez

by vifinn on Jan 28, 2012 2:18 PM EST up reply actions

Reyes and Wilson weren't coming to Detroit

Wilson went to L.A. because he’s from there. Reyes went to Miami because he wants to play in warm weather and be immersed in a predominantly Latino community. They weren’t coming to Detroit, especially not for the figures that they signed for with their respective new teams.

Detroit4Lyfe

by Rob Rogacki on Jan 28, 2012 3:07 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

Yeah, I didn't factor that in there.

Costs would have definitely increased for those contracts if they were to even consider Detroit, because we wouldn’t want to backload them, and because we’d have to lure them away from more attractive cities. Prince may very well have been the best we can do, I would just have loved to see us sign a pitcher to keep Turner in the minors one more year. But who knows, something may still be in the works, we did offer something to Oswalt.

by crc33 on Jan 28, 2012 3:41 PM EST up reply actions

So you're asking that if I were Mr. I and we didn't have Victor, what would I have done?

I would have done the same damn thing he did.

Detroit4Lyfe

by Rob Rogacki on Jan 28, 2012 3:06 PM EST reply actions 1 recs

I would have signed Pujols

But that’s just me.

"You, on the other hand, make Eeyore look like Rainbow Brite." -johnmoz

"I think of you more as the blue book style essay of sports journalism."-Kurt Mensching

by David Tokarz on Jan 28, 2012 3:12 PM EST up reply actions

I'm happier with Prince

He’s younger and left-handed. He’s not as good defensively, but our team is way too “BAHALOL DEFENSE” for Pujols to make that big of a difference.

Detroit4Lyfe

by Rob Rogacki on Jan 28, 2012 3:23 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

I'd rather see Fielder as well

He’s younger and a bit cheaper. Sure, you may see him decline faster due to his size, but I’d rather see a 36-year old Fielder in 2020 than a 41-year old Pujols in 2021.

by crc33 on Jan 28, 2012 3:43 PM EST up reply actions

I would have signed Prince too

If I’m 83 and a billionaire, I’m buying everyone.

"You, on the other hand, make Eeyore look like Rainbow Brite." -johnmoz

"I think of you more as the blue book style essay of sports journalism."-Kurt Mensching

by David Tokarz on Jan 28, 2012 10:21 PM EST up reply actions 1 recs

lol

by tigerfaninboston on Jan 29, 2012 8:43 AM EST up reply actions

Mike Valenti, the blind squirrel

Personally I find him combative for combat’s sake much of the time, but he made what I thought was a very salient point the other day. He said the Prince signing is an indication that the Tigers have chosen to build around him going forward.

What I think this means is if, in the near future, the Tigers need to retool then they’ll entertain offers for either Miggy or V-Mart. We won’t see that happening this year; the team is going for broke in 2012, and if anyone is dealt it will be prospects for a Matt Garza or Felix Hernandez. But for 2013 and after I think it could happen.

It doesn’t even have to be a deal for prospects only. My thinking is a potential deal like the Denny McLain trade, when Detroit dealt him to Washington for a starting SS (Eddie Brinkman) and 3B (Aurelio Rodriguez) and two-time 20 game winner Joe Coleman.

Ideally I’d like for the Tigers to keep Miggy and V-Mart for the duration of their deals, while Castellanos and Turner become major-league stars and other in-house talent emerges. But if the minor-league harvest isn’t that bountiful, consider that other clubs might be willing to take on the last years of Cabrera’s or Martinez’s contracts.

by EalyEagle on Jan 28, 2012 3:59 PM EST reply actions

Cabrera's time in the field will determine V-Marts future...

V-Marts time in Detroit will depend on how Cabrera is able to adapt to the field outside of 1B.
Unless V-Mart can play 3B after his return…

by Boomer Dog on Jan 28, 2012 4:12 PM EST up reply actions

Felix Hernandez?

We can only dream.

by metatron5369 on Jan 28, 2012 8:46 PM EST up reply actions

Victor

At the close of the season, I was intimating that Victor was at peak value. I’d have traded him for an outfielder. I suggested a deal involving Victor and Markakis. As it turns out, I think they could have traded Martinez, Inge and Young for Markakis and Guthrie – they might have needed to add a pitcher, like Oliver. The money would be similar. Whatever.

by Bigpaw on Jan 28, 2012 10:18 PM EST reply actions

off season

if i was the g.m i wouldve done the exact same thing! signing prince.his attraction will be huge on the field and in the stands.reyes is a dynamic player yes but he is often injured,cj wilson doesnt excite me,i dont get everyone saying hes a super star pitcher,just my take.i think victor coming back either for the playoffs or next year gives us great possibilities.castellanos is going to be good (i hope) and either him or victor could be used to fill needs through trade in the future OR we make room and keep him,that would be my direction.with the age and contracts we have nick castellanos and turner will be needed to bolster our roster for the future.

by tigerfaninboston on Jan 29, 2012 8:40 AM EST reply actions