Detroit Tigers spending lavishly on their payroll – MLB News
According to a leading sporting website, the Tigers have already spent more than $100 million on their payroll. The critics believe that the Tigers haven’t left themselves with enough room for their mid-season replacements.
The Tigers had to pay $11 million to Max Scherzer, Delmon Young and Don Kelly earlier to avoid arbitration. With massive amounts spent on only 17 players, the Tigers will be required to sign on a lot more players. The Tigers might get insurance money as a result of Martinez knee injury but they are only $2.5 million shy of their spending last season.
Just a couple of days ago, the Tigers announced that one their best hitters, Victor Martinez will be missing the entire next season due to a torn ALC. Martinez displayed some high quality DH skills the past season and he helped the Tigers win the American League Central title. With the Major League Baseball season starting in a few months, loss of Martinez can be a big blow for the Tigers.
"We take a lot of pride in that, because it points to the relationships we've developed with agents as well as with our players," said John Westhoff, the Tigers' vice president/legal counsel who handles most negotiations. "Filing isn't the end of the world, but once numbers get exchanged, positions seem to harden."
As of now, it looks as if the Tigers will go above their last year’s pay roll. Mike Ilitch has a reputation of taking aggressive steps and he surprises the fans with his brave moves. He will have the option to sign a deal with Prince Fielder, who has complaint that he has is unable to find a long term deal elsewhere.
However, the Tigers will be looking for less expensive deals and they many not aim as big as the left handed first baseman. Undoubtedly, Dave Dombrowski will have a lot of choices as he is expected to receive a lot of phone calls from the agents of unsigned players.
The Tigers are known to keep their arbitration-eligible players. By signing deals with these players, they can certainly clear a major financial hurdle.
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