The first move for the Tigers was clear. The next one is murky.
If and when the big-league season begins, will there be any activity on the farm? Maybe an enhanced instructional league? If not, should the Tigers brink Torkelson straight to Detroit? These are new questions, so the answers aren't easy.
Take it from Al Avila.
"We’ll be able to have a taxi squad in addition to the regular active squad (when the season starts), so we’re talking about the possibility of bringing some guys to the taxi squad and have them continue to participate there," Avila told the Jamie and Stoney Show. "That can be a little sticky. We’re not too sure if that’s the right way to go."
It's a conversation that involves every level of the organization, from the player development staff to the major league coaches. The Tigers will continue to discuss it in the weeks head. And it's not just about Torkelson, of course. It's about Casey Mize and Isaac Paredes and Tarik Skubal and Riley Greene and the list goes on. Detroit's farm system is suddenly rich with talent.
Which makes at least one thing clear. If the Tigers do decide to load up the taxi squad, it could be a roster for the ages -- and a preview of the future.
"At some point we’ll make a final decision on who to bring in. We got some guys in the minor leagues too, the Mize's and Skubal's of the world. Are they going to be on the taxi squad? Do you bring Riley Greene to the taxi squad? Or do you wait and hope that there’s an expanded Arizona Fall League?" Avila said.
Taxi squads are expected to be comprised of 20 players, with MLB rosters expanded to 30. Avila said there's also the possibility of each organization assembling one full Arizona Fall League team, which would be another way for the Tigers to put their best young players on the same field.
Imagine Torkelson hitting behind Greene, with Mize on the mound. These are starry visions of what's to come.
"I’m hoping there will be more options in that sense. We’ll have to wait and see what Major League Baseball decides as far as going into the fall. If there’s baseball in the fall, as far as development, we might do that," said Avila. "But still a lot of unknowns we have to sift through."
As far as Torkelson goes, there was never any doubt.
"For me, personally, that’s the guy I wanted," said Avila. "We kicked it around, there were some debates about how we should approach this draft. But for me, he was the best player. We always take the best player. We don’t try to outsmart ourselves when we see a guy like this."