The rebuilding Detroit Tigers entered the 2020 COVID-19 shortened season with by- and- large low expectations from the media and fans. Yet, that same rebuilding Tigers ball club sits just two games out of the eighth and final playoff position. That is both good and bad news.
The good news is the Detroit Tigers young players and prospects they called up are keeping the team afloat in the playoff chase. Shedding a little light the Tigers rebuild may in fact be working. This coupled with the fact that the organization has not called up more or all top prospects lends it’s self to what looks like a bright future in Motown.
The bad news. The Detroit Tigers will not have the top pick in the 2021 MLB draft. In fact the Tigers may not even have a top 10 draft pick. This is bad simply because the team is not done rebuilding. Even with a minor league system ranked anywhere from No. 6 to No.2 depending who you read.
One thought here is that as players now appear to be major league ready (Casey Mize, Tarik Skubal, Isaac Paredes) Detroit Tigers owner and president Christopher Ilitch has said he will spend money to put a winning team on the field. The organization could begin to look at big name free agents as many experts are say next season many Detroit top prospects will be added to the roster.
If the Detroit Tigers make the playoffs it is not the end of the world. It does however mean they may have to get creative how to improve the organization without the aid of a top five draft choice.
The same could be said if they do not make the playoffs. The Tigers record is better than all of the bottom feeders in MLB. The Tigers still would be looking at a non top 10 draft pick, they could eek out perhaps the No.9 pick in the draft.
The good news in all of this is Detroit’s young players and prospects are keeping the team in the playoff race.
