MLB Detroit Tigers

David Robertson Is Perfect Fit With Detroit Tigers

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By @Tidow1212

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The Detroit Tigers just cannot seem to make the magic happen in the postseason no matter what they do. In 2014, despite adding the best LHP in the American League, David Price, they instead saw the Cinderella Kansas City Royals (their division foe) in the World Series while they made a first-round departure.

Many things can be attributed to their playoff demise, but during the regular season the poor performance of closer Joe Nathan was a big drag on their momentum. And it is an issue that must be addressed prior to the 2015 season if they intend on making another run in an improved AL Central.

Insert New York Yankees closer and free agent David Robertson.

The Yankees have an opportunity to be proactive and save some money (for a change) by inserting closer of the future Dellin Betances into the role in 2015. Perhaps they could allocate some of those resources to the bench as Robertson is sure to be getting $15 million per season; while Betances is currently on his rookie contract and making next to nothing relative to baseball players’ salaries. Robertson is expendable, and the Tigers must swoop in and capitalize on this early in free agency.

While Nathan is making a ton of money in 2015, he must be relegated to the eighth inning setup role to start the season to see if he can get it going again as he has been a stellar reliever over his long career. The move would actually be similar to something the Yankees themselves did a few years back when they signed now Washington Nationals closer Rafael Soriano to a hefty contract to set up for Mariano Rivera.

The Royals’ surprise emergence in the AL this season has to be burning at the loins of the Tigers’ front office folk and I would expect them to spend money again this offseason. If they are able to retain Max Scherzer, perhaps this Robertson move becomes impossible. But if they lose Scherzer, perhaps they can afford to add James Shields and Robertson for what Scherzer would have been paid annually.

Not only would that fill two important needs on their roster, but it would also hurt the Royals to see their former ace as the No. 3 starter on a division rival.

Regardless of which starting pitcher Detroit is able to retain, signing Robertson should be a high priority as the regular season could be disastrous with continued uncertainty in the ninth inning.

Timothy Downs is a fantasy sports writer for www.RantSports.com. You can ‘like him’ on Facebook add him on Google or follow him on Twitter @Tidow1212.

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