MLB Detroit Tigers

Detroit Tigers: 5 Moves That Must be Made This Offseason

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By @Connormuldowney

Detroit Tigers: 5 Offseason Priorities

Detroit Tigers
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With the Detroit Tigers's season ending a few weeks earlier than they had planned, the team heads into the offseason with many question marks on deck. Who will re-sign with the team? Will Brad Ausmus learn from his mistakes? What will Dave Dombrowski do with the bullpen?

All of those questions will inevitably be answered, but here are five moves that the Tigers must make this offseason in order to stay competitive.

Find a Full-Time Centerfielder

Rajai Davis
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Find a Full-Time Centerfielder

Rajai Davis
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Although Rajai Davis is a solid outfielder and an adequate producer at the plate, the Tigers need to find a guy who will be there for the future. The only major free agent outfielder that will be there in free agency this offseason in Nelson Cruz and Detroit can't put him or anyone else they have in center field. The Tigers will have to make a trade or dig into their minor league system for a key center fielder for the future.

Find a New Closer and Ditch Joe Nathan

Joe Nathan
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Find a New Closer and Ditch Joe Nathan

Joe Nathan
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Just one season ago with the Texas Rangers, closer Joe Nathan boasted a 1.39 ERA with 43 saves in 46 opportunities. However, the 39-year-old was paid $20 million for a two-year contract with Detroit this past offseason and he forgot how to pitch, posting a 4.81 ERA, 35 saves and a career-high seven blown saves. It's time to find a team who wants him or just eat the $11 million the Tigers still owe him. Francisco Rodriguez could be an option.

Sign J.D. Martinez Long-Term

JD Martinez
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Sign J.D. Martinez Long-Term

JD Martinez
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J.D. Martinez is arbitration eligible after this season and the Tigers could avoid that and sign the budding star to a long-term contract worth about $40 million now and avoid an even bigger contract if he has more seasons just like the one he had in 2014. Martinez could be a key piece to the Tigers' offense in the future and could be hitting right behind Miguel Cabrera before you know it.

Re-Sign Victor Martinez

Victor Martinez
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Re-Sign Victor Martinez

Victor Martinez
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Sure, Victor Martinez will be 36 years old before the start of the 2015 season, but he is coming off his best year as a profession in 2014, hitting .335 with 32 homers and 103 RBI. Bad news is that he will be expensive, but the good news is he won't be as expensive as he would be if he were still in his 20s.

Detroit needs to lock him up for the remainder of his career because he still has a solid two to three years left in him.

Re-Sign Max Scherzer

Max Scherzer
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Re-Sign Max Scherzer

Max Scherzer
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The 2013 Cy Young Award winner turned down a six-year, $140 million contract extension with Detroit prior to the 2014 season, but that doesn't mean he is a sure-thing to leave the Motor City. Dave Dombrowski will likely do everything in his power to lure the MVP candidate back to Detroit for the long-term -- and he should. Scherzer will be worth big money this offseason, but he has stated that he would like to come back to the Tigers.

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