DETROIT – The Detroit Tigers will likely finish their Opening Day roster in the next 24 to 48 hours, and yet there are still many mysteries about who will make the final cut.
In a normal season there are more tracks since most of the campers have already been dispatched.
This year, there are still 55 players in camp and any number of directions the Tigers can follow with their roster and their team of pitchers.
Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire said he planned to meet with general manager Al Avila on Saturday afternoon to begin making tough decisions. Many of them may have already been done. Still, the Tigers could wait to release their finished roster to take a close look at the waiver cable and see if there are any interesting players from other teams available.
Here’s a look at what we know and what we don’t know about the 2020 Tigers.
How many pitchers will the Tigers carry?
Tonne
It was a good guess before, but with the recent injury to starting pitcher Jordan Zimmermann and continued uncertainty about who exactly will be in the rotation, it seems like a better bet than ever.
Teams will be allowed a roster of 30 players during the first two weeks of the season and there are no restrictions on the number of pitchers.
The Tigers could carry up to 16 or 17 pitchers initially, which means the bullpen will be full.
Who will be in the initial rotation?
There are three things for sure: Matthew Boyd, Ivan Nova, and Spencer Turnbull. They are slated to begin the season opener series in Cincinnati July 24-26.
After that, he is more confused.
Tyler Alexander and Michael Fulmer could be paired together as starters, but Alexander will probably stretch enough to pitch on his own.
That would leave Fulmer as the fifth starter, though the Tigers would likely make it a “bullpen day” and would have plenty of pitchers ready to go out in case they gassed him early.
Detroit Tigers pitcher Daniel Norris pitches against the Minnesota Twins in the first inning of a baseball game in Detroit on Wednesday, September 25, 2019. (AP Photo / Paul Sancya)AP
Where does Daniel Norris fit in?
Big question Gardenhire hasn’t officially given up on the idea of Norris being with the major league club to start the season, but it seems increasingly unlikely.
The camp is closing and opening day is just around the corner and Norris hasn’t even released a pitch from the mound in Comerica, let alone “stretched” to start. Under MLB and union rules, he has been effectively quarantined since testing positive for COVID-19 last month.
If Norris returned at this point, he could join the bullpen immediately, but throwing meaningful innings seems a long way off.
How about Casey Mize?
If all things were equal, Mize would be on the team right now. But the situation is more complicated than that, and a little patience now will pay dividends later.
Various player milestones, such as arbitration and free agency, are awarded based on MLB’s length of service. Without going into too much detail, here’s why Mize’s final arrival date is important:
* If Mize made it to the big leagues from Day 1 in 2020 and remained with the team uninterrupted, he would have six years of service-time service after the 2025 season, making him a free agent.
* If the Tigers raised Mize for about a week this season (or later), and he kept the team uninterrupted, he would have just under six years of service after 2025, meaning he would not become a free agent. until after 2026.
So a week of patience now will pay off with a full year of team control in the future.
There are many caveats. Mize could be bombed in his first three starts and be sent back to Toledo, stopping his service watch. The Tigers could even push the envelope and wait until 2021 to raise it in an attempt to boost their free agency until after 2027.
But the best bet is this: Mize will be with the Tigers sooner rather than later, but not from day one.
Detroit Tigers pitcher Michael Fulmer ties his shoes during his 2020 Summer Training at Comerica Park in Detroit on Friday, July 3, 2020. The Major League Baseball is slated to begin its shortened season in late of July. (Mike Mulholland | MLive.com)Mike Mulholland | MLive.com
How does the 40-man roster come into play?
This is the most complicated part of the equation. That’s probably why Jordan Zimmermann was convinced to go on the 45-day disabled list, rather than the 10-day range. Going to the longest list, Zimmermann was removed from the 40-man list, where the Tigers will need all the space they can get.
As of today, the Tigers have 39 players on the 40-man roster. Fulmer will have to be activated early in the season, but will likely only change places with outfielder Troy Stokes (broken hand), who will take his place in 45-day IL.
Infielder Jordy Mercer, outfielder Jorge Bonifacio and pitchers Nick Ramirez, Shao-Ching Chiang, Hector Santiago, Dario Agrazal and possibly others are viable candidates to join the club.
But they are all guests who are not on the list, which means they must first be placed on the 40-man list. And to do that, the Tigers will need to cut back.
Who is vulnerable?
It’s hard to say, because some of the same players vying for a spot on the Opening Day 30-man roster are also vulnerable to being cut off the 40-man roster if they don’t make it.
Catcher Eric Haase is likely vulnerable, as the need for an organizational capture depth isn’t as pressing in a 60-game season as it was on a 162-game schedule. The Tigers may be willing to bet that infielder Sergio Alcantara could remove the exemptions. Third baseman Dawel Lugo was considered a long shot, but Gardenhire hinted on Saturday that he had a chance to make the team a bench bat.
Among pitchers, Anthony Castro, Kyle Funkhouser, and Beau Burrows were added to the 40-man roster this winter. With another crop of prospects coming soon (including Mize, who would also have to be added to the 40 men before making his debut), they won’t have much time to prove they belong.
Detroit Tigers infielder Dawel Lugo (18) throws a ball to first base during their summer training camp at Comerica Park in Detroit on Tuesday, July 7, 2020. The Tigers and other MLB teams They are working in an effort to start their 2020 season in late July. (Mike Mulholland | MLive.com)Mike Mulholland | MLive.com
Shouldn’t you talk a little bit about hitters too?
Yes, but that side of the list is not that complicated.
Austin Romine will catch and Grayson Greiner will be his backup. Miguel Cabrera will be the designated hitter. Christin Stewart, JaCoby Jones, Cameron Maybin and Victor Reyes will share the three spots in the garden. Jeimer Candelario, Niko Goodrum, Jonathan Schoop and CJ Cron will play in the box. Harold Castro will be the super utility. It would be a big surprise if Jordy Mercer is not the utility box player.
The Tigers could stop there, or they could add one more place. This is where Dawel Lugo could fit in. If the Tigers wanted another outfielder, they could look at Travis Demeritte, Derek Hill, or Bonifacio. (Demeritte and Hill have recently wasted some time with injuries.)
What about the taxi squad?
Three players, including at least one receiver, will accompany the team on road trips in the event of COVID-related injuries or absences that require an immediate refill. Those players will not be on the 30-man roster.
When should all of these questions be answered?
Soon. Coming Soon.
Gardenhire said it hopes to have its roster established when the Tigers leave for Cincinnati on Monday night for two exhibition games, although the Tigers may invite some guys from Toledo to come off the bench.
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