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Detroit Tigers Saved Themselves a Headache With Last Offseason Free-Agent Departure

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Detroit Tigers Saved Themselves a Headache With Last Offseason Free-Agent Departure


What the Detroit Tigers overcame with their pitching staff during the 2024 season was truly remarkable.

Ahead of the trade deadline, they sent Jack Flaherty to the Los Angeles Dodgers. Reese Olson ended up hitting the injured list, where Casey Mize and Matt Manning were already present.

That left Tarik Skubal and Keider Montero as the only starting pitchers that manager A.J. Hinch had to use for several weeks. He navigated it masterfully, pressing all the right buttons when it came to using openers and bulk pitchers behind them.

One of the reasons the team was left short-handed on depth in the rotation was that they lost Eduardo Rodriguez to the Arizona Diamondbacks in free agency.

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He agreed to a four-year, $80 million deal to depart the Motor City. While it seemed like it could hurt at the time, it ended up being a blessing in disguise for the Tigers.

Rodriguez gave the Diamondbacks virtually nothing in the first year of his massive contract. That is why that signing received a mark of D- from Kerry Miller of Bleacher Report in his re-grade of the biggest free agency moves last offseason.

“The former Tiger did not make his 2024 debut until August 7, meaning there were several pitchers acquired at the trade deadline who logged more innings for their new teams than Rodriguez did all year. And in addition to it being a delayed start, what he gave the Snakes was wholly underwhelming, lasting at least six innings in just one of his 10 starts…

At least in August, he got both run support and a bullpen that shut things down after his departure, resulting in four Arizona wins. No such luck in September, as the Diamondbacks went 1-5 in games started by Rodriguez while blowing what was a seven-game lead over the Mets in late August,” wrote the MLB expert.

Somewhat shockingly, Rodriguez wasn’t even the worst pitching signing on his team. That distinction went to Jordan Montgomery, as the two combined to sabotage their run to the postseason; they didn’t even have a chance to defend their NL pennant.

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A return to the mound in August would have coincided well for Detroit, as they needed all the help they could get. But, the level of production that Rodriguez provided would have tanked their incredible run as well.

He was sold in his two seasons with the Tigers, making 43 starts and going 18-14 with a 3.58 ERA. That has to give hope to Arizona fans that he can turn things around in 2025 and start to live up to his contract.



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Detroit, MI

Kings Lose Heartbreaker in Stunning Fashion to Pistons

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Kings Lose Heartbreaker in Stunning Fashion to Pistons


If you heard a noise in Sacramento tonight around 9:30 pm PT, it was the sound of the air being let out of the city as Jaden Ivey hit a four-point play to stun the Sacramento Kings. The Detroit Pistons stole the game 114-113 in the final minutes after the Kings led by as many as 19 points and held a 10 point lead with 3:37 left in the game.

De’Aaron Fox fouled Ivey on a three-point attempt with 3.1 seconds left on the clock and Ivey went on to make the circus shot and the free throw before Fox missed the half court heave.

Fox was having a huge second half and scoring with ease. Trey Lyles had 20 points and 8 rebounds off the bench. The bench as a whole combined for 38 points. The Kings looked back.

And then, poof. It was all gone.

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All the positivity the Kings spent 45 minutes building, gone.

Gone with a Malik Beasley heater of 9 points in two minutes to bring the Pistons back in. Gone with a Jaden Ivey four-point and-1.

The Kings fall to 13-18 on the season in stunning fashion. It’s their second one-point loss in the last five games and the third of the season.

Sacramento now has a record of 3-11 in games decided by five points or less and continue to struggle to close out games, a supposed strength coming into the season.

In one of the most bizarre seasons in recent memory, the Sacramento Kings continue to find new ways to lose, and a disappointing season turns from bad to disaster in a span of minutes.

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Detroit, MI

Detroit Pistons Decide on Isaiah Stewart’s Playing Status vs Kings

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Detroit Pistons Decide on Isaiah Stewart’s Playing Status vs Kings


While the Detroit Pistons have had a healthy starting five in place lately, a key member of their bench unit has been dealing with a notable injury concern.

When the Pistons faced the Miami Heat last week, the veteran center Isaiah Stewart was injured just seven minutes into his shift off the bench. He left the court with four points and three rebounds.

After getting evaluated back in the locker room, Stewart did not get clearance to return to help the Pistons close out the matchup against the Heat.

Since then, Stewart has been out. Will the trend continue on Thursday night against the Sacramento Kings?

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Unfortunately, for Detroit, that will be the case. Stewart has been downgraded to out for Thursday’s game.

After going out against Miami, Stewart was not part of the action when the Pistons hosted the Utah Jazz the following game. On a positive note, Pistons head coach JB Bickerstaff mentioned that Stewart’s recovery would not require a long timeline. He was viewed as day-to-day.

When the Pistons traveled to take on the Phoenix Suns, Stewart hit the road with the team. He was seen putting in work following a shootaround session. Although Stewart didn’t play, the Pistons found success against the Suns with an eight-point win.

Nothing changed earlier this week when the Pistons paid a visit to the Los Angeles Lakers. Stewart was ruled out, but the Pistons did well enough to win without him. After getting a couple of days off following the win over the Lakers, Stewart was upgraded on the injury report to questionable.

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While it’s a positive sign he seems to be making progress, Stewart is still not ready to return.

The Pistons and the Kings are set to tip at 10 PM ET.





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Detroit, MI

New Coach, Same Outcome for Red Wings

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New Coach, Same Outcome for Red Wings


The Detroit Red Wings announced the inevitable with the firing of head coach Derek Lalonde. The team showed life at the start of his tenure and even improved to 41 wins last season. But this year was a noticeable plateau under Lalonde, and Detroit made the only call they could.

In Lalonde’s place, the Red Wings hired Todd McLellan. The former San Jose Sharks, Edmonton Oilers, and Los Angeles Kings coach has over 15 years of NHL head coaching experience, and Detroit is hoping he can bring the team back to the postseason. It’s a gamble worth taking for the Red Wings organization, but the outcome won’t change as long as the roster construction remains the same.

McLellan is a good coach. He’s certainly an improvement over Lalonde, bringing more career wins and nine playoff appearances across three organizations, but he’s a band-aid. The wound in the Red Wings organization runs much deeper than who is behind the bench, and McLellan will be the next bench boss to fall victim to the lack of talent in Detroit

The Red Wings haven’t made the postseason since the 2015-2016 campaign. Long gone is the 30 year stretch where they were basically a perennial playoff team, capturing four Stanley Cups since 1996. The organization has been attempting to rebuild that dynasty for the last decade, with repeated failures along the way.

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The current attempt to build the right core is another one of those missteps. They have good players. Captain Dylan Larkin will be a member of the United States roster for the 4 Nations Face-Off and is a talented point producer. Lucas Raymond continues to improve and become the team’s best offensive player. Alex DeBrincat has speed and scoring capabilities. Top defensemen Moritz Seider and Simon Edvinsson give them quality minutes every night.

Beyond them, though, the roster is so far from a playoff one, let alone a championship one. They lack depth across every position and they’ve consistently failed with their analysis of goaltenders. For several seasons now, the organization has been banking on their overflow of young prospects breaking through to the NHL, but it’s still a waiting game.

That won’t help McLellan take this middling team to the postseason. He has some weapons to work with and his arrival is sure to reinvigorate the Red Wings players. It ultimately won’t matter though. It won’t change the outcome this year or next year or even the year after until their NHL lineup improves drastically.

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