How the Tigers are financed
The Tigers can absolutely afford Price Fielder. In 2012, his salary simply replaces Ordonez [[$10 million) and Carlos Guillen [[$13 million). There's no real net gain in the bottom line with Fielder. What ballooned the payroll from $107 million in 2011 to $127 million in 2012 [[so far) is Verlander's deal jumping up to $20.1 million, and a handful of smaller dealers and acquisitions.
V-Mart's $13 million salary this season is covered, at least in part, by insurance.
The Ilitches have a $4 billion empire. They can afford to spend like the Yankees, but don't need to. They will outspend everyone in the Central, if they want to.
Why? The owner can afford it comfortably, especially thanks to MLB's revenue sharing from Central Fund and from the 10-year FSD cable contract. Those two account for about $90 million for the team, before you even get to ticket sales, concessions, merchandise, parking, etc.
Here is my breakdown in Crain's of the Ilitch business holdings and how the Tigers are financed: Link.