Realistically, ..who do you see NOT being a Tiger going into 2013?

My guess, for sure:
D. Young
J. Valverde

Plus probable:
Laird
Dotel

Hopefully:
Raburn

Now the only question is ..who will replace those 5 positions?
Alburqueque and Schlereth will replace two in the bullpen (neither as closer though).
V. Martinez will replace Laird.
Dirks will replace Young.

Unfortunately ..nobody to replace Raburn.
Available Free Agents?

I could see them re-signing Laird. He's been exceptional in limited playing time and unless they lose hope in Avila and search for a new C with Avila as backup, I'd have no prob with Laird returning.

Young and Raburn are guaranteed to be gone. That's reason enough to celebrate.

Peralta might be gone as well. $8M club option; his numbers this year don't warrant it.

I'd rather they get a good defensive SS at a cheaper price and use the money to up the offense in our corner outfield positions.

Valverde will have to be lights out to get re-upped.

Raburn
Young
Leyland and most of the coaching staff. Brookins may still be there.

Yeah, if the Tigers fail to reach the playoffs Leyland will be done.

Raburn
Young
Valverde

maybe Dotel, depends on Al-B-Q.

I actually think Valverde will come back, he really has not been ALL that bad, he has had a couple of terrible appearances, and he likes to make things interesting, but all in all, his job is to save games, and he is 20 of 23 this year, which is above average in all of baseball. His problem is that when he is bad, he is really bad.

I think the following are not on the 2013 squad:

Young - most obvious, replaced by Victor
Kelly - replaced by another scrub fill in guy
Sanchez - Smyly will be the 5th starter

Doesn't Dotel have an option?

Dotel does have an option ..but Tigers can 'buy it out' for something like $500k. He'll be 40 years old next year. I think Tigers will buy him out and let him go.

Valverde is FA next year. I think he's going to want more than Tigers are willing to offer. After all, he is something like 37 years old himself and has been very shaky in several games this year. I seriously believe he is gone ..by his own choice.

Delmon Young is a FA after this year ..and I highly doubt the Tigers will make him an offer. Thus, he is gone due to Tigers not making him an offer.

Laird is a FA after this year ..and other teams might be willing to offer more than the Tigers. That is why I think Laird is gone ..by his own choice.

I think Raburn has another 2 years before eligible for FA. Unless the Tigers can trade him with somebody else, ..I think he may be back. But again ..who would Tigers replace him with? What FA's would be available ..and what would it cost?

I think Raburn only has one more year before FA. At this point, I think he'll be back, but it may depend on the progress in AA with Castellanos and maybe even Garcia.

Yes ..I checked it out ..Raburn only 1 more year to FA.

If Raburn does come back ..I hope he brings his previous HOT 2nd half bat with him for the entire year ..especially since he seems to have misplaced it this year.

I have to believe Tigers cannot stand 'pat' the entire off-season ..but just don't see how they'll afford to sign anybody decent and still hope to resign Verlander after 2014. Plus, if Sanchez is any good at all down the stretch ..he's going to cost more than Tigers might want to pay.

Do you realistically see the Tigers making any off-season trades or FA signings?

I am 100% with you. I believe Valverde will be back.

I don't think they really will, nor do they really need to. I suspect they'll keep Peralta, and call the infield good. Hopefully resign Laird, unless one of the young catchers looks ready (but I don't want them as a backup, necessarily). I don't think it's necessary to resign Sanchez, although I wouldn't be upset if they did. I do think Smyly is in the rotation next year (or traded, but I think rotation is more likely). If you sign Sanchez, you can trade a pitcher for an outfielder, otherwise, buckle up, and I would expect the outfield to be something like Boesch, Jackson, Raburn, and Castellanos or Garcia.

I don't see any bigger name free agents, though.

And I forgot all about Dirks. He'd be in the outfield mix, as well, so maybe Dirks, Jackson, Raburn and Boesch, then give the kids the occasional taste of the majors.

In reality, the Tigers are getting a key "free agent" back with Victor coming back to play. That will be a huge addition, as we have seen the major struggles from Young and the players batting behind him in the lineup.

But there is no guarantee that V. Martinez will be the same hitter as before! I highly doubt he'll fail as miserably as many other Tigers have this year ..but he could hit 'only' .280 with less than 90 Ribbi's, which would be way down from his .330 / 108 from last year.

I still like the thought though of Cabrea, Fielder, and V-Mart batting 3rd-4th-5th. If Ajax continues his improvement ..it could be AWESOME!

Peralta- I think he really needs to step it up to stay on the team. He's not a good defensive short stop and this year he hasn't been a good hitting short stop either. But at the same time it's a hard position to fill if he weren't here.

Valverde- the money just isn't worth it. Nor does it make sense to bring him back. Brayan Villarreal, Al BBQ, or even Bruce Rondon who has been amazing in the minors could all fill that spot easily and for a lot less money. I'd say 100% for certain Valverde is gone.

Young- Another 100% for sure goner. He hasn't been the right handed power bat he was last year. He don't walk. So if he isn't driving in runs he's useless.

There should be heavy turnover.

Raburn
Young
Laird
Peralta
Kelly
Valverde
Dotel
Sanchez

Maybe
Boesch
Coke

I see us adding a catcher that can push Avila for playing time.
Obviously, Martinez will replace Young.
Sign a corner outfielder and a shortstop.
Smyly back at 5 in 2013. No need to keep Sanchez.
Alburquerque and Rondon replace Valverde and Dotel.

I think an overhaul of our "role players" is well overdue.

Why would you get rid of Coke? I'll take a 3.38 ERA any day, and he's not a free agent until 2015.

He was a maybe. Wasn't sure of his contractual status. He's fine for what he is.

Losing Laird would be the biggest mistake. His price I do think will be within their budget. They might have someone in the minors, but Laird was really pretty good.