Since moving to relief full-time in 2013 Cecil has a 2.90 ERA and 2.69 xFIP. Are you new to baseball? Sometimes failed starters move to relief and completely transform their careers. Cecil the reliever is an outstanding pitcher.
It's a really bad year to be looking for a lefty. There are a lot of RH relievers available, but not lefties. If the Blevins, Logan, and Howell markets get up near 20M, we're probably out, and rightfully so.
Cecil leaving for STL leaves Aaron Loup as the only lefty in the pen for next year. Would like to see Jerry Blevins or Boone Logan brought in. Possibly JP Howell.
I think Sanchez will come in around 8M per win over his deal. We'll see what happens with Upton and Zimmermann, because those look like the only two albatrosses to me. I think they could trade Miggy and Verlander's entire contracts and get a return, and they could probably move the last two years of V-Mart if they eat like 6-8M.
Yeah, the Tigers didn't make a whole lot of mistakes with their big contracts. Who did they spend big on?
Cabrera - still looks fine
Verlander - still looks fine
Fielder - bad contract, but they fixed it by moving him for Kinsler before he imploded
Sanchez - worked out fine
Upton, V-Mart and Zimmermann aren't looking great though.