I know this thread may seem a bit foolish because of how well the team is playing but at the same time every team can afford to get better. To me the biggest concerns remain too many K's not enough patience at the plate, the lack of a true playoff veteran in the bullpen, the need for a second crafty lefty out of the pen, and the fact that the team (pitchers) may be running on fumes come September.

First of all with the K's issue, I think the last thing this teams needs to do is to run into hot pitching or make a pitcher more effective by swinging away, the Tigers need to add guy who gets on base because of walks. The lack of vet seems petty but it you see it year after year very good to great pitchers without playoff exp crumble under the pressure (Wohlers, Lidge, Ankiel, Gossage) therefore I think it could hurt to add a guy who has been there before and can help with the pressure. The additional lefty is a must in part because of the exp factor and in part because of situations like tonight. I am sure if Leyland could have gone to a guy like Steve Kline or Ray King once Walker left a couple of the runs aren't scoredbecause we could have had a favorable match up. I don't know about you but I don't feel comfortable with Ledezma facing Ortiz, Matsui, Thome in clutch situations. To clarify my last point only one guy in our rotation has pitched beyond 162 games, so I don't think it could hurt to add a veteran arm like Livian, Maddux or Redman. Plus if the White Sox land Soriano it couldn't hurt to have another arm.

Now of course we won't trade for every need I think we need it just isn't possible but I think DD will fill at least two of the concerns.

So here is my question for this thread, if you are going to upgrade the roster where would you do it and who from the following list do you demote, trade or release ? And whom would you ideally but realistically replace them with?

Pitchers
Colon
Grilli
Ledezma
Rodney
Miner

Batters
Infante
Gomez
Monroe
Shelton

For me I look to move Colon somehow and add Ray King from the Rockies or Arthur Rhodes.

Next I would look to another Switch hitter to come off the bench, in place of Gomez, such as Randy Winn or Carl Everett. Winn is the best option since he is a decent OF he has career fielding % in LF of .994, .992 in CF and .976 in RF. I think we could trade a guy like Colon for Winn easily.

My nuber one option before all others but is the most unlikely is to add a veteran arm and send Miiner to the pen and Colon to the minors. I just believe a guy like Maddux, Livian or Moyer would come up big for a team that has a chance to win it all.

What does this team need to win the World Series?

Here are my initial thoughts, in no particular order:

1. Another run-producing outfield bat, preferably left handed
We're really not getting the production that we need out of our outfield as of late. Over the past month, Thames is hitting .197, Ordonez has 1 HR and even Granderson is only hitting .250 with 5 RBI and 2 SB. When two of your starting OFs combine for 1 HR in a month's time, that's disconcerting. Monroe's been great over that period, but his is one of the guys names that have popped up in trade rumors.

2.Another lefty in the pen
Right now, we've got Walker and Ledezma. Ledezma has been in a lot of long relief situations, leaving him largely unavailble at the end of games. Leyland's strategy options are limited with only Walker at his disposal in the late innings.

Really, that's about it IMO. We're in really good shape for the most part. If a deal comes along that is too good to pass up, of course we could do it to add depth, but remember that the rosters will be expanding too, so depth will be coming, albeit in the form of Alexis Gomez and other largely unproven talent. If another team's closer becomes available, well, you already know how I feel about that, especially if Zumaya won't be considered for the closer's role. Adding another closer just shortens the game even more when we have the lead.

edit: I just noticed that JS started a similar thread, so I moved my post here.