A Look At The Detroit Tigers’ Immediate Minor League Depth

July 14, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers first baseman Victor Martinez (41) third baseman Miguel Cabrera (24) shortstop Jhonny Peralta (27) and second baseman Hernan Perez (26) look towards the Texas Rangers dugout during a pitching change in the ninth inning at Comerica Park. Detroit won 5-0. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Rarely (never) do teams make it through the 162 game grind without needing to dip into the minor leagues to steal a player for at least a few days here or there, so it’s important to have players stashed away who could do the job in the big leagues. Team depth isn’t just about the three-to-five guys sitting on the bench on any given day, it’s about the relative quality of replacement players available in the upper minors.

We’re not talking about secret All-Stars here or even productive everyday big leaguers (or else why aren’t they on your team already?), we’re mostly talking about players who simply wouldn’t be a huge negative in the major leagues. There’s no one in the system to fully replace any starters should a devastating injury occur, but the hope is that a few guys exist who could at least not ruin things for the rest of the team.

What follows is a look at to whom the Tigers might turn (internally, at least) if they had to battle the injury bug at each position (with their 2013 level(s) with the Tigers in parenthesis). The relative depth chart could all change quickly through the spring as players show off their development (or lack thereof).

Mar 11, 2012; Lakeland, FL, USA; Detroit Tigers catcher Bryan Holaday (50) throws to third base during the game against the New York Mets at Joker Marchant Stadium. The Mets beat the Tigers 11-0. Mandatory Credit: Jerome Miron-USA TODAY Sports

Catcher

Depth Level: Poor

40-man option: Ramon Cabrera (AAA-AA)

It looks very much like Bryan Holaday will start the season as the Alex Avila’s backup in Detroit, which means the immediate catcher depth in the system will be light. Ramon Cabrera gets the nod here because he’s currently on the 40-man roster, but James McCann is the better long-term prospect and will probably get the everyday job in AAA.

Cabrera is more of an offensive catcher – he played more games at DH in the minors last year than he did behind the plate – so he wouldn’t appear be your stereotypical glove-first backup, but of the catcher in the high minors (we’re really just talking McCann and Cabrera here), he might be the one best suited to hit big league pitching right now (which isn’t to say he would be entirely successful at it).

If something really bad happened at the catcher position where they would be looking at more than just a very short-term replacement, the Tigers would probably be inclined to check into trading for someone else’s second or third catcher (or simply make Brad Ausmus a player-manager).

The Tigers saved themselves $700,000 or so by allowing Brayan Pena to walk in free agency, but bringing Holaday to the big leagues really cuts team’s depth at the catcher position. Both McCann and Cabrera would likely perform below replacement level in the big leagues in 2014.

July 11, 2012; Reading, PA USA; Erie SeaWolves infielder Jordan Lennerton (37) watches his flyball during AA Eastern League All-Star game at FirstEnergy Stadium. The Eastern Division defeated the Western Division, 5-4. Mandatory Credit: Eric Hartline-USA TODAY Sports

First Base

Depth Level: Fair

40-man option: Jordan Lennerton (AAA)

The Tigers don’t have any options in the minors besides Lennerton at first base, but that’s still okay for depth purposes because of how unlikely it is that they’ll need anyone else (or even Lennerton for that matter). Victor Martinez could play a lot of first base if anything happened to Miguel Cabrera, so the Tigers wouldn’t even necessarily need a first baseman to fill in. That being said, Lennerton might be the best minor league hitting option anyway.

Lennerton participated in the Futures Game last summer during the All-Star break, but his age (he’ll be 28 in February) means he doesn’t fit the prospect profile. Still, he’s hit fairly well at every level and probably wouldn’t embarrass himself in the major leagues. He’s shown some good on-base ability (.382 OBP in AAA last year) and has good (but not massive) power. It’s unlikely that he could jump to the show and be even an average hitter, but he’d probably be a better play than Don Kelly if Detroit needed to survive a 15-day DL stint from either Cabrera or Victor.

Lennerton couldn’t replace Cabrera’s production – no one could – but I think he’d be an above-replacement (though decidedly below average) if he was asked to play a stint or two in the major leagues.

