Kuzul

Although reliever Joba Chamberlain‘s 2014 MLB season didn’t reach an ideal conclusion, there is still a place for his live arm in the big leagues.

The eight-year veteran is finally off the market as he has agreed to a one-year major league deal with the Detroit Tigers, according to Ken Rosenthal of Fox Sports:

Chris McCosky of the Detroit News confirmed Rosenthal’s report and noted that the deal was officially done.

Rosenthal reported that the deal was worth $1 million, plus incentives.  

After a great deal of back-and-forth early in his career with the New York Yankees, Chamberlain has settled in as a relief pitcher over the past several seasons. He has never been able to replicate the success he had as a rookie in 2007 when he posted a 0.38 ERA in 19 appearances, but he acquitted himself well in 2014.

Chamberlain signed with the Detroit Tigers last offseason after seven campaigns in pinstripes. He proceeded to post his best statistical season since 2011 as he finished with a 3.57 ERA and 59 strikeouts in 63 innings.

In many ways, he could be considered a bright spot within a bullpen that struggled mightily as a unit. Had Chamberlain’s season ended there, then the narrative would have been much different than it is now. That wasn’t the case, though, as the 29-year-old righty proceeded to implode in the playoffs.

The Tigers were swept from the American League Division Series by the Baltimore Orioles, and Chamberlain’s poor outings in Games 1 and 2 had a lot to do with it. According to SportsCenter, Joba sported an astronomically high ERA:

In all, he surrendered four earned runs on three hits in just 0.1 innings pitched. To Chamberlain’s credit, he didn’t attempt to run from the criticism, per ESPN.com’s Jerry Crasnick:

If nothing else, Chamberlain displayed a good attitude after getting knocked around in those outings. According to Brendan Savage of MLive.com, he insisted that his confidence wasn’t shaken despite getting chased twice:

I feel great. I feel physically better than I have ever. I want the ball no matter what, whether I’ve thrown 10 good ones or 10 bad ones. That’s the name of the game. … There’s always a point where it comes in your career where you’re gonna go through this stuff and that’s part of the game. But you get knocked down seven, you get back up eight. And that’s all that matters.

Chamberlain’s demeanor is something that may have appealed to his new team. Based on how he pitched in the postseason, however, it is difficult to imagine the organization giving him a role greater than a sixth-inning middle man.

Perhaps Chamberlain could handle setup situations during the regular season, but there has to be a great deal of concern regarding his ability to get the job done come playoff time.    

His awful showing this year was somewhat indicative of his overall postseason record. In 16 career playoff innings, Chamberlain has a 5.06 ERA and bloated 1.81 WHIP. Even so, he has immense potential that was worth gambling on.

It can be argued that he is still living off the reputation he built in 2007 to some degree, but he most definitely has the ability to be dominant when he is on top of his game.

Chamberlain likely damaged his chances of a big, long-term contract during the playoffs; however, he is now in a spot where he can be a valuable innings eater.

Joba filled that role over the course of 69 appearances during the 2014 regular season, and a similar performance would make this signing very much worthwhile.

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

In 2014, the Cleveland Indians saw a number of breakout performances en route to a decent but disappointing finish to the season.

Players like Michael Brantley, Corey Kluber, Cody Allen and Lonnie Chisenhall all took steps forward and helped lead the Indians to their 85-77 record. Here in 2015, the team is looking like a division-title contender, and it’ll need those same players to keep up their performance while also relying on a new crop of breakout players in order to fulfill its goals for the year.

Fortunately, there are several players in the Tribe’s spring training camp who could take big steps forward this year.

In this piece, we’ll look at three such players and analyze why you should care about them. Hint: They are candidates to “break out” in 2015.

Along the way, we’ll visit in on a would-be rookie, a familiar face and a guy I just can’t quit on. Let’s get started.

Begin Slideshow

Age was just a number for Jason Giambi, as he continued to defy the odds by playing Major League Baseball well into his 40s.

The five-time All-Star finally called it a career on Monday, announcing his retirement after 20 MLB seasons as a member of four different clubs. Giambi released a statement through the New York Daily News‘ Mark Feinsand to officially declare his intentions.

Below is an excerpt from his announcement:

Ever since I was five years old, all I ever wanted to be was a Major League Baseball player. The Oakland A’s, New York Yankees, Colorado Rockies and Cleveland Indians were a big part of helping that dream come true.

To the managers, coaches and players, it’s been a tremendous honor sharing the field with you and thank you very much.  

To the writers, local and national, and to the broadcasters, I want to express my appreciation to the media for covering the game we all love. 

