With Team Payroll already at $125 MIL without even paying the Arbitration Eligible players of Austin Jackson ($10 MIL range), Max Scherzer ($17 – $20 MIL), Alex Avila ($3 MIL), Rick Porcello ($4 – $5 MIL) and Andy Dirks  ($1 – $2 MIL , the club is sure to top the $160 MIL mark – without even solidifying the Bullpen from top to bottom, and potentially starting a Rookie at 3B – while Iglesias will assume the SS (with less than a year of games played under his belt either.) Detroit still has more than $50 MIL invested on their team than any of their other AL Central foes. The team would be better off saving some money, and then pay pro-rated salaries after the Trade Deadline – in order to cash in on a 1st World Series since 1984. Entering the last years of their deals are Martinez, Scherzer and Hunter.

By Chuck Booth (Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner): Follow @chuckbooth3024 & Jeff Kleiner (Org. Depth Chart/Payroll Expert) Follow @prosportsroster

Follow MLB Reports On Twitter Follow @mlbreports

I have been saying it since the club traded away Prince Fielder.  It was one year too early.

The club ended up forking out over $76 MIL for just 2 years of service from the big man – when you add his $30 MIL in payroll Detroit will pickup in the next 7 years, just to trade him.

I am also baffled on why the Tigers traded Doug Fister.  I thought the plan was to win in 2014?

Max Scherzer 2013 Cy Young Season highlights

Yes Max Scherzer wrapped up the AL Cy Young with a most impressive season in 2013, but the club will be hard pressed to lock up his services beyond the 2014 campaign – when you factor the team wants to re-sign Cabrera in 2016, and also the club is already spending upwards of $45 MIL per year on Justin Verlander and Anibal Sanchez as part of the Starting Pitching Staff. Scherzer is 3rd Year Arbitration Eligible and could warrant a 1 YR Deal in the neighborhood of $17 – $20 MIL in 2014.

The franchise is dreaming if they think they also have the means to re-sign Max Scherzer, when you already have $43 MIL a year committed to Justin Verlander and Anibal Sanchez.

Oh yeah, some guy named Miguel Cabrera is up for a new contract in 2016, and he has serious clout with teams as the best hitter in the game right now.

Detroit can flex its muscle on the rest of the AL Central, based on their infrastructure to earn cash and apply to salaries against the likes of the Royals, Indians, Twins and White Sox on a yearly basis.

Their real competition lies in the playoffs with Boston, New York, Oakland, Texas, Tampa – and whomever decides to make it any given year.

Joe Nathan is one of the best closers the game of baseball has ever seen. The 39 year old came off one of his best seasons, registering a WHIP of .90 and an ERA of 1.33 amidst his 43 Saves and 74 SO. Nathan will also bring plenty of playoff experience to Detroit. Lets just hope if the Tigers make it back to the playoffs, that he can improve in his career postseason ERA of 9.00 in 9 IP. Nathan was inked to a 2 YR Deal this winter, worth $20 MIL, with a Team Option of $10 MIL for 2016. This doesn’t end all of the teams Relief woes, but it gives them the best Closer that was on the Free Agent Market.

Mike Illitch and Dave Dombrowski have done a fantastic job assembling this team.  As it sits right now, only the Bullpen is a question, and that can always be addressed into the season.

I also have written other articles that I thought the Tigers should make a huge last ditch effort at this year’s Trade Deadline to go for it all.

Along with Scherzer, Victor Martinez and Torii Hunter are also in the last years of their contracts.

If he hits like he did in the 2013 Post Season, plus the second half of the regular year, V-Mart will be due a hefty payraise from the $12.0 MIL he will make in the 2014 campaign.

Victor Martinez is one of the top 2 Designated Hitters in the game. The 34 Year Old had an incredible Post ALL – Star campaign in 2013 – .363/.413/.913, and continued the hotstreak in the Playoffs – hitting .405/.432/1.003 in 42 AB. The Tigers only have him locked for one more year in 2014 ($12 MIL) before he hits Free Agency. Perhaps it is time to re – up with the man now that they have traded Fielder away to free up spending cash?  Another option may be to convert Cabrera to the DH position at the start of the 2015 year – and let V-Mart walk.

So Detroit, end this lunacy that you will re-sign Scherzer.  I just don’t think any club can dole out over $60 MIL for its top 3 pitchers,

Besides, Sanchez is a quality #2 right now, Drew Smyly has the potential to move up the depth charts with what he has.

Going back to what I said a paragraph ago, if the Tigers don’t refinance the money they saved with Fielder’s and Fister’s dough, then this type of offseason should have been held back one year.

Payroll 2014 – 2016 Three Year Outlook

POS                  Name                   MLXP                   Age          2014                  2015                2016

Miguel Cabrera challenged for a 2nd straight Triple Crown in 2013 – before injuries slowed him down. I am hoping that the Tigers will move him into the Designated Hitter role as early as 2015 to preserve his health long – term. The team will probably not sign V-Mart past this year, so that should free up the position.  Cabrera will make $22 MIL in each of the next 2 years, before he hits the open market in 2016.  It looks more and more like the Tigers will need to choose either Scherzer or Cabrera.  That is, unless the franchise wants to near the $189 MIL Luxury Tax Threshold.  That is a team salary that owner Mike Illitch may not be able to afford – without taking a serious financial hit.

For all of the Rosters, Depth Charts, State of the Unions and Salaries Posts that we do, please visit our dedicated page link here.

Note From Chuck Booth:

You guys are all in for a treat.  Jeff Kleiner has developed a site (prosportsrosters.com) that covers all organizational affiliates in the Minors for all of the Major League Baseball Clubs. 

We are going to combine efforts to bring you the best look at salaries, current 25 Man Player Rosters and Depth Charts for all 30 teams. 

Jeff is going to provide the documents in form of spreadsheets and I am going to accompany the posts with deep analysis of what the numbers tell us from my perspective. 

If you can’t wait for all of my assessments for each club, go and visit Jeff’s website over at http://www.prosportsrosters.com.

In Speaking with Jeff, he is one of the more passionate fans I have come across towards the game of baseball.  He spends enough time in updating his MLB Facts for it to be a Full-Time Job. 

Jeff updates this page below on a daily basis.  After you click on it….Bookmark it.  There is a 3 year salary forecast and stats not listed here on this page.  Jeff updates these pages daily and these changes include any Roster moves!

Authors for this post:

Jeff Kleiner:  “I have been a sports fan since the first Baseball game I went to at Comisky Park in Chicago in 1959, when baseball for me turned from black and white to color.

I have attended or watched thousands of games, always paying attention to statistics, rosters and salaries of all professional sports.

Luckily I had the advantage of watching WGN TV and seeing hundreds of games in the 60’s. Collecting Baseball Cards and then later dealing them gave me an extra sense of the sport, both good and bad.”

For all of your Salaries, Roster and Depth Charts for all 4 Major Sports (entire organization – Minors and Majors) click here or Follow Me on twitter  Follow @prosportsroster

prosportsrosters.com is the best source for following entire organizations in all 4 Major Sports.

Chuck Booth – Lead Baseball Analyst/Website Owner and author of the Fastest 30 Ballgames:   To learn more about my  “The Fastest 30 Ballgames Book” and how to purchase it, click here .

You can also follow my Guinness Book of World Record Successful Bid to see all 30 MLB Park in 23 Days – click here. 

I am happy to be part of such an awesome Magazine-Style Baseball Website and am looking forward to talking to all of the fans of the MLB. 

You can reach me on Twitter here Follow @mlbreports

Anthony Salter (Left) and Chuck Booth (Right) During 2012 Streak.

Like us on Facebook here