Detroit Tigers: Grading Team’s Offseason Moves

Acquiring Mikie Mahtook
Grade: A-

Mike Mahtook was drafted in the first round of the 2011 draft. He is also only 27-years-old and brings some pop and speed to the table.

A solid defender, Mahtook is controllable through 2021 according to Spotrac. What’s more, the outfielder isn’t eligible for arbitration until after the 2018 season.

Considering Al Avila and the rest of the Tigers front office were able to snag Mahtook for a player to be named later or cash, Detroit did extremely well.

The former Rays player made a significant impact in his first taste of Major League action.

In a 41-game stint with Tampa Bay in 2015, the LSU product hit .295 with a .351 on-base percentage.

He also registered an outstanding .619 slugging percentage.

Additionally, Mahtook turned in a 167 wRC+, a .324 ISO and a 1.8 WAR.

Obviously, the outfielder isn’t going to slug .619 over the course of a season, but the breakout stretch showed what the former first-round pick is capable of.

The former Tampa Bay Rays prospect struggled last year with a .523 OPS, a 39 wRC+ and a -0.8 WAR in 65 games.

However, if he can contribute at a level somewhere in between his production levels in 2015 and 2016, the Detroit Tigers will have come away with a steal.

Mahtook will compete with Jones, Tyler Collins and Anthony Gose for the center field job.

Next: Who Starts in Center Field?

Even if he doesn’t win the gig, Mahtook can still provide value as a reserve outfielder.