Extensions

This spring has been all about extensions.  Extensions for players and the extension of the Tigress.  Mini Tigress has arrived and she's the coolest Tiger fan under the age of one month around.  Nothing prepares you for a little one, but I'm going to suggest a new activity in childcare classes.  If you can wrap a wiggling puppy in a large size tortilla with the precision of a Qdoba burrito maker with an air horn blowing in your ear while on one hour of sleep, then you are one step closer to being prepared for a child.  Skills and depth of performance are really pushed to the limits at 3 AM feedings.

The other extension on everyone's mind has been that of Max Scherzer.  Dom is usually cool as a cucumber in both trade situations and when interviewed.  He seemed to take offense to Max's refusal of a contract extension, however.  He threw a minor hissy fit, throwing Max under the bus by revealing how much money he had offered him and implying he was being greedy.  My only response to Dom is the same as Mini Tigress would say at this point, "Wah."

Max has a right to refuse a contract with any team.  It's also been said that both sides will wait and hold off negotiations until after the 2014 season.  Even better idea.

Scherzer had a Cy Young winning season last year.  He has the goods and the smarts to do it again.  There's no saying what will happen this season though.  Injuries, overuse, or a jinx may be in Max's future.  Let the season play out to see if it's worth it to spend the money to resign Scherzer.

The Tigers have their ace and franchise player, Justin Verlander.  He swims in pools of Tiger money and drinks the tears of Tiger fans' adoration.  As much as Scherzer was the better player last year, he's not the Tigers' golden boy.  If he wants that status, then he has to look to another team.

Miggy is signed through the 2015 season.  Beyond that, who knows if the Tigers will have the money to attract another big name bat.  If Scherzer starts shopping for a new team this year, then he has his choice of big men to pair up with to make a title run.  He can also go where the money is free and not tied up in other big name players.

In a perfect world, the Tigers will win the 2014 World Series and Max Scherzer will be a hero.  If that's true, he'll become more valuable than the Tigers can manage to keep and we will have to part ways.  I'd love to keep Max on the team.  In truth, I prefer him to Verlander.  He has a more level head and doesn't date swimsuit models.  There's an old saying though.  If you love someone, set him free.  If he signs a new contract with the Tigers, then we know he's ours.

Let's let the season play out with the best efforts on both sides and revisit this conversation in November.  Not a day sooner.