Jul 31, 2013; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers shortstop Hernan Perez (26) hits an RBI single in the fourth inning against the Washington Nationals at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Second Base

Depth Level: Good

40-man options: Hernan Perez (MLB-AAA-AA), Eugenio Suarez (AA-A+)

The Tigers look to have more depth at second base than any other position. It doesn’t look like they have anyone who’s destined for stardom – not in 2014 anyway – but they have, probably, three or four guys behind Ian Kinsler who have a shot at replacement level production (or better).

Steve Lombardozzi would be the first option to fill in for Kinsler, but, as far as minor leaguers go, Hernan Perez and Eugenio Suarez are both on the 40-man roster, and either could be the Tigers’ second baseman of the future.

Perez hit .301/.330/.410 across the AA and AAA levels last year in the minor leagues, but the bat didn’t translate to the majors in his limited sample (.197/.217/.227). Still, he has a solid enough glove and has enough potential at the plate to be a reasonable depth option.

Suarez has played mostly shortstop in the minor leagues for the Tigers organization, but his long-term future might be more at second base. As a 21 year old last year, he hit .264/.347/.396 (with double-digit home runs) between Lakeland and Erie. He’ll probably start 2014 back in AA (at shortstop), and is probably still a couple of years away from a real big league push, but he could be an emergency option as soon as 2014 if he’s productive.

Besides Perez and Suarez, the Tigers also have Danny Worth. Worth was designated for assignment to clear a spot on the 40-man roster this month, but Detroit was able to outright him to Toledo and keep him in the system. He’s also an option to get the call if he’s producing (and if the Tigers can spare the 40-man spot). And if you really want to dream, you could add Devon Travis as a dark horse to this list (he’ll probably start off in AA).

Mar 7, 2013; Lake Buena Vista, FL, USA; Detroit Tigers shortstop Eugenio Suarez (77) against the Atlanta Braves during a spring training game at Champion Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Derick E. Hingle-USA TODAY Sports

Shortstop

Depth Level: Poor

40-man option: Eugenio Suarez (AA-A+)

The Tigers will start the year without a real secondary shortstop option on their big league roster – utility man Steve Lombardozzi could play there on occasion, but you wouldn’t want him to be a regular – and the only other somewhat legitimate major league option (Worth) was just booted from the 40-man roster when Joba Chamberlain came aboard.

Dixon Machado was added to the 40-man last offseason, but he’s had to deal with some injury problems and, although he might have the glove to handle the position defensively, his bat isn’t anywhere near ready to even step into a big league batter’s box. He was DFA’d off the 40-man roster this offseason to make room for Joe Nathan.

Eugenio Suarez is the only 40-man guy who’s been playing shortstop, but he’s been inconsistent in the field (he committed 36 errors last season) and some think he’s eventually destined for second base. He wouldn’t be an ideal option, especially early in the season, but I could see him getting a shot eventually if he can show some improvement with his already above average AA bat.

February 19, 2013; Lakeland, FL, USA; Detroit Tigers outfuelder Daniel Fields (74) poses for a picture during photo day at Joker Marchant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports

Outfield

Depth Level: Poor

40-man options: Daniel Fields (AA), Steven Moya (A+)

With five outfielders on the major league roster (plus Lombardozzi who’s also played some outfield), the Tigers aren’t likely to need to dip too far into their system for outfield help this season. And that’s probably good, because they don’t have really have anything in the way of big league caliber depth.

Detroit added Moya to the 40-man this offseason to protect him from the Rule 5 draft, but the 22-year old is nowhere near ready for the big leagues right now. It might be even that he repeats the Advanced-A level after an injury-plagued season in 2013.

Daniel Fields rebounded nicely in 2014 to post a .284/.356/.435 batting line (with 24 stolen bases) in AA after languishing for a couple of years in Lakeland. He could factor into 2014 if the Tigers are particularly hurting for a center fielder, but it’s not like he’s busting down the door as a big league-ready player. AAA will be challenging enough for him. It’s hard to see Fields even reaching replacement level production in 2014, but other than him, it’s tough to even envision anyone else as an option at the moment.