If you were asked which team finished second in the AL Central this year, perhaps you would be surprised to learn that it wasn’t the Cleveland Guardians.
It was the Detroit Tigers, with a 78-84 record.
That’s right: despite missing badly on the Javier Baez signing, and even after losing many of their young starters due to injury, the Tigers were good enough to finish with a 78-84 record.
Players such as Kerry Carpenter, Riley Greene, Spencer Torkelson, Reese Olson, Tyler Holton, Alex Lange, Matt Manning and others took steps forward in their development and moved the Tigers closer to respectability.
To really contend and have a chance at taking a winnable division, the Tigers need to invest, but it should be the right investments.
They made one on Sunday, by signing pitcher Kenta Maeda to a two-year deal worth $24 million.
Maeda is 35 years old, but had a 4.23 ERA last season and owns a 3.92 mark for his career.
He is steady, and the Tigers need steady pitchers.
Their rotation, however, was quietly dominant to close out the season which is part of the reason they were able to finish second in their division.
“The Detroit Tigers had the best rotation ERA (3.48) in the AL from the beginning of August to the end of the season. Their rotation now: Tarik Skubal -> Kenta Maeda -> Reese Olson -> Casey Mize -> Matt Manning,” Jomboy Media’s @Jolly_Olive tweeted.
The Detroit Tigers had the best rotation ERA (3.48) in the AL from the beginning of August to the end of the season
Their rotation now:
Tarik Skubal -> Kenta Maeda -> Reese Olson -> Casey Mize -> Matt Manning https://t.co/WqDMNuUnNA— jack (@Jolly_Olive) November 27, 2023
Skubal is an underrated ace who had a 2.80 ERA last year, in 80.1 innings.
He is an overpowering left-hander who racks up a nice number of strikeouts and limits runs.
Maeda slots in nicely behind him and ahead of the three youngsters: Mize, Olson, and Manning.
If they are healthy, they should be effective.
It’s a sneaky good unit.
Now, they need at least another arm and a few batters.
With Miguel Cabrera’s contract coming off the books, they have some flexibility.
NEXT: Tigers Reportedly Targeting 1 Specific Need This Offseason