FanPost

SBNation GM Sim Days 3-4: Presenting Your 2015 Fake Detroit Tigers

Ezra Shaw

After a relatively boring day of action that saw the Tigers pick up two options, tender some contracts, make a minor trade, and sign free agents Mike Carp and Don Kelly, Fake GM Jonathan Selden got down to business and made several important trades and a couple of free agent signings in the last two days of the annual Winter Meetings that take place in Kansas City in order to get the Tigers ready for another run at a World Series Champion. Here are the headlines you might have missed as hectic wheeling and dealing took place at the blink of an eye.

Tigers Flip Porcello to Dodgers for Prospect

The first significant movement made on the Tigers front this offseason was certainly a puzzling one. The Tigers traded Rick Porcello today to the Los Angeles Dodgers in exchange for prospect pitcher Ross Stripling. Porcello was entering his final season of arbitration and had finally broken out as the pitcher that Tigers Brass and Tigers fans alike believed he would become. Stripling was drafted by the Dodgers in the 5th round of the 2012 draft. He was originally seen as a project by scouts, but with a mechanical adjustment Stripling caused people to take notice. The now 24 year old added some velocity on his fastball and has learned to command it early in his professional career. He racked up the strikeouts in A and AA while limiting walks to under 3 per nine innings. Unfortunately, Stripling underwent Tommy John Surgery in April. The Tigers expect him to experience a full recovery and believe he has a place as a significant contributor in their rotation in the future.

Tigers Acquire CF Jay in Blockbuster with Mariners

Tigers fans everywhere were wondering how they would address a noticeably glaring hole at the position of centerfield. GMJS answered that question, though perhaps not in the way anyone expected it to take place. The Tigers flipped starter Anibal Sanchez to the Mariners in exchange for centerfielder Jon Jay, pitcher Cliff Lee, prospect reliever Matt Brazis, and $8 million in cash. Both Jay and Lee were acquired earlier by the Mariners in separate deals with the Phillies and Cardinals. Jay, whose job was threatened by the Cardinals's acquisition of Peter Bourjos last offseason posted a strong bounceback season where he hit .303/.372/.378 and posted above average defensive numbers as indicated by available metrics such as DRS and UZR. Cliff Lee struggled last year and suffered an elbow injury that derailed his 2014 campaign. Lee is expected to make a recovery in time for Spring Training, and if he returns to form Tigers fans can hope he makes them forget about the departing pitcher Max Scherzer, who signed a 6yr, $200m with the Feaux Oakland Athletics. Matt Brazis is a 25 year relief pitcher who will be given every chance to stick with the big club in Spring Training. Starting the year out in High A-ball, Brazis posted a K/BB ratio of 6.25. He struck out over 11 batters per nine innings while walking less than two. He was promoted to Double-A later, where he struck out 9.27 batters per nine innings while walking 2.73 batters per nine innings in 33 innings with Double-A Jackson.

Tigers Bring Back VMart on 4-Year Deal

The Tigers were able to retain one of their two major free agents, locking up DH Victor Martinez to a 4-year, $50 million contract. Martinez will make $15 million in the first two years of the deal and make $10 million the final two years of the deal. The fake Tigers and VMart had mutual interest in getting a deal done. The Tigers believed him to be a key in an offense that is expected to score more runs this year. He launched 32 home runs in 2014 while hitting .335/ .409/ .565.

Tigers Flip Prospect for Colon and Cash

The Tigers continued a flurry of moves with another trade, this time acquiring Mets pitcher Bartolo Colon in exchange for notable prospect Steven Moya. Moya is known for his incredible, yet raw power and posted huge home runs in Double-A Eerie this year. Colon is in the final year of perhaps his final contract, where he is scheduled to make $11 million. The Tigers acquired $3 million in cash from the New York Mets as part of the deal.

Tigers Sign Japanese Import Kaneko

The Tigers rounded out their starting rotation by signing Orix Buffaloes Ace Chihirio Kaneko of the NPB to a four-year contract worth $40 million. The move is a departure from the Tigers's normal MO of dealing with the Asian talent pool, namely not dealing with it at all. The last major Japanese player to don the English D was Hideo Nomo back in 2000 when Comerica Park first opened for business. Manager Brad Ausmus is no stranger to Asian players, having caught every single pitch thrown by Nomo in 2000 as well as having caught Hiroki Kuroda as a member of the Dodgers on occasion. Kaneko sports a career ERA of 2.69, a WHIP of 1.112, and a K/BB ratio of 3.79 in 9 seasons in Japan.

Tigers Sign Two to Minor League Deals

The Tigers finished a flurry of moves by signing pitcher Joel Hanrahan and first baseman Deric Barton to minor league deals. Hanrahan and the Tigers had mutual interest in allowing the former all-star closer to return to complete his rehabbing from Tommy John Surgery he underwent in early 2013. Barton was brought in presumably as insurance against Miguel Cabrera experiencing a slower recovery from offseason ankle surgery

The Lineup

1. Ian Kinsler 2B

2. Jon Jay CF

3. Miguel Cabrera 1B

4. Victor Martinez DH

5. J.D. Martinez RF

6. Mike Carp LF

7. Nick Castellanos 3B

8. Alex Avila C

9. Jose Iglesias SS

Bench: James McCann, Rajai Davis, Andrew Romine, Don Kelly

Rotation: Justin Verlander, David Price, Cliff Lee, Chihiro Kaneko, Bartolo Colon

Bullpen: Joe Nathan, Joakim Soria, Bruce Rondon, Al Alburquerque, Kyle Ryan, Ian Krol, Matt Brazis

Payroll: $179,550,000

Recommended Payroll: $178,000,000

I bunked up my math with the Kaneko deal. I forgot to add Jay's salary in my spreadsheet and thought I'd be safe in adding $10 million to the payroll. I originally had an offer to Kaneko for $20 million over three years. Nobody bid on him, but Max thought he would realistically make more. He counter offered me for four years and $40 million when nobody else bid on him. I basically didn't have a fall back plan if Kaneko fell through, so I was forced to accept the counter offer. I could have restructured the deal so that payments would allow me to not go over budget, but I didn't realize my accounting mistake until it was too late.

Had I restructured the deal so that Kaneko got $7 million in year one, that would have made the payroll only $176,550,000. Outside with that, I think I did well. I really love that starting rotation. I'm confident it could be just as good, if not better. The offense should be good, and if Mike Carp becomes the player I think he could be, we're in pretty good shape. The bullpen still stinks. As you can see, though, I didn't really have much room for improvements via free agency. Honestly, with Andrew Miller making $11 million per year over four years, I would rather gamble that the wheel of volatility lands on "studly good reliever" with the players we already have. If you'd like to probe me for my thought process throughout the evening, feel free to hit me up with questions in the comment section.

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