Lakeland, Fla. — Most big-league teams treat super-talented young pitchers like monarchy and make them roster pillars.
The Tigers ideally would do just that with Michael Fulmer.
But they probably can’t.
The problem is that Fulmer’s excellence likely doubles as a ticket out of town. The Tigers are trying to re-stock a roster with some long-term muscle, as well as with thoughts that a few years from now a team will have enough core talent to make the playoffs minus a saint’s intercession. But they’re short on pieces that can’t really be collected by way of drafts, international signings, and free-agent cash.