What will Tigers’ roster look like in 2015?

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Before re-signing Victor Martinez for the next four years to be the club’s main designated hitter – which I think is a mistake at the price tag of nearly $70 million in total value, here were my projections for the Tigers’ 2015 roster with the contract info for select players included:

Additions:

Matt Kemp – $21 million

Brandon McCarthy – $10 million

Andrew Miller – $9.5 million

Pat Neshek – $4 million

Total: $44.5M + $2.05M = $46.55M

Inclusion of arbitration-eligible players – New total: approximately $53.66M

Losses:

Max Scherzer – $15.53 million

Victor Martinez – $12 million

Andy Dirks – $1.63 million

Don Kelly – $1 million

Evan Reed – $503K

Pat McCoy – N/A

Joba Chamberlain – $2.5 million

Phil Coke – $1.9 million

Jim Johnson – $480,000

Joel Hanrahan – N/A ($1M; calculated into total at bottom)

Trimmings: Approximately $35.54M + $4M = $39.54M

Via Rick Porcello trade: $8.5M

Total savings: $48.04M

Re-signings:

Torii Hunter – $10 million (Previous: $14M)

Joakim Soria – $7 million (Previous: $5.5M)

Alex Avila – $4.9 million (Previous: $4.35M)

Savings: $4M; Added salary: $2.05M

Arbitration eligible players:

David Price – estimated $18 million ($4M increase)

J.D. Martinez – estimated $3 million ($2.49M increase)

Al Alburquerque – estimated $1.5 million (approximate $620K increase)

Estimated total of additions – subtractions = $5.62M in added salary

Approximate 2014 payroll: $163M + $5.62M = $168.62M

$168.62M + Verlander’s new contract = $176.62M

$176.62M – Hanrahan’s contract = $175.62M (Grand total for player salaries in 2015)

2015 Tigers INF/OF alignment
C: Alex Avila
1B: Miguel Cabrera
2B: Ian Kinsler
SS: Jose Iglesias
3B: Nick Castellanos
LF: J.D. Martinez & Rajai Davis
CF: Matt Kemp & Rajai Davis
RF: Steven Moya, Kemp & Torii Hunter
DH: Hunter, J.D. Martinez, Kemp & Cabrera (when Castellanos plays 1B)
Bench:
James McCann – C
Andrew Romine (2B, SS & 3B) and Eugenio Suarez (SS)
Rajai Davis – LF & CF
Torii Hunter – RF & DH

Rotation:
1.) David Price
2.) Anibal Sanchez
3.) Justin Verlander
4.) Brandon McCarthy
5.) Kyle Lobstein or Robbie Ray
Bullpen:
Closer – Joe Nathan
Setup – Joakim Soria (vs. righties) and Andrew Miller (vs. lefties)
7th inning – Pat Neshek
Middle – Al Al (1st option) and Bruce Rondon (2nd option)
Lefty/long specialist – Blaine Hardy or Lobstein

In producing this piece, I received feedback from two local Tigers writers in the metro Detroit area. Without further ado, here’s what Lynn Henning from The Detroit News and Dave Hogg of FOXSportsDetroit.com had to say about my original projections.

Henning: “Don’t think I’m with you on Hunter, or on dealing Porcello, but creativity is always the best sign of good thinking, and you’ve proposed some interesting scenarios. One thing that’s clear, which your research confirms: They’re going to have a tough time making this work without pushing $180 million. So, Dave’s got his work cut out. Not sure, either, that Nathan is going to work out, but Dave will want to at least take him north before they bid farewell, mostly as a face-saving gesture for his heavy investment. Stay tuned.”

Hogg: “It’s a very reasonable scenario, although I don’t think they are going to bring back Hunter, and certainly not if they get Kemp. The biggest problem with that roster, and I’m not sure there’s much they can do about it, is that there’s no Plan B if Castellanos plays himself off 3B with his defense.” 

— As a result of the Tigers retaining the services of V-Mart, I had to make some changes to my projections. One of the notable changes was moving on from the 39-year-old clubhouse leader in Hunter. No longer able to provide sufficient defense in right field, the man formerly known as “Spiderman” – due to his gold glove caliber D as a centerfielder with the Minnesota Twins during his younger days – is no longer a necessity with V-Mart taking his spot as the everyday DH.

