The free agent pitching market this winter feels a lot like buying a luxury car with 200,000 miles on it; the prices are astronomical, but the engines look a little shaky. While the New York Mets have the financial muscle to outbid anyone for the top arms available, there is a growing sense that David Stearns isn’t interested in paying ace money for number two starters.

The smartest play on the board isn’t signing a check, but rather making a phone call to Detroit, where the Tigers finally seem ready to listen on their crown jewel.

For weeks, the industry assumption was that Detroit would clutch Tarik Skubal tight, hoping to build around him, but the winds have shifted dramatically in the last few days.

ESPN’s Buster Olney dropped a bombshell that changes the entire calculus for contend

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