The Detroit Tigers still have work to do in the American League Central, but the bigger picture around the club is already starting to take shape. With Thursday’s games ahead, they were five games back of the Chicago White Sox, and the next few weeks could decide whether they stay in the hunt or slide into seller territory at the trade deadline.
At the same time, the front office is looking ahead to the MLB Draft, where Detroit is set to pick 22nd overall. That spot puts the Tigers in range for a number of arms, and given what’s coming after the season, pitching looks like the obvious area to attack.
That need is only sharpened by the likelihood of losing Tarik Skubal and Casey Mize after the year. With those departures looming, Detroit’s pitching pipeline suddenly looks thin, which is why a college arm makes plenty of sense at No. 22.
Bleacher Report’s Zachary D. Rymer pointed to University of Florida right-hander Liam Peterson as a strong fit for the Tigers.
“The Tigers stand to lose both Tarik Skubal and Casey Mize to free agency this winter. And as such, it’s less than ideal that their farm system has just two arms among its 10 best prospects-and none among its top six.
This is not to say the Tigers shouldn’t pass up a chance at a prime bat at No. 22, but that’s where a college arm will likely be the way to go. Provided they could figure out his control, Florida’s Liam Peterson would bring ace-caliber stuff to the system.”
Peterson’s profile comes with a catch: his stock has dipped because of consistency problems, especially with his control around the zone. But if Detroit believes it can sort that out, he could end up looking like a major bargain at pick No. 22.
In Other News…
Tigers Fans Need This Dillon Dingler Injury Update
Dillon Dinglers night against the Athletics took an unsettling turn when the Tigers catcher fouled a pitch off his right throwing hand and had to be checked by the manager and trainer. He stayed in briefly after the visit, but Detroit still pulled him before his next at-bat, leaving the club to monitor a situation that matters plenty to a team already leaning on its catching depth.
Jake Rogers stepped in as the backup and immediately gave the Tigers a lift, pinch-hitting and homering after Dinglers exit. For Detroit, the bigger question now is whether Dingler can avoid missing additional time, because even a short absence would force the Tigers to reshuffle behind the plate at a spot they cant afford to overlook. [Read more 🡒]
Tigers Win Gets Overshadowed By Verlander News And A Scary Exit
A win over the Athletics should have been enough to keep Detroits attention on the field, especially with the Tigers continuing to stack results and a young pitching performance giving them another solid night. Instead, the game quickly picked up extra weight with the club also moving on from third base coach Joey Cora, a reminder that even in the middle of a stretch run, there can still be changes around the edges of the dugout.
The bigger jolt came when catcher Dillon Dingler had to leave after getting hurt on a play at the plate area, forcing Jake Rogers into the game and adding a layer of concern to a night that otherwise ended 6-1. Detroit has now won four straight and seven of its last eight, but the postgame conversation was never going to stay on the standings for long with Verlanders announcement hanging over the day and Dinglers exit leaving the Tigers waiting on more clarity. [Read more 🡒]
Tigers Make Another Roster Move As Playoff Pressure Starts Building
With the playoff pressure starting to build, Detroit added another layer to its roster shuffle by bringing up catcher Eduardo Valencia from Triple-A Toledo to give the club some more depth behind the plate. Valencia has earned the look with a strong run in the minors, and the timing fits with the Tigers needing a little more coverage as the catching picture gets thinner.
The move also comes with some urgency because All-Star catcher Dillon Dingler is dealing with an injury after leaving Wednesdays game, even though his X-rays were negative. Valencia could be in line for an opportunity in the series finale against the Athletics, while Jahmai Jones offensive struggles left Detroit looking for a different fit as the roster tightens down the stretch
Để lại một bình luận