I want to thank the fans for being a part of this incredible journey. I especially want to thank the fans that gave me a second chance to let me show you the human being you see today.

Perhaps Giambi won’t step away from Major League Baseball entirely just yet, though.

The Cleveland Indians were the last team Giambi played for, and they left him an offer to work in a non-playing role in the event he retired, per CBSSports.com’s Jon Heyman (h/t HardballTalk’s Craig Calcaterra):

Giambi is 44 years of age. Although he isn’t as nimble as he once was—a fact that likely played a factor in his decision to retire—the longtime slugger can still swing the bat.

And teach others to do so.

There’s little doubt about the passion Giambi has for the game, given how long he stuck with it as his skills waned. His statement even declares how he’s wanted to be part of Major League Baseball since he was five years old, so it’d be hard to envision him being completely out of the game in 2015 and beyond.

One asset Giambi brought to the dish was his keen eye at the plate, which helped him still draw walks and increased his value even when his physical tools were diminishing.

To be fair, Giambi has long been far removed from his heyday with the Oakland Athletics, where he peaked with a whopping 8.8 Wins Above Replacement in 2001. But to relay some of the thoughts he had when he was in that type of zone would be invaluable to younger players or even veterans trying to dig out of a hitting slump.

Giambi’s words from this last September, when retirement was still a concept he wrestled with, captures the type of personality and love of the game that make him an ideal coaching candidate, per The Associated Press, via ESPN.com:

I’ve been playing this game since I was five years old. That’s your whole life. If you look at it, it’s 40 years of doing the same thing. It’s been unbelievable. It’s been fun. But, I still haven’t made a decision about what I’m going to do yet. Who knows? Maybe somebody’s looking for a broken down 44-year-old to kind of take a few extra hacks.

Serving strictly as a designated hitter in his latter playing days would actually make for a logical transition to focusing on that element of the game if Giambi opts to occupy the dugout.

MLB.com’s Jordan Bastian took time to highlight how productive Giambi was at the dish:

With career numbers consisting of a .277 batting average, 2,010 hits, 440 home runs and 1,441 RBI, Giambi warrants at least some consideration for Cooperstown. He definitely has the resume fit to be a hitting coach or mentor an MLB club in some other capacity.

Regarding Giambi’s personality and how he’d contribute to a positive clubhouse culture, the following testimony from longtime Indians executive Mark Shapiro is telling:

Whether Giambi winds up as a Hall of Famer someday should depend on voters’ perception over time of his admitted steroid use—an issue that has tainted many players from Giambi’s era.

As a coach, Giambi could spin his difficult experiences into a positive. Dealing with off-field controversy is something he had to endure amid that scandal. It’s another area where he would be a tremendous asset as a coach.

Any team that would take on Giambi would be adding an animated veteran presence to the clubhouse, with a wealth of knowledge about hitting to boot. If he wasn’t well liked among peers, Giambi probably wouldn’t have continued getting calls to suit up when his playing career was on the decline.

Now Giambi has a chance to parlay his unique, two-decade legacy as a professional player to remain around Major League Baseball through coaching, which many of the sport’s enthusiasts would have to enjoy.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

It’s time for spring training! Pack up your bags, book your flights and head off to Goodyear, Arizona.

The Indians are gearing up for another run at the playoffs in 2015. And this year, the Tribe is gearing up for a run at the American League Central crown, as well. 

This year, the Indians look poised to make a serious run, and, depending on how things shake up, they could be in the conversation as one of the league’s best teams. There are some small kinks in that plan though, as the Indians’ postseason hopes hinge on several players being healthy, a few players taking steps forward (most notably in the starting rotation) and for one or more prospects to come up and make an impact later in the season.

Got all that? No?

Well, that’s all right. Over the course of this article, I’m going to break down everything, starting with a recap of the offseason, all the way up to a breakdown of the position battles to keep an eye on in spring training.

Let’s get to it.

All stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com and FanGraphs unless otherwise noted.

Begin Slideshow

On February 19, the Chicago White Sox will officially begin preparations for the 2015 campaign with the start of spring training. It marks the beginning of what the fanbase hopes will be a season that ends with an American League Central title.

Unlike seasons past, however, there is legitimate optimism surrounding the White Sox. General manager Rick Hahn made an extraordinary amount of progress this offseason, acquiring multiple players to fill just about every hole on the roster.

To be sure, the work isn’t complete. There are still evaluations to be made by manager Robin Ventura and the rest of the coaching staff, but the outlook is decidedly more upbeat than it was one year ago.

