COLUMN: Tigers made the right call on Scherzer
The Tigers wanted Max Scherzer
But Scherzer didn’t want Detroit.
Last March, Scherzer turned down a seven-year, $160 million offer from the Tigers.
He knew he was worth more. He wanted his 2014 season to do all the talking. He promised no contract negotiations with Detroit during the season, frustrating many fans in the Motor City.
Most knew what was next. Scherzer would be wearing a different uniform come 2015.
On Dec. 11, Tigers General Manager and President Dave Dombrowski said, “I guess anything can happen but we’re not in active pursuit of that situation at this time.”
Many didn’t believe Dombrowski .He is unpredictable, but never wavered from that stance with Scherzer.
The Washington Nationals came in with a record-breaking seven-year, $210 million offer on Jan 18. Scherzer jumped at it.
Detroit made the right call by not signing their most dominant pitcher last summer.
For that much money, the Tigers could not sign him. Detroit already had a lot of money on the books with Justin Verlander, Miguel Cabrera, Ian Kinsler and Victor Martinez.
Trying to build for the future means saving money for other pieces to add to a winning puzzle.
The best players require top dollar, but as an organization looking to win for many years, you have to weigh the positives and negatives of a contract the size of Scherzer’s deal with Washington.
It’s not smart. At least not right now for this Tigers team.
More money for Scherzer means less flexibility with other players down the road.
Sure, he won 70 games in four years with Detroit, which included a Cy Young Award in 2013 when he went 21-3 with a 2.90 earned runs average.
That’s winning baseball. But winning baseball comes at a price and for any team.
It’s bittersweet. Max meant a lot to this organization and community, but in the end, I know the Tigers made the right call.
