Lakeland, Fla. — It wouldn’t be much of a stretch to characterize the Tigers’ last two spring camps as glorified gong show-style auditions. Very few established players, long-term veteran assets or big-league ready prospects. A too-large percentage of players were in camp competing to be placeholders, not fixtures, at their position.
That’s what it looks like when a team is in full teardown mode.
Well, rejoice, rejoice, because those days are over. As general manager Al Avila proclaimed during the winter caravan last month, the process of building the roster back toward respectability and contention starts now.