Baseball commissioner Bud Selig announces that the major leagues will expand immediately by two teams. As a result, general managers can protect only five players on the roster.
So, as Dombrowski, the Tigers’ GM and president, you must decide your top-five players. Who are they?
The first is easy: Miguel Cabrera. So is the second: Justin Verlander. Then possibly Victor Martinez and Austin Jackson.
So who’s the fifth and final protected Tiger?
Betcha didn’t think Ryan Raburn.
The article then goes on to mention that Raburn will play 2011 as a 30-year-old. Protecting Raburn is based on Fantasy Baseball Guide ranking him 159 among players to draft for 2011. Protecting players in an expansion draft, however, means thinking long term, so a 30 year old with two good seasons under his belt should not be protected.
Raburn also holds a fairly large platoon difference, hitting lefties much better than righties. Ryan is a good role player, but his playing time will always be limited.
It would probably be Scherzer or Porcello (and maybe both at the cost of V-Mart). Certainly not Raburn.
LOL, it’s definitely not Raburn. It’s positively Scherzer and then Porcello would still top Raburn. I like Raburn plenty, but he’s not one of the Tigers’ top 5 players, he might struggle for top 10.