After trading away fan-favorites, including right fielder J.D. Martinez to the Arizona Diamondbacks and franchise starting pitcher Justin Verlander to the Houston Astros in 2017, the Tigers start phase one of building a new core in hopes of reaching the playoffs in the long term rather than the short term. With most of that new core at least one or two years away from debuting in the big leagues, there are going to be some lean years ahead. Buckle up, it’s going to be a long season.
For now, though, it will be up to a collection of veterans, including first baseman Miguel Cabrera and designated hitter Victor Martinez, along with replacement level newcomers, raise your hand if you’ve heard of Niko Goodrum before this season, to try and bridge the gap until the top prospects arrive.