So let’s dig into a complete spring training preview for the White Sox, looking at individual battles, players to watch and the projected composition of the lineup, starting rotation and bullpen.

Begin Slideshow

The Detroit Tigers are once again favorites to triumph in the American League Central this season.

However, the four-time reigning division champions are no certainty to prevail in arguably baseball’s tightest division.

The Kansas City Royals and Cleveland Indians are now established contenders, and an outstanding offseason for the Chicago White Sox has brought them into the picture.

As per usual, the Tigers have had another busy winter. A paradigm shift, which was initiated last offseason, gives this team a different hue to what they featured just a few seasons ago.

Last winter’s acquisitions of Rajai Davis and Ian Kinsler signalled a new era of speed and dynamism in Detroit. November’s trade for outfielder Anthony Gose continued that theme. The return of Jose Iglesias from injury and the addition of Yoenis Cespedes will also markedly improve Detroit’s defense.

That’s the good news. What’s concerning is the state of the starting rotation.

Veterans Max Scherzer and Rick Porcello have both fled and taken their 124 combined victories over the past four years with them.

But, after coming up empty-handed in recent years, a cultural shift was needed in Detroit. A more audacious, speedy outfit that plays and better defensive could vindicate the decisions of team president/ general manager Dave Dombrowski in the years to come.

Read on for more comprehensive analysis of the Tigers as spring training looms just over the horizon.

Begin Slideshow

Questions remain as to when Miguel Cabrera will be ready for the 2015 MLB season after he had ankle surgery in October of last year.    

Chris Iott of MLive.com reported that the Detroit Tigers will have a much better picture of his health status after he visits doctors next Tuesday:

Cabrera has been a model of consistency not only at the plate but also in terms of durability. With the lone exception being his rookie season, in which the then-Florida Marlins called him up in June, Cabrera has made 600-plus plate appearances in all but one of his 12 years in the majors.

Beyond trading for Alfredo Simon and Yoenis Cespedes, the Tigers haven’t made a ton of moves in the offseason.

They’ll most likely get pushed hard by the Cleveland Indians and Chicago White Sox in the division this coming year. According to Baseball Prospectus, PECOTA projects only a four-game difference between first and third place in the American League Central.

Getting Cabrera back healthy quickly will be of the utmost importance for Detroit. Even though his 2014 numbers failed to reach the absurd levels of his back-to-back MVP years, he remains by far the team’s most important offensive threat.  

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The bullpen was arguably the biggest driving force behind the Kansas City Royals‘ Cinderella run to the World Series last season. Because of that, the defending American League champions have locked up Kelvin Herrera.

Continue for updates.

Royals and Herrera Agree to Extension

Thursday, Feb. 12

CBS Sports’ Jon Heyman reported that Herrera and the Royals have reached a two-year, $4.15 million deal.

As the Royals’ primary setup man last season, Herrera dominated to the tune of a 1.41 ERA and 59 strikeouts in 70 innings. He also posted a 1.80 ERA in the playoffs, making him one of Kansas City’s most integral players.

The 25-year-old righty is arbitration eligible, but the Royals are on the verge of inking him to a contract in order to avoid that situation, according to Jeffrey Flanagan of Royals.com:

Andy McCullough of The Kansas City Star is reporting that the proposed deal will pay Herrera over $2 million per season for two years:

Herrera combined with Wade Davis and closer Greg Holland to form the best bullpen in baseball last season. Provided Kansas City is able to get this deal done, it ensures that it will be in that conversation once again in 2015.   

The Royals certainly have some question marks entering the year, as their lineup isn’t explosive and they lost James Shields from their starting rotation, but a great ‘pen figures to keep them in the running.

Follow @MikeChiari on Twitter

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The Detroit Tigers have become a perennial powerhouse in the American League in the last few years, winning their division four years in a row and repeatedly making deep playoff runs.

They have done this thanks to a deep starting rotation and a powerful lineup.

However, it looks like the Tigers might not have either this year as spring training approaches. The most recent bad news to hit the Tigers camp is that Victor Martinez has a torn meniscus in his left knee and will miss at least six weeks.

Martinez had arguably his best season in 2014, hitting .335 with 32 home runs, 103 RBIs and a league-leading .974 OPS. His uncanny ability to draw walks and get on base resulted in an outstanding 1.67 walk-to-strikeout ratio—which is almost unparalleled territory as most hitters are sacrificing strikeouts and batting average for power.

His outstanding season netted him a four-year, $68 million contract.

Unfortunately, that was one of the few moves the Tigers front office made this offseason, and the absence of Martinez adds yet another question to the already-spotty roster.