With that being said, Dave Dombrowski and the Tigers front office also made a notable acquisition to fill the void in centerfield in dealing Devon Travis, the organization’s top prospect according to Baseball America, for Anthony Gose of the Toronto Blue Jays.

The 23-year-old Gose, a light-hitting lefty who can cover ground with the best of today’s outfielders, offers a platoon option to the incumbent Rajai Davis – who is better suited for a corner outfield spot and part-time duty.

Although the platoon might not be fruitful offensively due to Gose’s lack of prowess when it comes to hitting righties – got on base at a clip of .329 and recorded an on-base plus slugging percentage of .641 in 2014 with the Jays, Dombrowski sounds pretty convinced that Gose will be more than fine in handling the duties and that the former Phillies second rounder can eventually grow into a reliable everyday bat.

Subsequently, trading Rick Porcello – who is due for another raise in arbitration this offseason – for Los Angeles Dodgers All-Star outfielder Matt Kemp is no longer needed.

Although Kemp would’ve been a huge upgrade in center for the Tigers with his more than capable middle of the order bat, he brings along with him some baggage due to his hefty contract (due at least $21 million annually through 2019) and injury proneness which caused him to miss a significant amount of playing time in both 2012 and 2013 (only played 106 games in ’12 and 73 games in ’13).

Now, Dombrowski and company can focus their attention on and invest their financial resources in a corner outfielder.

Preferably, the corner outfielder will come via FA and be a left-handed bat who can either jumpstart the offense at the top of the lineup or compliment what Miggy and the Martinez “mash brothers” produce in the heart of the order.

There’s one bat available on the open market this offseason that can perfectly do just that. To find out, read my updated projections below:

Additions:

Pat Neshek – $5 million

Melky Cabrera – $12 million

Scott Downs – $2.5 million

Total: $5M + $12M + $2.5M = $19.5M

Inclusion of arbitration-eligible players – New total: $19.5M + $8.55M + $10.81M = approximately $38.86M

Losses:

Max Scherzer – $15.53 million

Torii Hunter – $14 million

Andy Dirks – $1.63 million

Don Kelly – $1 million

Evan Reed – $503K

Pat McCoy – N/A

Joba Chamberlain – $2.5 million

Phil Coke – $1.9 million

Jim Johnson – $480,000

Trimmings: Approximately $37.54M

Re-signings:

Joakim Soria – $7 million (Previous: $5.5M)

Alex Avila – $5.4 million (Previous: $4.35M)

Victor Martinez – $17 million (Previous: $12M)

Joel Hanrahan – $1 million (Previous: same)

Added salary: $8.55M

Arbitration eligible players:

David Price – estimated $18 million ($4M increase)

J.D. Martinez – estimated $3 million ($2.49M increase)

Al Alburquerque – estimated $1.5 million (approximate $620K increase)

Rick Porcello – estimated $12.2 million (approximate $3.7M increase)

Estimated total of additions – subtractions = $1.32M in added salary

Approximate 2014 payroll: $163M + $1.32M = $164.32M

$164.32M + Verlander’s new contract = $172.32M

$172.32M + Anthony Gose’s contract = $172.81M (Approximate grand total for player salaries in 2015)

2015 Tigers INF/OF alignment
C: Alex Avila
1B: Miguel Cabrera
2B: Ian Kinsler
SS: Jose Iglesias
3B: Nick Castellanos
LF: Melky Cabrera
CF: Anthony Gose & Rajai Davis
RF: J.D. Martinez
DH: Victor Martinez & Cabrera (when V-Mart plays 1B)
Bench:
James McCann – C
Andrew Romine (2B, SS & 3B) and Eugenio Suarez (SS)
Rajai Davis – CF plus corner OF spots

Rotation:
1.) David Price
2.) Anibal Sanchez
3.) Justin Verlander
4.) Rick Porcello
5.) Kyle Lobstein or Robbie Ray
Bullpen:
Closer – Joe Nathan
Setup – Joakim Soria
7th inning – Pat Neshek (vs. righties) and Scott Downs (vs. lefties)
Middle – Al Alburquerque (1st option) and Bruce Rondon (2nd option)
Lefty/long specialist – Blaine Hardy or Lobstein

NOTE: Nothing is imminent on Neshek front, according to source close to player.

Now, it’s time to voice your opinion. Are my roster projections for the 2015 campaign feasible for the Tigers? Let me know what you think in the comments section below.