Detroit Tigers: Candidates for final 40-man roster spot

Detroit Tigers fans are seeing a team operate with an open 40-man roster spot. Despite it being in mid-August, there’s still time to add contributors. Here’s are candidates for the final 40-man roster spot.

Detroit Tigers general manager Al Avila has done an excellent job in finding under-the-radar contributors since taking over as the head of the front office.

Avila brought in Mikie Mahtook (1.3 WAR in 81 games), John Hicks (0.7 WAR in 27 games), Alex Presley (0.3 WAR in 38 games), Jim Adduci (0.3 WAR in 29 games) and Daniel Stumpf (0.1 WAR in 23 innings pitched) all of whom have made an impact in varying amounts of action for the Tigers.

The five have been bright spots for the Tigers this season.

Other bright spots include long reliever Warwick Saupold (3.54 ERA in 48.1 frames) and 25-year-old shortstop Dixon Machado (.296 average in 108 plate appearances).

Saupold and Machado were developed in Detroit’s minor league system, but they’ve shown well in extended playing time this season.

With an open 40-man roster spot, there’s still opportunity for Avila to add a player capable of contributing in the present and future.

Here’s a look at the players who could fill that spot for Avila and the Detroit Tigers.