Miguel Cabrera had ankle surgery in late October, and Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reported that it is still unclear whether or not the two-time MVP will be ready for the start of spring training. Even if Cabrera is healthy, it is uncertain whether he can return to his usual stellar self.

The Tigers did acquire outfield slugger Yoenis Cespedes from the Red Sox in exchange for Rick Porcello. While he should provide some power in the middle of the order, it can’t be forgotten that Cespedes hasn’t hit above .270 since his rookie year in 2012—and he doesn’t get on base that often, either.

The rest of the lineup is filled with question marks as well. J.D Martinez had a nice year in 2014, but he cooled off down the stretch and it isn’t hard to believe that he may return to being the underperforming outfielder whom the Astros released before the start of last season.

Third baseman Nick Castellanos wasn’t too impressive last year and is not in position to carry any type of significant burden on his back.

Jose Iglesias will return at shortstop after missing all of last season with a shin injury. And while Iglesias is an exciting young player with phenomenal range at short, it is unknown whether or not he can be even a league-average hitter.

Center fielder Anthony Gose possesses game-breaking speed, but unfortunately you can’t steal first base in baseball. He hit only .226 with nearly nonexistent power in 2014, and he hasn’t shown any signs of improvement in that regard in his three-year career.

The lone bright spot of the order might be Ian Kinsler, who has entrenched his name in the conversation of the best second basemen in the game. He hit .275 with 17 home runs and 92 RBIs in his first season in Detroit.

But there are even risks with him. He accumulated those numbers hitting in front of Cabrera and the two productive Martinez sluggers. If those guys have off years, which wouldn’t be a huge surprise considering their ages and injury history, Kinsler may struggle to replicate his 2014 numbers.

The pitching staff is similarly questionable. The Tigers have David Price to anchor the starting rotation, but after him it is not nearly as deep as it has been in years past.

Anibal Sanchez is an ultra-consistent pitcher when healthy, but he only logged 126 innings last year due to injury. But at least then the Tigers had Max Scherzer as well. With Scherzer now a Washington National, the cupboard is pretty bare after Price and Sanchez.

Justin Verlander is no longer the ace he once was—his ERA was 4.54 last year—and the only pitcher the Tigers added this offseason was Alfredo Simon. And while Simon did have a mini-breakout season last year, he struggled in the second half of the season and will have a hard time matching last year’s 3.44 ERA.

Even worse, it’s not like the team can expect an influx of young talent to come to the big league club anytime soon. The Tigers have the worst farm system in the league, and it’s not close. In other words, the future does not look good in Detroit.

Ultimately, the Tigers need way too much to go right to even have a chance to compete in 2015.

They need Cabrera to return from ankle surgery and have an MVP-caliber season. They need Victor Martinez to overcome a second surgery on his left knee and be the stud he was last year. They need J.D. Martinez to follow up last year’s breakout campaign with another strong season.

They need Sanchez to play an injury-free season, Verlander to return to Cy Young status and the bullpen to hold a lead every once in a while.

It’s way, way too much to expect, and there is almost no way the Tigers make the playoffs. The Royals will come into 2015 with confidence after their run to the World Series, and both the White Sox and Indians improved this offseason.

Detroit is losing its grasp on the AL Central, and it could easily miss the playoffs this year.

And it’s going to get a lot worse before it gets better.

All stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com unless otherwise noted.

Read more MLB news on BleacherReport.com

The Detroit Tigers appeared to have all of their major roster spots sewn up not so long ago. But things can change in a hurry.

The injury bug has bitten this franchise again, which will force some significant shake-ups in the weeks to come.

A knee injury to designated hitter Victor Martinez has put a giant monkey in Detroit’s wrench. Martinez’s recovery from meniscus surgery—due to take place next week—will almost certainly rule him out beyond Opening Day, and potentially as late as midseason.  

With Miguel Cabrera also rehabilitating this winter, Detroit’s two biggest offensive threats could both be watching from the sidelines when April rolls around.

Even if Cabrera is able to DH, it still leaves a big hole at first base. That leaves the Tigers with plenty to mull over.

Apart from this new dilemma, things seem pretty stable. The other position players look concrete in their starting roles, and the rotation is a done deal—notwithstanding a daring move for starter James Shields.

Any other battles waged will be for places on the bench or in the bullpen. The latter could be particularly intriguing with one or two sleepers getting a chance if they have a spectacular spring.

With a few openings available, let’s take a look at the contenders and what their chances are of grabbing one of the available spots.

Begin Slideshow