It's overcast and chilly in Detroit, a perfect afternoon for Opening Day. There's even a chance of sun. In another world, the fans would be packed inside Comerica Park for the Tigers' first home game of the season. Alas, this is the world we live in, a world where baseball will have to wait.
But we'll press on over here, mulling a season that won't start until mid-May at the earliest and might not end until closer to Christmas. We've got 10 pressing questions about the Tigers, who, realistically or not, have visions this year of turning things around. We think we might have some answers, too.
Let's dive in.
Ron Gardenhire: Lame Duck?
Is this Gardenhire's last year at the helm? It's the last year of his contract, and the Tigers have delayed any decision on his future. Gardenhire was brought in to preside over the darkest years of this rebuild, and he's acknowledged a different manager will likely be here for the dawn. But the outlook could change this season if the Tigers make a substantial jump.
Prediction: Assuming Gardenhire, 62, wants to keep going, we'll say he earns another year.
Big Three: Delayed Takeoff?
It was always going to be the biggest story of this season. Will Casey Mize, Matt Manning and Tarik Skubal make it to Detroit? The odds are against them now. The Tigers want the trio to get a good deal of experience in Triple-A, and they won't shorten that phase for the sake of bringing a prized prospect to the bigs. One of them will have to dominate to get a look.
Prediction: It won't be the bonanza we were hoping for, but one of the Big Three will get here. We'll go with Skubal.
Miguel Cabrera: Back for Real?
Stop us if you've heard this before, but Miguel Cabrera slimmed down this winter, looked strong in camp and seemed poised for a bounceback season. Maybe it was another mirage, but this year felt different. (You've heard that before, too.) Why? Cabrera has his legs back beneath him, fueling hope for a resurgence we'd all like to see.
Prediction: Cabrera hits for more power and raises his average back above .300, but a condensed schedule limits his impact.
JaCoby Jones: Now or Never?
It's a question we've asked around here for years: Who's the Tigers' center fielder of the future? If it's JaCoby Jones, this is probably his last chance to prove it. He has the tools for the job, but he needs to channel his defensive numbers from 2018 and build on the success he had at the plate in 2019 – and he needs to stay on the field. His challengers aren't far away.
JaCoby Jones Eyeing Exclusive Club In 2020
Prediction: It's no longer Jones' job by year's end. Victor Reyes and prospect Daz Cameron are next in line.
Christin Stewart: Now or Never (Part II)?
Four years after Detroit drafted him in the first round, Christin Stewart got his shot in 2019. He swung and missed, and now the pressure is on. It won't be enough for Stewart to make modest improvements in 2020. He needs to make the kind of gains at the plate that will convince the Tigers to live with his shortcomings in left field. 20 homers would be a good place to start.
Prediction: Stewart's struggles continue and he loses playing time to Cameron Maybin. This is anyone's job in 2021.
Trade Deadline: Who to Sell?
The Tigers invested in the wrong veterans last year. They think they found the right ones this year, particularly in C.J. Cron and Jonathan Scoop. The duo gives Detroit a pair of power bats it badly needed, and ideally a pair of trade chips at the deadline. Their matching one-year, $6.1 million deals shouldn't be hard to move, if the numbers are there.
Prediction: The Tigers find a taker for one of them – we'll say Cron – and add a couple more prospects to the system.
Matthew Boyd: What's Reality?
2019 was a bit of a rollercoaster for Boyd: his sudden ascension, his place on the trade market, his decline in the second half. And it left us with one question: Who is Matthew Boyd? The Tigers fancy him their ace, both now and in the future, but Boyd has to prove the first half of last season wasn't a fluke. He has a potential extension hinging on it.
Prediction: Boyd falls somewhere in the middle of last year's extremes, settling in as a No. 2 or 3 starter moving forward – and the Tigers realize they missed the chance to sell high.
Michael Fulmer: What's Next?
Speaking of missed chances, it wasn't long ago that Fulmer was the Tigers' most valuable asset. Then arm issues caught up to him, then his numbers declined, then he had Tommy John, and here we are today. Fulmer, 27, is on track to return this season, assuming the schedule allows it. Can he rediscover his All-Star form?
Prediction: This year, no. But Fulmer's upside remains high, and he should re-establish himself in Detroit's rotation by the end of the season.
Spencer Turnbull: Hidden Gem?
Of the arms already in Detroit, it's arguably Turnbull who has the most potential. Ignore his 3-17 record last year. He has a live arm and a cool demeanor, and he's only just starting to harness his stuff. Control is the key for Turnbull. If he can begin to find it in 2020, he has a real chance to be a top-flight starter in the years ahead.
Prediction: Turnbull continues to rack up strikeouts, and cuts down on the walks with the help of veteran catcher Austin Romine. The Tigers have something here.
Joe Jimenez: Closer for Good?
One more pitcher to ponder, this one in the bullpen. Jimenez is no longer Detroit's closer of the future. He's the closer, period. He's coming off a disappointing year following his All-Star nod in 2018, but he thrived down the stretch upon taking over for Shane Greene. Jimenez has always pitched better in bigger spots. The 9th inning will be his in 2020. Now can he hold onto it?
Prediction: Geared up for the opportunity, Jimenez holds down the 9th and doubles his career total (12) in saves.
Riley Greene: Detroit, 2021?
Bonus question, because Greene's performance in spring training demands it. The 19-year-old impressed everyone in Lakeland, most notably Al Avila and the Tigers' brass. He's likely to start the season in High-A West Michigan, with a chance to climb to Double-A Erie by the end of the year. That would give him a shot to start 2021 in Triple-A Toledo, and suddenly Greene wouldn't be so far from Detroit.
Will we see him here next season?
Prediction: Yes, we need this.
