Baseball Prospectus released an overview of AL Central teams off season moves today. Normally I enjoy and even recommend the site to others but I must say this article was rather lack luster. It’s not only that I disagree with some of the statements such as:

A real first baseman would still be swell; think they can ask Gary Sheffield if he’s willing?

Are they really suggesting it would be in the Tigers best interest to play Sheffield at first instead of Sean Casey? Regardless of your feelings on Casey this is an absurd suggestion.

I also do consider Sean Casey a real first baseman. I know many out there disagree but few take it as far as BP with quotes like the one below after the Tigers signed Casey for $4M.

So, you have a flabby and relatively punchless first baseman, a hitter who’s given his employers one genuinely good year in the last five, or exactly as many as you got from Carlos Pena in the last two. Of course you give him $4 million. What better way to make sure the fans who sign up for season ticket packages in 2007 wind up regretting their investment?

Outside of these comments there isn’t much new here. The Royals overspent on Meche. The White Sox were all over the place with no clear goal. The Twins have rotation questions still left. Cleveland appears to have made big steps addressing their bullpen. The Tigers tied up existing players.

I’ve got to say that I’m rather disappointed with this view. If your take away from this off season is that the Tigers took a big risk by keeping their talent you’ve missed quite a bit. The Tigers, while not making large trades and new acquisitions (besides Sheffield), have done quite a bit that is quite notable.

• Guaranteed quality pitching for the next few years by signing Bonderman with Verlander, Zumaya and Grilli having years left before free agency, extending Rodney for a few years and avoiding arbitration with Robertson.
• Brought in a good and proven first baseman at a reasonable price while Shelton’s hitting is still in doubt and Thames skill at first still unproven.
• Pick up much needed mid-lineup slugger in Gary Sheffield.
• Made good efforts at picking up a lefty for the bullpen in Edward Campusano and Bobby Seay with others still on the table.

The Tigers are now sitting very pretty with lots of talent tied up for a few years at reasonable prices. This leaves them flexible should serious issues arise. They have talent on the bench in Thames and Infante leaving plenty of depth there and in the minor (to some degree.)

I don’t know what moves BP thinks would remove the “risk” but things are looking very good from where I sit.