Tigers Add a Right Side; Shaw to TOR

Tigers sign Jonathan Schoop and C.J. Cron to 1-year, $6.1 million dollar deals

In the span of about a half hour, the Detroit Tigers had a whole new right side of their infield by signing both Jonathan Schoop and C.J. Cron to identical $6.1 million dollar deals. Schoop rebounded from a rough 2018, jumping from 79 to 100 wRC+. His ISO reached a career high of .217, but his strikeout rate was back up to 25%, matching his previous career high.

Despite solid production, Schoop started losing playing time to rookie upstart Luis Arraez in the final two months of the season. Schoop won’t have the same issue in Detroit. He should be free and clear for full-time run at second base and get back to 600+ PA for the first time since 2017. The projections feel dead on, putting him at .262/.306/.476 with 27 HR, 81 RBI, and 70 R in 571 PA.

Schoop’s 398 ADP might rise a bit now that he’s landed, but it won’t surge given the team he’s on. If you need some late pop at your MI slot, Schoop is your guy.

Cron will be on his third team in three years despite two of his best seasons in 2018-19. After a career year in 2018 (123 wRC+, 30 HR in 560 PA) with the Rays, he was picked up off waivers by the Twins and remained a solid average bat with a 101 wRC+ and 25 in 499 PA. He’s hitting 31 HR per 600 PA over the last two years and Detroit definitely offers him a great opportunity to reach that mark for the first time in his career.

He’s had a severe platoon split these last two years with a .972 OPS against lefties and .728 against righties, but I don’t see him losing playing time in Detroit. His Steamer projection actually has him down for a career best slash line at .261/.324/.494 which could be tough in Comerica Park. He should be north of .750, though, with at least 25 HR, which makes him a useful corner infield in most formats, especially at his 291 ADP.

Blue Jays sign Travis Shaw to a 1-year, $4 million dollar deal

One of my favorite non-tenders finally landed with Travis Shaw signing in Toronto on Sunday morning. Shaw had a brutal 2019 that he wants to forget, posting just a 47 wRC+ after seasons of 119 and 120 with 30 HR in each. He was terrible before his wrist injury in mid-May, terrible upon his return, and terrible after his multiple Triple-A stints. However, I am slightly heartened by the fact that those minor league trips were strong.

He hit .286/.437/.586 with 12 HR in 174 minor league PA, so he didn’t completely forget how to hit. While 2019 was a total disaster, I’m not sure there are any compelling reasons to believe that it’s who he is now so I’m kinda writing it off as a lost season. Steamer likes him for a substantial rebound, back up to a 102 wRC+. I could easily envision a push north of 115 and another 30-HR season. I’m definitely buying back in.