So the season is over and a fine one it was. Here is a look at what is going on at each position.
C
Alex Avila
-We knew he was likely the long-term solution but this year was special. He led all major league qualified catchers in innings caught, slugging percentage and OPS and was second in RBIs. He also did a great job with the pitching staff and ended up with the third best percentage in baseball in throwing out base stealers. Next year he'll catch less, a capable back-up at the position is a must.
1B
Miggy
-Another season with MVP numbers, no surprise here
2B
Ramon Santiago/Ryan Raburn
-Neither is a long-term solution or an every day player. Santiago is a better righthanded hitter which makes platooning him strange unless he was the RH platoon. Raburn is simply too streaky and a mess in the field. He's a platoon fill player. Tigers need a 2Bman who can leadoff, that would probably be their 2nd best need in the offseason.
3B
Blackhole, #1 priority, nuff said. Peralta can move here if they can find a shorty.
SS
Jhonny Peralta
-Listen to this, Peralta was 2nd in the AL in fielding percentage and 4th in all of baseball in UZR. Yep, guy was rock solid. He was also 4th in all of baseball among SSs in HRs, RBIs and led the AL among shorties in OPS. Really great season here, Peralta was a great acquisition.
LF
Delmon Young
-Picked up at the trade deadline for a bag of balls he performed very well accept for his dislike of the walk. He enters an arbitration year where he will command a nice paycheck but he's probably worth a look in 2012.
CF
Austin Jackson
-After a surprising rookie season Ajax regressed. He struck out 181 times, Adam Dunn-like numbers which is fine but only AJAX hits 1st. He can't continue to stay in that spot and AJAX likely will see better power numbers moving forward if he's moved down. But he's an elite fielding CFer, 4th in baseball in UZER and exponentially better than a fading Curtis Granderson. He saved countless runs and he's only gonna get better.
RF
Brennan Boesch
-He's a guy people don't know much about if they are outside of Detroit, but this kid put it together this year. Once though of as a platoon guy Boesch had a couple of really hot months and losing him hurt the Tigers worse than any other single occurrence in 2011.
DH
VMART
-Simply

Led all hitters in the game with hitting with RISP, exactly what you need behind Miggy. Him not being able to catch more hurt Avila though, so unless they find a FA catcher VMART needs to catch 30 to 35 games next year which I'm not sure is possible
Bench:
Kelly is becoming the Shane Halter/John Wockenfuss of his generation, a hearty hitter and sure handed fielder who can play six positions. Raburn is solid, Santiago is an FA who might find a starting job and Maggs is gone.
Starting pitching:
The strength of the team as the playoffs proved.
Justin Verlander: Ace, ace, ace. More innings than any other pitcher, went six innings or more in every start and an auto win for the Cy Young.
Mad Max: I love Max, 3.11 K/BB, very above average stuff and a guy that loves pitching at Comerica Park. He had 33 starts this year, in 20 he gave up 2 ERs or less and nine starts where he gave up 5 ER or more. We preach consistency in the strike zone with Max but the really good Max is a bit of a wild card, someone where you aren't quite sure what to expect.
Doug ####### Fister: I was calling for him to come to Detroit and I got my wish but not even I expected what I saw. He was spectacular in almost every way, and he is under contract for a long time.
Rick Porcello: He's 22 and he really shows he can man up in big games. He was terrible a lot this year but he's not a guy with overpowering stuff and he'd a guy that takes time to fully develop. I think Porcello is a #3 starter from next year on, I think he will have a nice 2012 and is a great middle of the rotation guy.
The 5th spot is open. Jacob Turner is probably not quite ready yet and they need to find a #5 guy that is better than Brad Penny was this past year. This way they can have Turner in Toledo and use him for spot starts and some middle relief as he continues to develop. A lefthander would be nice.
Bullpen
Valverde will get his team option picked up, he was simply fantastic in 2011 although he can never just make it easy.
Benoit: We paid $16 mill for three years and after a rough start, probably got about $10 mill worth in year one. Lights out, one of the best set-up guys in the game.
Coke: Coke! I never liked him going to the rotation. He is a very capable 7th inning guy and he's better as a straight one inning guy than as a situational guy.
Schlereth: Situational guy, looked good down the stretch
AlAl: Oof, this guy is crazy wild but his stuff is great. I don't think they can ever depend on him to pitch more than a few weeks at a time
Perry: He stunk bad, but maybe he can recover and have a good year next year. He's still got minor league options to be used.
Pauley: He should have been on the playoff roster. These guys are unpredictable from year to year but Pauley could be fine.
They need to add another bullpen arm but the pitching staff is pretty much set besides the #5 starter. Crosby and Turner lurk but neither is ready yet.