15. Detroit Tigers

Big Leagues- The Detroit Tigers will remain one of the most average teams in the league for the 2011 season. They have not had great success recently and, depending on who you ask, they have not had great failure either. Their roster is full of mid level fantasy players and they are not getting much better or much worse. They were able to sign Victor Martinez in the off season, which will add potency to their lineup, depending on his success. In recent years, the Tigers have signed many former All Stars and they have lacked success in Detroit. Johnny Damon and Dontrelle Willis are perfect examples of once great players going to Detroit to die. On the other hand, Miguel Cabrera and Magglio Ordonez have found success in Detroit after playing for other clubs. We expect the Tigers to have another average season and probably finish third in the AL Central and maybe make a run at the wild card. As far as fantasy considerations are concerned I am personally high on Austin Jackson, but first round high yet. Magglio and Miguel will bring the power numbers that have always brough and Victor Martinez is middle to early pick at catcher. Their top 3 starts will make fantasy noise this season and Jose Valverde is always a solid closer to add to any lineup.


Here is their opening day lineup for 2011:


Catcher- Victor Martinez/ Alex Avila

1st Base- Miguel Cabrera

2nd Base- Scott Sizemore/ Will Rhymes

Shortstop- Jhonny Peralta

3rd Base- Brandon Inge

Left Field- Brennan Boesch/ Ryan Raburn

Center Field- Austin Jackson

Right Field- Magglio Ordonoz/ Brennan Boesch

DH- Victor Martinez/ Carlos Guillen

Pitching- Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, Rick Porcello, Phil Coke, Armando Galarraga

Relief- Joel Zumaya, Ryan Perry, Joaquin Benoit, Jose Valverde



Top 5 Prospects
RHP Jacob Turner- The Tigers selected Turner as the 9th overall pick in 2009 and he spent his first minor league season in Single A. In 23 starts Turner compiled a 6 and 5 record with a 3.28 ERA as a 19 year old. The 6'5 righty showed great control only walking 23 batters in 115 innings. The Tigers need to be encouraged by their former 1st round pick and will hope he continues his success in Double A next season.

3B Nick Castellanos- The Tigers took Castellanos with the 44th overall pick in the 2010 draft and got him signed early enough to send him to the rookie league for 7 games last year. He hit .333 with only 5 strikeouts in those 7 games. He has a long ways to go, especially in filling out his body. He came in out of high school at 6'4 and 195 pounds and will be hitting the weight room hard the next few years for the Tigers.

LHP Andy Oliver- Last year Oliver started 5 games for the Tigers and went 0 for 4, but that does not take away from what he has did in the minors last year. In Double and Triple A last year Oliver had a 9 and 8 record with a 3.45 ERA. Oliver does not project as a top of a line starter, but could develop into a back of a rotation stable. The Tigers will start him in Triple A and he'll probably be one of the first called on if an injury takes place.

RHP Chance Ruffin- The Tigers drafted the Texas University closer with the 48th overall pick in the 2010 draft. He's a very polished right hander and the Tigers won't need to send the youngster for much minor league time, and he could be called up in the next year or two. He won't be the Tigers closer right away but he could be in their plans long term.

LHP Daniel Schlereth-The son of former NFL linemen Mark Schlereth can seem to keep his spot in the majors the past two seasons. He is a former 1st round draft pick, and is a power lefty coming out of the pen for Detroit but he hasn't been consistent enough to keep a job. His major league time borderlines him as a prospect for us but we believe he'll be in the Majors next year and be a major contributor for the Tigers versus lefties.


Payroll and Direction- The Tigers are going no where fast, and that's not necessarily a bad thing for this club. It will take them awhile to build a franchise that will reign supreme in the Midwest, but they are on their way. As for now the Tigers should be content with 75- 80 wins, and hopefully they can keep developing towards becoming a major threat to the perennial front runners of the American League. Their payroll is a little high for what they bring to the table at 123 million dollars, but that will go down in coming years when their vets reach retirement age. The Tigers should keep working on building prospects and they are clearly not hurting for cash. In a few years they will be able to revamp their roster with some bigger, younger names and they will have a shot to become the favorite in AL Central.