When the Detroit Tigers introduced new closer Joe Nathan this week, the news conference quickly became about a lot more than Joe Nathan.
That's all a baseball executive can do – give his team a chance to win a title. But after three years of aggressive spending, the Tigers may not be in a position to keep adding expensive stars to the roster. In fact, Detroit's offseason so far seems to underscore how hard it is to keep a talented team together as top players approach free agency.
The Tigers finished last season with a payroll around $150 million. They signed Victor Martinez and Joaquin Benoit to big deals before the 2011 season, then added Prince Fielder – and an even bigger contract – about a year later.
For now, Detroit fans may have to settle for having, as Dombrowski put it, "as good" a team as last season. There's nothing wrong with that. The Tigers won 93 games in 2013 for their third straight AL Central title. Win that many again, and Detroit has a good chance to be back in the postseason, where its starting pitching is certainly formidable enough for a deep run.
But it's fair to wonder where all these moves leave the Tigers. Kinsler replaces free agent Omar Infante at second base, and Nathan replaces Benoit – another free agent – as the closer. Krol could help fill left-hander Drew Smyly's role in the bullpen, since Smyly will replace Fister in the rotation.
But if the Tigers don't make a run at either of those players – and they've been capable of surprises in the past – it remains to be seen whether they'll be able to replace the power provided by Fielder and Jhonny Peralta, who left via free agency.