If they don’t make a single move after the MLB lockout, the Detroit Tigers have had a transcendent offseason. Prior to the freeze, they agreed to a six-year, $140 million deal with infielder Javier Baez and a five-year, $77 million deal with left-hander Eduardo Rodriguez.
Coming off a season where the Tigers made tangible progress, both of these players bolster manager A.J. Hinch’s ballclub. Furthermore, they give the organization reason to believe that it can compete for the American League playoffs within the next two years.
Here’s how Baez and Rodriguez advance the Tigers into a new tier as a ballclub.
Javier Baez gives the Detroit Tigers a franchise player
The Tigers had a handful of players show promise in 2021 like Jeimer Candelario, Eric Haase and Akil Baddoo. They also got plausible seasons from Jonathan Schoop and Robbie Grossman. All that said, there was some oomph missing from their offense. Baez provides that oomph.
The 29-year-old Baez is one of the elite infielders in the sport. He fluently fields both middle infield positions, is a power hitter from the right side and adept at coming through with clutch hits. The Tigers’ new shortstop is a two-way star. Sure, he strikes out a little too much. On the other hand, Baez impacts the game at an elite level and gives the Tigers a franchise player.
Baez is coming off a chaotic season split between the New York Mets and Chicago Cubs. In his time with the former, Baez was part of the bizarre thumbs-down gate. It may have worked in the Tigers’ favor. The thought of a player of Baez’ caliber signing a six-year, $140 million deal would’ve been absurd a year ago. For perspective, Corey Seager, who has a lengthy injury history, landed a 10-year, $325 million deal with the Texas Rangers this offseason. Detroit has one of MLB’s best contracts even if Baez opts out after 2023.
- Javier Baez stats (2021): .265/.319/.494, 31 home runs and 87 RBIs across 502 at-bats
Detroit has been rebuilding and to a degree still is. At the same time, this was the offseason for them to make an impactful splash. Baez is a star in his prime who complements their young core and makes their offense a legitimate force. Imagine what this team looks like if top prospects Spencer Torkelson and Riley Greene reach the big leagues next season and live up to the hype?
Baez is the new centerpiece of this offense.
Eduardo Rodriguez stabilizes the Detroit Tigers’ rotation
The Tigers’ starting rotation was their strong suit in 2021, but they weren’t a blemish-free unit, so to speak. Rodriguez provides some stability to that element of their ballclub.
Yes, the southpaw didn’t pitch in 2020 due to health complications and is coming off a dicey 2021 campaign. On the other hand, he was a sturdy pitcher for the bulk of his time with the Boston Red Sox. He’s also still 28. Rodriguez strikes out hitters at a high rate and finds success with a low 90s fastball while primarily mixing in a changeup and cutter.
Detroit non-tendered Matthew Boyd this offseason, whose departure essentially paved the way for Rodriguez to join the rotation. The latter is accustomed to pitching in the postseason and/or high-leverage situations. He also began to throw like the Eduardo Rodriguez the Red Sox were used to towards the end of the regular season.
- Eduardo Rodriguez stats (2021): 4.74 ERA, 1.39 WHIP and 185 strikeouts across 157.2 innings (32 appearances, 31 starts)
As for the rotation Rodriguez is joining, it’s a continually improving group. Casey Mize took an enormous step forward last season, inducing weak contact and posting a 3.71 ERA across 30 starts. Tarik Skubal flashed the ability to be a power pitcher. Tyler Alexander impressed as a starter down the stretch. Prior to undergoing Tommy John Surgery, Spencer Turnbull was turning a corner.
Rodriguez adds a proven starter to a rotation with upside. The Tigers’ strength is poised to be even stronger in 2022.
Javier Baez, Eduardo Rodriguez elevate Detroit Tigers to new heights
The Tigers went 77-85 last season, which is much better than years past. They have an identity, have strengthened their strong suit, signed a star and maintained the ability for their youngsters to become reliable fixtures. This is a franchise that’s rapidly moving in the right direction.
The 2021 season saw the Tigers show life. This offseason they’ve injected excitement into their fan base. They’re operating like a team that thinks highly of what it has going for itself, as they should be; this team has an outside chance at cracking the American League playoffs.
Of course, the Chicago White Sox are ahead of the Tigers and an AL contender, but who else in the AL Central is clearly better than Detroit? The Cleveland Guardians are in competitive stagnation, the Minnesota Twins are coming off an awful season and the Kansas City Royals are in a deep-rooted rebuild that’s years behind Detroit’s. The Tigers should finish no worse than second in the division next season.
Making a playoff leap is a lot to ask from the Tigers given the competition that exists in the Eastern and Western divisions. What the Tigers have going for them, though, is that they’re better than at least two of the teams in their division. In other words, if the Tigers have a winning record against everyone in their division not named the Chicago White Sox, they have a considerable chance of finishing above .500.
Playoffs or not, the Detroit Tigers have thrown a couple of haymakers that do wonders for their ballclub. The rebuild is nearing completion.