Detroit Tigers: Three Potential Top of the Order Combinations Without Maybin

Detroit Tigers general manager Al Avila made the first trade of the offseason Thursday, sending Cameron Maybin to Anaheim. Here’s how the Tigers could replace him at the top of the order.

Detroit Tigers lineup cards often featured some combination of Ian Kinsler and Cameron Maybin at the top of the order.

The Tigers needed to move Maybin to save money, but the team did break up an extremely successful pairing.

Of Kinsler’s 149 games started last season, 148 of them came as the leadoff hitter. Batting first help the former Texas Ranger put together one of his best offensive seasons.

In 153 games, the second baseman hit .288 with a .348 on-base percentage. He also added 117 runs scored, 83 RBI, 29 doubles, 28 home runs, 14 stolen bases and four triples.

On most occasions, Maybin hit behind him in the second spot in the order. Of the outfielder’s 94 games played, 65 of them came batting second.

Maybin turned in an excellent season in his return to the Motor City, especially in the second slot in the lineup. In 65 games he posted a .359 on-base percentage while collecting 48 runs scored, 31 RBI, 27 walks, 12 doubles, nine stolen bases, four triples and three home runs.

That will be tough to replace, but the Detroit Tigers have the potential to make up for the loss of the former first-round pick.

With Maybin now in Anaheim, here are three ways the Detroit Tigers could fill in the first two spots in the batting order.