The Tigers made some changes over the winter, but their fantasy fortunes are still led by a stud hitter and an ace starter ... even if the starter isn't the usual suspect.
(Note: When a player's fantasy draft status is mentioned - e.g., "he's an SP4" - the number is based on 12-team mixed leagues.)
ALSO SEE: TEAM PREVIEWS ARCHIVES
Key additions: OF Yoenis Cespedes, OF Anthony Gose, SP Alfredo Simon, SP Shane Greene
Key losses: OF Torii Hunter, SP Max Scherzer, SP Rick Porcello,
Projected Lineup
Kinsler might be fading, but he's still productive. He looks pretty good at a Round 5 ADP ... Gose will probably steal 30 bases if he plays every day, and if he bats second his counting numbers will get a boost. Unfortunately, he can't hit, and his excellent defense might not be good enough to keep his bat in the lineup ... A healthy Cabrera (ankle surgery) is fantasy's second-best player, and the Tigers seem to think that he'll be ready on or around Opening Day. You might be able to grab him with the fifth or sixth overall pick, and he'll be worth the small risk ... V-Mart (knee surgery) might be ready for Opening Day, and while he's an excellent hitter, don't you think last year's power explosion was out of sync with the rest of his career? A fourth-round price tag seems fair, but risky ... J.D. Martinez is 27, so there's less reason to think his 2014 power surge is a fluke. Do you believe enough to make him an OF3? ... Is this all there is from Cespedes? If so, he's being overdrafted as an OF2 (Confession from Halpin: That's where I had him in the initial rankings, but he'll be dropped in the next update) ... Avila brings a bad BA to the table without much power. His defense should keep him in the lineup, but you have to wonder if prospect James McCann will push him ... Castellanos is borderline rosterable after a decent rookie season; he should get better ... If Iglesias is healthy after missing all of 2014 due to a leg injury, he'll be a defensive wizard. That's nice in real life, but in fantasy, who cares? He's more likely to bat an empty .260 than an empty .300.
Projected Rotation
CL: Joe Nathan
Price had a 3.26 ERA in 2014, but peripheral numbers suggest that it was his best season. He's an ace, for you and the Tigers ... Verlander's prime is gone, but he could still rebound enough to be a decent SP4/5. He improved in August and September ... Sanchez struggled through an injury-plagued season, and that's got his ADP down to SP46. He's better than that ... Greene is an interesting late bloomer who pitched well for the Yankees last season, and his ground-balling ways should benefit from Iglesias' return. You should target Greene in AL-only leagues, where he'll still come cheap ... Nobody believes in Simon's solid 2014, because he doesn't strike anyone out. We won't argue with the consensus.
The 40-year-old Nathan wasn't good last season, and he's unlikely to get much (if any better). He's one of those closers that seems likeliest to lose his job, and that makes Joakim Soria a very appealing stash as a replacement. At the end of a 12-team mixed draft, would you rather draft Soria or a mediocre seventh starter?
Sleeper: J.D. Martinez is getting enough love already, so let's go with Greene, who should be on your free-agent radar when the season starts. It's possible that he'll sustain last year's unlikely success, and be worthy of an early-season pickup in all formats.
Top prospects
Steven Moya, OF - Moya had 35 home runs with 16 stolen bases and an .861 OPS at Double A last season. He also struck out 161 times in 133 games, and walked approximately once a week. He'll need an injury to get a look with the Tigers this year.
James McCann, C - McCann is an OK prospect who is expected to win the backup catcher job, and has multiple paths to playing time, including delayed returns from Cabrera or V-Mart, or ineffectiveness from Avila.
ALSO SEE: TEAM PREVIEWS ARCHIVES
