One question that the Detroit Tigers will have looming over
the 2014 season is in regards to the 2013 Cy Young winner, and second starter
in the rotation, Max Scherzer. He will reach the end of his contract after this
coming season, and the Tigers must decide if they would like to extend Scherzer’s
contract. Scherzer is a power arm, and has had large strikeout numbers,
particularly in the past couple of years. While Verlander struggled in the 2013
season, this was Max’s year to shine. Every fifth start, it was expected that
Scherzer would get a win, and he rarely disappointed. With all of this success
comes expectation, both for a team looking to sign a pitcher like Scherzer, and
for Max himself, in his expectations of his worth to a team. There are a couple
of things to consider when the season comes to a close for the Tigers. Scherzer
has said in the past that he will not talk of his contract during the season,
and it will be interesting to see if he holds to that, with media pressure that
will surely ensue.
Scott Boras
Max is represented by Scott Boras, who manages many other
major league players as well. Boras has been known to be aggressive for his
clients, and ask for as much money as he can get them. The Tigers need to
understand that Boras will not want to be talked down, unless Max is willing to
do so. The Tigers are well aware of Boras, since he also represents Austin
Jackson, Jose Iglesias, and Rick Porcello.
Money
Coming on the heels of his Cy Young award, Max will no doubt
be looking for a pretty large sum of money, and he has certainly earned it. He
will at least want more than what Anibal Sanchez, the 3rd starter
for the Tigers is making. Sanchez makes 16 million a season. When the Tigers
got rid of the huge Prince Fielder contract, it seemed that they were making
room financially for a contract extension for Scherzer. Only time will tell.
What the Tigers Have Going For Them
Scherzer has openly stated in the media that he loves
Detroit and all of the fans. He has also stated that he would like to stay in
Detroit. While many things can happen during the course of a season to change a
player’s mind, the Tigers should do everything in their power to keep Scherzer,
and keep the 1-2 punch of Verlander and Scherzer. Allowing him to sign with
another team would be a huge blow to the Tigers rotation, one in which they
have already taken a blow from in losing Doug Fister.
So THAT's what Scott Boras looks like.
ReplyDeleteLet's be real, as much as I want to be a homer, our pitching staff is pretty ridiculous, even with the loss of Fister. Verlander, Scherzer, and Sanchez as our 1-2-3, and Smyly/Porcello as our 4-5 will be perfect, and now that Joe Nathan will be our closer, it's that ever large rotating door called our relief pitchers that scares me, but with Rondon, Chamberlain, and Alburquerque, it could be a really good start.
Our outfield is going to be quite interesting now that Dirks is injured, and Rajai Davis will most likely be the starting Left Fielder since it's one of the few positions Donny Kelly (DKB) doesn't play.