Detroit Tigers Roster Report 3-7-12

PROJECTED ROTATION:

1. RHP Justin Verlander

2. RHP Doug Fister

3. RHP Max Scherzer

4. RHP Rick Porcello

5. Mr. X (RHP Jacob Turner or LHPs Duane Below, Drew Smyly, Adam Wilk, Casey Crosby or Andy Oliver)

Verlander is coming off an MVP/Cy Young season but don't expect a big drop-off because he's still on the uphill side of 30. Fister can't be expected to duplicate his numbers after coming over from Seattle last July (8-1, 1.79 ERA) but he'll still be solid. Scherzer and Porcello have consistency troubles but both have big upsides. The Tigers elected to go minimum-wage for their fifth starter but don't bet against one of the rookies duplicating the 11 wins RHP Brady Penny contributed as the fifth starter last year. This is a solid rotation and it showed durability a year ago.

PROJECTED BULLPEN:

RHP Jose Valverde (closer)

RHP Joaquin Benoit

RHP Octavio Dotel

LHP Phil Coke

LHP Daniel Schlereth

RHP Collin Balester

RHP David Pauley

The addition of Dotel gives Detroit three battle-tested veterans to split the back end of games with Coke, adding a veteran presence from the left side. RHP Al Alburquerque could come back from elbow tip surgery at midseason. Balester and Pauley are not locks to make the team but are out of options and their role would be to give the Tigers some early innings when a starter gets knocked out. One of the rookie lefties who loses the competition to become the fifth starter could bump Pauley or Balester.

PROJECTED LINEUP:

1. CF Austin Jackson

2. RF Brennan Boesch

3. 3B Miguel Cabrera

4. 1B Prince Fielder

5. LF/DH Delmon Young

6. C Alex Avila

7. SS Jhonny Peralta

8. DH/LF Andy Dirks/Clete Thomas/Danny Worth

9. 2B Ryan Raburn/Ramon Santiago

This is a lineup that should score runs in clusters and will punish mediocre starters and shallow bullpens. Jim Leyland can go right-left all the way through his batting order, correcting an imbalance that has plagued the Tigers for years. Jackson needs to get closer to his rookie form of two seasons ago to help set the table for the sluggers who follow but if that continues to be a problem it can be corrected at mid-season. The bottom two spots will be rotated according to matchups.

TOP ROOKIES: At least one rookie should crack the Opening Day roster, the winner of the six-way competition for the fifth starter's job. RHP Jacob Turner (0-1, 8.53 ERA in three cameo starts for Detroit) has the highest ceiling but has flaws that might be best ironed out in the minors over the first two months. LHPs Duane Below (0-2, 4.34 ERA in 14 games with the Tigers), Drew Smyly (11-6, 2.07 at high Class A and AA in his first pro season) and Adam Wilk (0-0, 5.40 in five Detroit relief appearances) are seen as the best bets to make the rotation and one of them could make the bullpen with a solid spring. The best position prospects are still a year or more away.