LAKELAND, Fla. — The Tigers entered Spring Training with three main questions for the Opening Day roster:
With just under two weeks left in camp, answers are taking shape. That doesn’t mean Detroit’s Opening Day roster is anywhere near set, but it provides some much-needed clarity.
Torkelson and Greene, ranked the Nos. 4 and 5 prospects in baseball by MLB Pipeline, have looked polished and composed in making their case, helped partly by extra at-bats from 2 1/2 weeks of Minor League minicamp. Neither has struggled trying to make too big of an impression, nor have they displayed any sense of pressure. With baseball’s new Collective Bargaining Agreement providing incentives for adding top prospects to Opening Day rosters — teams can get extra Draft picks if such players finish in the top 3 in Rookie of the Year voting — both appear to be trending towards making their Major League debuts against the White Sox on April 8 at Comerica Park.
While Tucker Barnhart has resumed switch-hitting as he takes on the primary responsibilities of handling Detroit’s talented young pitching staff, Eric Haase and Dustin Garneau have demonstrated value in their respective roles — Haase as an impact hitter and catcher/outfielder, Garneau as a veteran pitch-caller and occasional power source. Add in Major League Baseball’s anticipated decision to expand rosters to 28 players until May 1 to account for a shortened Spring Training, and a three-catcher roster becomes easier.
The Tigers answered the third question by signing Michael Pineda last week, but his chances of being ready for the start of the season are slim. That would open the fifth spot for Tyler Alexander, who was slotted in the rotation before Pineda’s addition. With no other big deals coming, Matt Manning is poised for his first full Major League season, barring injury.
While those questions are clearing up, the expanded 28-man roster creates some others. Notably, do the Tigers use both extra spots on pitchers for a 15-man staff, or will they carry one extra position player?
“I think for us, it will come to where we are physically near the end of camp and what we think we need,” Hinch said. “We have 10 straight games to start the year, so that’s probably an advantage to using multiple pitchers in those spots. But with the experience of having a couple Septembers where you have a 28-man team, it’s really hard to get everybody work at that point.
“So there’s a security blanket that comes with having an extra player or two. At least one of them will be a pitcher, probably on [all] 30 teams. How everybody else uses it will probably be dictated by their personnel.”
The Tigers have the advantage of two stretched-out starters in Eduardo Rodriguez and Casey Mize, potentially tempering the need for a 10th reliever.
Here is the first draft of an Opening Day roster projection:
Catchers (3): Tucker Barnhart, Eric Haase, Dustin Garneau
Even before expanded early-season rosters, Hinch seemed to be leaning toward three catchers. Haase’s ability to play a respectable left field is key to making this work, but having near-everyday starters around the infield also helps. Barnhart’s decision to resume switch-hitting is not expected to reduce starts for Haase or Garneau behind the plate against tough left-handed starters.
First base (2): Spencer Torkelson, Miguel Cabrera
The more Spring Training games Torkelson plays, the more natural he looks in the Tigers’ infield as the everyday first baseman. While he has yet to show off a Tork Bomb homer, his ability to spray doubles all around the field has shown his acumen as an overall hitter when he isn’t clearing the fences. Defensively, he has demonstrated the glovework on ground balls and throws that can make the rest of the infield better. Barring a setback, Torkelson should break camp with the big club. Cabrera is listed at first base from his years of work there, but if Torkelson makes the team, Miggy will serve as the designated hitter and would see little to no action in the field — and he’s fine with that.
Second base (1): Jonathan Schoop
If Torkelson makes the team, Schoop will be the everyday starter at second base. If Torkelson doesn’t make the cut, Schoop becomes the primary starter at first base, and Hinch would probably use the extra roster space to create a mix at second among Willi and Harold Castro, or possibly Isaac Paredes or Kody Clemens.
Shortstop (1): Javier Báez
Nobody has started more than 60 games in a season at shortstop for the Tigers since Jose Iglesias started 120 games there in 2018. Even in the abbreviated ‘20 campaign, Niko Goodrum started just 30 of the club’s 58 games. That changes this season, with Báez providing badly needed stability.
Third base (1): Jeimer Candelario
Candelario got off to a slow start this Spring Training, going 0-for-11 with seven strikeouts before homering on Thursday, but his spot is secure. The only real question for the switch-hitter is whether the Tigers weigh a contract extension for him anytime soon with free agency approaching in two years. If Candelario were injured, Paredes would be the likely candidate to step in.
Outfield (5): Akil Baddoo, Riley Greene, Robbie Grossman, Derek Hill, Victor Reyes
Like Torkelson, Greene has shown the all-around skills that he can bring to the Tigers, with some swing-and-miss tendencies mixed in. Baddoo wasn’t guaranteed a spot going into camp, but he was electric in the first week of games, with a double, triple and a home run. Haase’s role as a part-time left fielder gives the club an extra outfielder, creating some debate how many outfield-only players the team wants to carry on bench. That decision could come down to role as much as development. While the switch-hitting Reyes continues to evolve as an offensive catalyst and can play all three spots, Hill’s value as a defensive replacement and pinch-runner could put his foot in the door. If the Tigers decide to use an extra spot on a position player, Hill and Reyes can both make it. Detroit plays its first 16 games in the big outfields of Comerica Park and Kauffman Stadium, so there’s arguably a place for Hill to get into games.
Utility (1): Harold Castro
Willi Castro has arguably made an interesting push with a strong start to his Spring Training, but Harold Castro’s track record is tough to beat. If the Tigers didn’t have four projected everyday starters around their infield, there could be a case to carry both. But if Torkelson is the starting first baseman, it’s hard to find at-bats for two utility infielders.
Starting pitchers (5): Eduardo Rodriguez, Casey Mize, Tarik Skubal, Matt Manning, Tyler Alexander
The addition of Pineda was supposed to set this group and push Alexander back to the bullpen, but Pineda is considered unlikely to be ready for the start of the season, as he’s awaiting a work visa. That pushes Alexander into a starting role.
Relief pitchers (9): Gregory Soto, Michael Fulmer, Andrew Chafin, José Cisnero, Alex Lange, Jason Foley, Joe Jiménez, Rony García, Miguel Díaz
Not only does Alexander’s starting role leave the Tigers without a second lefty in the bullpen, it leaves them short on multi-inning relief. Enter García, the former Rule 5 Draft pick who pitched in just six games last year between Detroit and Triple-A Toledo due to injury. The final spot could come down to roster management; while Pinto, Drew Hutchison and Chase Anderson have experience, all of them are out of Minor League options, meaning they’d have to clear waivers and be outrighted to go back to Toledo. Diaz is capable of pitching in long relief, plus he has been effective against lefties.