http://www.mlive.com/tigers/index.ssf/2 ... _avil.html
The analysts all say this was a fair trade. I don't buy it. We have a young 3rd baseman already and Wilson is an absolute Gem. Probably the second strongest piece (inclusive of his youth) on the team after Michael Fulmer. But having no relief pitching appears to be our thing.
Add the crappy value they got for JD Martinez and Avila chasing away people sniffing at Verlander and I'm hoping
1) Avila is replaced at the close of the season.
2) Chris Illitch doesn't renew Ausmus contract. (He should have been let go at the end of his second season)
3) When they find a replacement Chris Illitch is hand off operations.
Even then it's going to be a long damned time until you get Cabrera, Verlander, Victor Martinez off the books, all terrible terrible terrible signings (even if Verlander has bounced back, which is why you should have let him go when teams came sniffing)
I think the Tigers could renew interest in the team if they let us watch some young players "grow up" together and quite frankly bench or extended DL a chunk of their veterans but I that does not appear to be on Illitches' plate.
Anyhoo, ILB should be happy with Tigers about now.