Along with Upton, the Tigers also added premium free-agent pitcher Jordan Zimmerman to their roster. Yet, Detroit simply was replacing the loss of ace David Price and outfielder Yoenis Cespedes—with inferior players.
The Tigers do not look much different than the club that finished 74-87 in 2015, 31 games behind the Kansas City Royals. They’ve replaced Cespedes with Upton. They’ve subbed Zimmerman for Price. And they’ve replaced closer Joakim Soria with Francisco Rodriquez. They’ve added starter Daniel Norris, whom they acquired in the July deadline deal with the Blue Jays for Price.