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3 reasons why the Tigers need to go for it in 2017

Rick Osentoski / USA TODAY Sports

The window is closing in Detroit.

Miguel Cabrera knows it. The front office knows it.

Back-to-back seasons without the playoffs, an ageing, expensive core, and little minor-league depth have the Tigers entering 2017 at a major crossroads.

General manager Al Avila prepared the fan base for sweeping changes when declaring that a shake-up was coming this offseason. The goal was to shed payroll, while getting younger, but as spring training opened last week Justin Upton, Ian Kinsler, Justin Verlander, J.D. Martinez, Miguel Cabrera, Victor Martinez, and Jordan Zimmermann remain part of the roster.

Cabrera acknowledged last weekend that the Tigers' current group likely has one more shot at a World Series. With a rebuild on the horizon, here's three reasons why the Tigers could make one last run in 2017 before beginning to tear it down.

Talent exists

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The Tigers managed to win 86 games and finished 2 1/2 back of a wild-card spot in 2016 despite Nick Castellanos, J.D. Martinez, and Zimmermann missing significant time due to injury.

Cabrera remains one of the elite hitters in the majors, Kinsler is coming off a career-best season, and Upton bounced back strongly in the second half to help Detroit score the sixth-most runs in the AL. The lineup boasts six players capable of hitting 20-plus homers, so the offense shouldn't be an issue in 2017.

The pitching staff will be the club's biggest question mark, but there's certainly room for optimism. Verlander returned to his Cy Young form, Michael Fulmer claimed the AL Rookie of the Year, and Daniel Norris was solid when healthy. If Zimmermann can bounce back and either Matt Boyd or Anibal Sanchez pitch effectively at the back end, then the rotation shouldn't be an issue.

Favorable sked leaves WC wide open

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The AL Central is likely the Cleveland Indians to lose, but the games still need to be played.

If the Tigers wish to even have a shot at competing for a division title, they're going to have to achieve much more success against their rivals. Last season, Detroit did its job beating up on the bottom feeders - going 27-11 against the White Sox and Twins - but the club's record against the Indians and Royals cost them a shot at playing October baseball. The Tigers went 7-12 against Kansas City and a woeful 4-14 against Cleveland.

Despite the AL representative in the World Series coming from the Central in each of the last three years, the Tigers couldn't reside in a better division when looking at competing for a wild-card spot. The Twins and White Sox will likely be two of the worst teams in the majors again next season, and Detroit gets to play them 38 times. Meanwhile, the AL East is loaded with talent and the AL West saw every team in the division improve. The Tigers can watch the other teams beat up on one another, and take advantage of a softer schedule.

Limited buyers

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The Tigers had every ambition of trading away from their core this winter but were met with the reality that teams aren't lining up to pay a premium for high-priced veterans. Cabrera ($212 million), and Verlander ($84 million) are still MVP and Cy Young caliber players, but their remaining contracts aren't attractive for potential suitors - especially when considering the new luxury tax penalties.

The Tigers would likely have to eat a large portion of the remaining contract in order to get a desirable return or just make a deal as a straight salary dump.

Detroit doesn't possess the type of young, cheap, and under control starters like the White Sox had in Chris Sale - and have in Jose Quintana - while the Tigers are unwilling to part with young arms Norris and Fulmer. With so many expensive and ageing assets, selling won't necessarily be easy or plentiful for the Tigers, and holding on to the core for at least the time being might be better business.

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