After the disappointing end to the 2009 regular season, the Detroit Tigers decided to make the decision to change the team during the off-season.
The only problem is that team management has decided to do their best Dr. Hyde and Mr. Jekyll routine that concluded with the recent signing of free agent Johnny Damon.
The Tigers kicked off this process when they completed a three team deal that sent All-Stars Curtis Granderson to the New York Yankees and Edwin Jackson to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
It was reported in the Detroit Free Press that the Tigers made this decision to cut payroll for the upcoming season. While the Tigers received four prospects and a $5 million payroll reduction, they gave up 30 home runs, 20 stolen bases, and 91 runs to go along with 13 wins, a 3.62 ERA and 161 strikeouts.
The Tigers continued their push for a reduced payroll by not signing two pivotal players from the 2009 season; Fernando Rodney and Placido Polanco.
Tigers’ fans began to question the decisions and started to believe management had already thrown in the towel on the 2010 season and use it as a rebuilding year.
This was when we began to see the transformation in Tigers’ management, from Dr. Hyde to Mr. Jekyll.
Instead of filling the closer role with one of the young hurlers from the bullpen, the Tigers decided to sign free agent closer Jose Valverde to a two-year, $14 million contract, with an option for a third year.
They offered this contract to Valverde after a down year when he saw a drop in his strikeouts and saves to go along with issuing more walks.
The Tigers completed the transformation on Saturday when they signed the 36-year-old Johnny Damon to a one-year $8 million contract. It is true Damon saw his power return in 2009, thanks to the Yankees new launching pad.
He also set a career record for strikeouts while he saw his batting average dip below his career .288.
While the initial moves indicate this team is building for the future, the latter shows a Tigers’ organization that is trying to compete for a division title by using stop gap players.
If the Tigers are going to find success in 2010, it will be because of the performance of two rookies rather than the veteran free agents they brought in during the off-season. Austin Jackson will need to make fans forget that he is replacing Granderson in center field while Scott Sizemore will have big shoes to fill at second base.
The only thing that may save Dave Dombrowski’s job at the end of the season is that the Tigers play in the average AL Central, where each of the teams have key areas of weakness that the other teams can exploit.
