Costa and Jansen throw out names of several right-handed bats that the Tigers could pursue.
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00:00Looking ahead for the Detroit Tigers, I know it doesn't feel like baseball season outside
00:05right now on your way in or out of your car or into work, but they are down in Lakeland.
00:09We had AJ Hinch on yesterday.
00:11The Bregman stuff is behind us.
00:13And we simply ask, okay, well, who's going to be that right-handed bat in the top half
00:17of this lineup?
00:18Who's going to be the guy that plays the majority of the innings at third base?
00:21And we don't have those answers.
00:22It's why I don't understand being relieved that that Bregman didn't pick us, but we've
00:26been looking to see what their options are.
00:28And there's some internal, right?
00:30Verling, can he stick at third?
00:32You're going to lose him in the outfield where he's better defensively.
00:35Jay Xiong, I don't know if he's a third baseman.
00:38We don't know about his bat.
00:39And he's another lefty.
00:40So it doesn't solve all the issues.
00:41We brought up Nolan Arenado, clearly the trade market.
00:44I mean, he has a no trade clause.
00:46It's not a given.
00:47And he's not even a polished player the way he used to be.
00:50There's a drop off with the power and he is a guy who will strike out.
00:54So then what?
00:55Well, the architecture says, keep an eye on Toronto and points out Bo Bichette.
00:59Toronto's fascinating because they underachieved a year ago.
01:02Bichette's got a year left on his deal.
01:03Vlad Guerrero Junior's got a year left on his deal.
01:05Big payroll, not living up to expectations.
01:08Young players that haven't signed long term deals.
01:11The Tigers have six top 100 prospects.
01:13You're going to have to part with some of them.
01:16There's the ability, whether it's now or if they get off to a hot start or get to the
01:20deadline.
01:21We remember what it was like when we were selling and you're going, boy, if we can get
01:23a top 100 prospect, that'd be gold.
01:26And to Scott Harris's credit, they have a bevy of these guys to use as a trade chip.
01:31And I don't think you've got to part with two or three of them, but one strategically
01:36like McGonigal.
01:37Is he a shortstop?
01:38Is Rainier the shortstop they just took?
01:39Are they both shortstops?
01:40Could you part with one for the right player if you're in contention?
01:43Like these are the conversations that I think we'll be shifting to post Alex Bregman was
01:48also another name.
01:49If we're just simply looking to add a right-handed bat, not one that I would be jumping through
01:55hoops for, J.D. Martinez.
02:01This would be a one-year deal.
02:04And it is simply to add a bat to this lineup.
02:08And I bring his name up simply to discuss the fact, because I think it was what, 38?
02:15It doesn't have to be a third baseman.
02:18I don't think you're going to get the total package that you're looking for.
02:21So if you're not, then you got to start thinking, how can we improve on the offensive side?
02:26If that is the number one concern, you don't have enough bats, who could provide some offense?
02:30Well, and that is the issue.
02:31I think we'll all go into this season excited because the pitching staff has been reinforced
02:36because they're coming off a playoff berth because you still have A.J. Hintzsch to mix
02:39and match with the pieces.
02:42But we all remember why the season ended.
02:43They didn't have enough clutch at bats.
02:45Plays who could drive people in.
02:46Too many strikeouts.
02:48And they themselves said at the start of the offseason, we're too left-handed, dominant,
02:53dependent.
02:54We need some right-handed bats.
02:55So we're not saying anything that they don't know or that still needs to be addressed.
03:01Yeah.
03:02I mean, Scott Harris is going to have to get creative.
03:06And whether the creativity is in trade or you've got to add another bat to this lineup.
03:12If you want to be looked at as a contender, not just in division, but to make a run in
03:17the postseason, you're going to have to add some offense.
03:20Or to win this division, I think, is another way of looking at it.
03:23TicketTexture says, when I brought up the no plan B thing, that I was trolling.
03:27It said Scott Harris didn't have a plan B with Eduardo Rodriguez or Alex Bregman.
03:33I don't think that's trolling.
03:34I think it's a fair critique of the guy.
03:36Well, I think people were looking for you to add a strike, is what they were thinking.
03:40I didn't.
03:41No, you didn't.
03:42To your credit.
03:43Look at me.
03:44Yeah.
03:45Growing, maturing.
03:46Sure.
03:47248-539-9797.
03:48Wrapping up the Tiger stuff.
03:52This one says, if I'm AJ, I bring Job as my high leverage reliever, 7th or 8th inning,
03:57and then work his way into the closer role, at least for this year, Tom and Flat Rock.
04:03They've said they view him as a starter long term.
04:05Eventually, you've got to start getting his workload up.
04:08He's not throwing 100 innings in a season.
04:09I think that's a fair goal for this year.
04:11I don't think he gets to 100 innings unless he's a multi-inning reliever, and they use
04:15him aggressively.
04:16I think at some point, he's a starter this season.
04:19I just don't know.
04:20Are they skipping starts, or are they starting him in the bullpen?
04:23Either way.
04:24Either way, you're not going to get everything that you want out of Job this year, because
04:29they are, just like they did with Casey Mize early on, and that hasn't really panned out,
04:33but that's probably how they're going to manage his innings.