Tigers’ Playing Time Battles: Hitters

The Detroit Tigers were one of the big surprises last season finishing last in the AL Central. Coming into this week, left field was one of the competitions we were going to write about for the Tigers. Then the Tigers did what the Tigers do and signed a big named free agent to cover that hole in Justin Upton. As you could predict, Tiger’s management made some noise this off-season to fill some of their holes sufficiently, including the Upton signing and also the Jordan Zimmerman signing. They also acquired Cameron Maybin and Jarrod Saltalamacchia, which will impact the playing time for their respective positions.

Center Field

Currently, Anthony Gose and Cameron Maybin are slated to platoon in centerfield. Both are young, athletic centerfielders who like to run, and exhibit little to no power. As a result of this speed, the assumption is they should be strong defenders, though they both have been inconsistent throughout their careers. Last year, however, both players struggled in Center producing negative UZR, RngR, and Def. Defense is more variable so they could revert back to their past successes, but it is not guaranteed.

Offensively both players have similar profiles. Both players walk less than 10%, their value is batting average driven, isolated power hovers around .100, Gose strikes out at a higher rate, and they both need to steal bases to keep up their fantasy value. All in all not the best fantasy outfielder, but not bad for a nine hole on a major league team. And Maybin in 2011 produced over 4 WAR, so the potential is there for him to be quite productive when healthy, even though 2011 seems like ages ago.

If Gose and Maybin do not work out, another option on the 40 man is Wynton Bernard who, you guessed it, likes to run and his offensive value is predicated on a high batting average. He bats righty so he would be the natural call-up if injuries were to plague Maybin again who played over 140 games for the first time last season since 2012. In other words, if you need some cheap steals this season, the Tigers CF position is a place to look.

Catcher

This is another potential platoon battle, but in this case, James McCann will more than likely garner the most starts because of his defense. Saltalamacchia has better potential hitting, but his pitch framing ability has been suspect and it seems unlikely the Tigers will take his hitting gains over the gains McCann will give behind the plate.

Saltalamacchia has been somewhat inconsistent in the box, though there are glimmers of hope where he has had multiple seasons of a plus 10% walk rate and a plus .200 isolated power, including last season (though in only 227 PA’s). So the temptation is there to truly bolster an already stacked line-up with a solid hitting catcher. The problem becomes which Saltalamacchia will they see? If this was a fantasy team, Saltalamacchia would be the starter, but there are so many other variables to consider and I doubt former-catcher-now-manager Brad Ausmus would undervalue the skills behind the plate and make Saltalamacchia the everyday starter. McCann would have to dip below the Mike Zunino line for that to happen.

Designated Hitter

Let’s make something clear: Victor Martinez is the starter. The only way he loses this role is to injury, which I am not projecting, just preparing for. Although a Martinez injury would certainly hurt, there is some platoon help.

Against righties, former projected left fielder Tyler Collins is a solid option. Typically, it is wise to look at career splits, but for Collins on the major league level, we only have a reasonably significant amount of data last season, where the lefty triple-slashed .264/.318/.421 against righties in 193 plate appearances. If he continue those numbers and even improve, that is a solid option hitting against right-handers, even on those days Martinez needs a break.

Against a left-hander, things get a little more complicated. The two main options are John Mayberry Jr. and Jefry Marte. Mayberry Jr. has had a better career against left-handers, though he struggled in general last season no matter who was pitching against him in his near half-season with the Mets. For his career, he has a .258 isolated power, so last year could be written up to a small-sample size.

Marte is intriguing since he plays first base and would allow Miguel Cabrera the opportunity to DH. Marte has not had a consistent enough minor league career to warrant a definitive role as the right-handed side of the platoon. Marte showed significant pop in 2015 in AAA to be considered for this role, but also was underwhelming in his other minor league stints.