Detroit Tigers: Predicting 2020 Tigers Roster

Catcher

Starter: James McCann

Controllable through 2021 and just 26-years-old, James McCann isn’t going anywhere. The backstop wrapped up his second year in the Majors as a full-time starter by throwing out 45% of would-be base stealers.

McCann is still developing from an offensive standpoint, but there is no denying the impact he has on the game defensively. The catcher’s batting average dropped from .264 to 221 from his rookie year to his sophomore campaign, but he made strides elsewhere.

The 26-year-old upped his ISO from .122 to .137, while a .283 BABIP didn’t stop him from registering career highs in home runs, RBI and walks.

Should McCann continue his offensive improvement, he’ll be catching games in the Motor City for the better part for the better part of the next decade.

Key Reserve: John Hicks

Detroit may have found a steal in Hicks. The former fourth-round pick claimed off waivers from the Twins in late April. He didn’t waste any time producing. Hicks batted .310 with a .358 on-bae percentage in 93 minor league games last year.

He registered a double and a run scored in two plate appearances for the Tigers this year. At just 27, he could be a long-term solution for Detroit.

Another name to watch is Grayson Greiner, a defensive catcher who hit .312 while reaching Triple-A last season. In addition to Greiner, Arvicent Perez is another young catcher to keep an eye on. Perez hit .303 in 74 games for West Michigan last year.

Infield Starters

First Base: Miguel Cabrera

With a Hall of Fame resume and a massive contract, Miguel Cabrera probably isn’t going to be on the move. The 33-year-old showed no signs of slowing down last season, as he hit .316 with 38 home runs and 108 RBI.

What’s more, Cabrera also turned in a 4.9 WAR and finished in the top seven in both wOBA (seventh, .399) and wRC+ (sixth, 152).

Second Base: Dixon Machado/TBD

This is where things get interesting. Much of Detroit’s starting infield is set in stone for the future, however not at second base. Ian Kinsler remains one of baseball’s best all-around players, however there is no guarantee he’ll be as effective in 2020 when he’ll be 38 years of age.

As of now, the most obvious in-house replacement is Dixon Machado. The slick-fielding shortstop could slide over to second base and give Detroit arguably the best fielding duo up the middle in the league.

However, Machado isn’t a finished product at the plate with a .246 career batting average in the minors. The 24-year-old did hit .266 for Toledo last year, but he’s still a work in progress offensively.

Instead of Machado, the Tigers could eventually shift JaCoby Jones to second base. Jones is athletic enough to play most positions, and he could be shifted to another position given Detroit’s prospect depth in the outfield.

A.J. Simcox and Dominic Ficociello are two other players who could be shifted from other positions to man second base.

Shortstop: Jose Iglesias

At just 26-years-old, Jose Iglesias is one of the game’s elite defensive shortstops and fielding players in general. The former Red Sox player ranked eighth among all position players defensive runs. He also finished 15^th among all position players in UZR and 21^st in UZR/150.

What’s more Iglesias is extremely difficult to strike out thanks to a 9.6 strikeout percentage that led the American League and was second only to Joe Panik in Major League Baseball.

Iglesias is controllable through 2019, and it wouldn’t be a shock to see him manning the shortstop position in a Tigers uniform for the next 10 years.

Third Base: Nick Castellanos

Nick Castellanos is finally starting to develop into the hitter many thought he would be when the Tigers drafted him in the first round of the 2010 draft.

Despite an injury-shortened campaign that limited him to 110 games played, the third baseman registered career-highs in a number of offensive categories. These included home runs, runs scored, batting average, on-base percentage, slugging percentage, OPS, ISO, wOBA and wRC+.

If J.D. Martinez is dealt and Victor Martinez is no longer with the team in 2020, Castellanos could very well be hitting cleanup behind Miguel Cabrera.

Key Reserves: TBD

If Machado isn’t starting at second, he’d likely be the first option off the bench. Other than that, there are a number of intriguing internal candidates. These Ficociello, Simcox, Kody Eaves, Will Maddox, Daniel Pinero and Zach Shepherd.

Outfield Starters/Designated Hitter

Left Field: Justin Upton

Upton is an obvious candidate to be dealt if the Detroit Tigers are looking to shed salary this offseason. However, given Upton’s initial struggles and a contract that (per Spotrac) allows him to have an annual 20-team no-trade list, he may be sticking around in Detroit.

If he can provide production more akin to what he did down the stretch in 2016, Tigers fans should be just fine with that.

Center Field: JaCoby Jones

For now, this spot belongs to Jones. His ability to change the game with his athleticism, speed and pop will keep him in the lineup—regardless of position.

With Detroit not having much of a bridge between incumbent starter Cameron Maybin and the team’s center fielder of the future (Derek Hill), Jones could play center while Hill develops. Either way, the Tigers will be in good hands.

Right Field: Christin Stewart

A slugging outfield prospect who draws a ton of walks, Stewart could be in the Majors as early as next season. The former first-round pick will eventually start in Detroit, the question then becomes, where?

His current position is in left field. That could be where he ends up if Upton is dealt or switches to right field. However, Stewart could move across to right or end up at designated hitter. Mike Gerber would be a starting option for the long haul if Stewart doesn’t end up playing on the right side of the infield.

Designated Hitter/Key Reserves: Mike Gerber, Jose Azocar Tyler Collins and Steven Moya

The Tigers remaining outfield options—Gerber, Jose Azocar, Tyler Collins and Steven Moya—could start at designated hitter.

Next: 3 K-Rod Trades That Could Benefit the Tigers

All four would bring different skill sets while providing interesting pinch hitting options off the bench. Hill could make an impact as a pinch runner if he isn’t starting every day.