Detroit Tigers: Best Free Agents to Improve Base Running

Detroit Tigers fans witnessed their team fall just short of the postseason during the 2016 campaign. One glaring reason Detroit was unable to qualify for the playoffs was because of poor base running.

Detroit Tigers general manager Al Avila needs to shore up the team’s base-running department—this much is true.

While the likes of Ian Kinsler, Cameron Maybin, Andrew Romine and Jose Iglesias posted positive base running stats, the team was weighed down by base running stats from a number of players that left much to be desired.

Victor Martinez (-11.4 BsR, -9.2 UBR) and Miguel Cabrera (-10 BsR, -6.6 UBR) graded out poorly in two major statistical categories. Additionally, James McCann (-4.0 BsR) and Nick Castellanos (-3.0 UBR) didn’t exactly win any awards with their base running.

One of Detroit’s major hurtles in improving the team’s base running is that most of their slugging lineup is set in stone. With players like Cabrera, Martinez, McCann and Castellanos locked into starting berths, the Tigers will have to look to the bench to improve the team’s base running.

While Detroit won’t become an aggressive base running team overnight, an improved bench where running is concerned may make the difference next season.

With more speed options—not to mention better base runners in general—available off the bench late in games, the Tigers may be able to win a handful of games that they normally wouldn’t have won.

As Detroit learned in 2016, a handful of games can make all the difference.

Here are some options to improve Detroit’s base running output.

Infielders

Steve Pearce
0.2 BsR
1.6 UBR

As it stands, there aren’t too many free agent infielders who can make a significant impact on the bases. However, two potential fits are Steve Pearce and Eric Sogard.

Pearce has just 13 career stolen bases to his name, and is more known for the damage he can do with the bat. However, he still turned in a positive season on the base paths in 85 games split between Tampa Bay and Baltimore.

The utility man’s 1.6 UBR ranked him ahead of current Tigers such as Andrew Romine, Erick Aybar, Anthony Gose and Tyler Collins.

In that sense, the veteran would be an upgrade to Detroit’s bench. His offensive upside doesn’t hurt either.

Since the beginning of the 2014 season, the 33-year-old has averaged 43 runs scored, 41 RBI, 17 doubles and 16 home runs while appearing in 93 games per season. He also hit .267 over the same stretch, while tallying a .347 on-base percentage. To top it all off, the former Oriole can play first base, third base, second base, left field and right field.

Eric Sogard
2.8 BsR in 2015
2.2 UBR in 2015

Injuries kept Sogard off the field in 2016, but he was a quality contributor to the A’s as recently as 2015.

In three seasons as a regular with Oakland, the infielder posted a cumulative 3.2 WAR while hitting .247. In addition to playing every infield position save first base, Sogard was excellent on the base paths, with a 5.4 BsR since the start of the 2014 season.

He and Romine would give manager Brad Ausmus a number of options off the bench in terms of pinch running and defensive flexibility.

Outfielders Part One

Rajai Davis
4.2 BsR
10 UBR

Now we come to the position in the free agent market where the Tigers could really make a splash in upgrading the team’s base running.

Should Rajai Davis depart Cleveland, a reunion with Detroit, where he played for two seasons from 2014 to 2015. Terry Francona has unleashed the veteran on opposing teams, with Davis contributing a league-leading 43 stolen bases in 134 games.

In addition to his stolen base totals, the former Tiger grades out extremely positively in both BsR and UBR, ranking in the top five in both categories among outfielders. Utilizing Davis as a fourth outfielder behind Cameron Maybin, Justin Upton and J.D. Martinez would certainly give Detroit a deep outfield grouping.

The current Cleveland player has seen time in left, center and right field since breaking into the Majors in 2006 with Pittsburgh.

Michael Bourn
3.0 BsR
0.2 UBR

Michael Bourn has long been one of baseball’s better speed threats—and while he isn’t posting gaudy stolen base numbers like he did in Houston, the outfielder is still making an impact on the bases. In 113 games split between Arizona and Baltimore, the outfielder stole 15 bases while crossing home 48 times.

With a total WAR of 0.5 since the beginning of season, he isn’t the All-Star level performer he once was. However, he could make an impact off Detroit’s bench as the team’s fourth outfielder and primary pinch runner.

Outfielders Part Two

Nori Aoki
0.7 BsR
3.4 UBR

Aoki isn’t the speed merchant that Davis is, but he may be the best all-around option of the group of outfielders. Since debuting in the Majors with Milwaukee in 2012, the outfielder has never failed to hit below .283 or post an on-base percentage below .349.

As a fourth outfielder and periodic starter, his on-base skills would play well in Detroit’s dynamic offense. What’s more, he’s making a positive contribution on the base paths with a UBR that is approaching Davis’ number in the category.

Per Spotrac, Aoki had a 2017 vesting option once he hit 480 plate appearances. With just 467 trips to the plate to his name last season, he’ll hit the open market.

Jon Jay
3.3 BsR
2.9 UBR

Rounding out the list is Jon Jay, who enjoyed a solid, if injury-shortened season, in San Diego.

Over 90 games he hit .291 with a .339 on-base percentage, 49 runs scored, 26 doubles, 26 RBI, two home runs and two stolen bases.

Despite just the two steals, he made an impact as a runner. Like Aoki, his combination of shrewd base running and on-base skills would work well with the Detroit Tigers as a fourth outfielder.

Next: Jay's San Diego Teammate, Travis Jankowski, Is Also a Fit

At his best as a regular starter in St. Louis, Jay averaged a 2.6 WAR per season from 2011 to the 2014 season.