Detroit Tigers: Six Players Who Could Improve Infield for Present, Future

Free Agency and the Waiver Wire

Most of these are more depth signings, but they could potentially play roles with the Detroit Tigers as bench pieces should the need arise.

Grant Green

The former first-round pick has significant experience playing every position, with the exception of pitcher and catcher, on the diamond.

Green is a .313 career hitter at Triple-A, and also owns a .351 on-base percentage at the minor’s highest level. He turned in a .319 batting average, a .336 on-base percentage and a .790 OPS for San Francisco’s Triple-A affiliate last year. That batting line included 111 hits, 52 RBI, 46 runs scored, 18 doubles, seven home runs, four triples and two stolen bases.

Eric Sogard

Sogard, a longtime infielder with Oakland, will hit the free agent market after missing time in 2016 due to injury. The versatile Sogard can play, and provide quality defense, at second base, third base and shortstop.

Dustin Ackley

Ackley also missed time due to injury last season, but the second-overall pick in the 2009 draft still holds plenty of intrigue.

Still just 28, Ackley could be a fit for the Detroit Tigers if he’s non-tendered by the Yankees. Can play first base, second base and all three outfield positions. At his best, the former Mariner is capable of filling the stat sheet. Averaged 42 RBI, 19 doubles, nine home runs, six stolen bases and four triples from 2011 to 2015.

Daniel Castro

Just 23-years-old, Castro hasn’t hit much (.217 batting average in the Majors, .266 in the minors), but he’s young, controllable and can second base, shortstop and third base. BABIP?

James Beresford

A potential depth piece, the Twins moved on from Beresford after the infielder made his Major League debut last year. The 28-year-old can play every infield position and is a career .286 hitter with a .334 on-base percentage in 440 career games at the Triple-A level.

Johnny Giavotella

The former Royals and Angels infielder is set to hit free agency this winter. Hit .267 in 228 games for the Halos over the last two seasons, averaging 40 RBI and 30 extra-base hits per campaign.

Giavotella doesn’t walk a whole lot, with just 45 free passes as a member of the Angels. However, he doesn’t strikeout that much (just 98 since the beginning of 2015) either.

Jemile Weeks

The younger brother of veteran big league player Rickie Weeks, Jemile provided an excellent source of speed early in his career, with 38 stolen bases in his first 215 games for the A’s.

Next: Recapping Mark Lowe's 2016 Season

While he’s bounced around since, he could still provide value as a depth option. Weeks is a .254 career hitter in the Majors and can play both middle infield positions for the Detroit Tigers.