Carlos Correa / Capture of MLB Network
The Detroit Tigers were one of the most modest teams in the major league last season. But they’re thinking big about this offseason.
The idea that it is possible to compete for the division title has been reborn in the Ciudad del Motor.
First was the signing of Venezuelan pitcher Eduardo Rodríguez. The left-hander became the ace of the Boston Red Sox in 2019, before suffering from Covid-19 and undergoing a long recovery process. He is now part of a streaky rotation that promises to do battle in 2022.
But press reports published these days show that the Bengali management has set itself much more ambitious goals.
Improving the shortstop is the felines’ goal, according to the NBC Sports portal and other media. And shortstops willing to take on a mega contract abound in the market.
Puerto Ricans Javier Báez and Carlos Correa have been contacted by the Tigres, reports Jon Heyman, an analyst at MLB Network. And Marcus Semien is also on the list, according to rumors.
Any of them would represent an acquisition in capital letters. They are three of the most prominent names in the position, both for their defensive ability and for their hitting.
Will that be enough for Detroit to threaten the reign of the Chicago White Sox?
Correa can be a formidable injection of talent, wherever he ends up signing. He’s an athletic shortstop who just won the Platinum Glove and hit 26 home runs for the Houston Astros.
The Ponce native’s price will be higher among all shortstops that are “for sale.” He is young, still 27 years old, and at the peak of his talent.
For the good of his buyers, Correa himself is setting aside with his statements one of the main stakeholders: the New York Yankees. This week he has debated the strengths and weaknesses of former captain Derek Jeter, in terms that are probably not liked in the Bronx.
Semien showed even more power than him, taking advantage of the volatile stadiums where the Azuejos played (Dunedin, Buffalo and, finally, Toronto). He had 45 homers, 102 RBIs and 15 stolen bases.
Baez will also be expensive. Between the New York Mets and the Chicago Cubs, he collected 31 full-return hits. He is one of the most recognizable faces in the game and a member of that brilliant generation of relief that left Puerto Rico that also includes Correa and Francisco Lindor.
The Venezuelan Rodríguez allows rounding out a promising rotation, where Casey Mize, Tarik Skubal, Wily Peralta and Matthew Boyd were already there. It seems enough to displace the Cleveland Indians from second place, as the tribe is rebuilding. But up there.
That’s probably why Detroit is putting their hands in their pockets to explore a more aggressive way to improve the roster. You have to take advantage of a division where right now there is only one contender.
It seems obvious that the Tigers do not want the only party next year to be the one that Miguel Cabrera throws when giving his 3,000 hit.
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Carlos Correa? Javier Báez? Detroit thinks big in shorts