Detroit Tigers: Alex Presley is hitting his way into trade chip territory

Looking to the future

While Presley’s production this season has been a bright spot for the Detroit Tigers, he’s already 32 and has just one year of arbitration (per Spotrac) remaining before he reaches free agency.

A productive 32-year-old with free agency on the horizon isn’t exactly a perfect fit for a rebuilding club.

What’s more, with Mikie Mahtook and Nicholas Castellanos as options in the outfield corners, the need isn’t as great for the veteran as a starting option as it was before Castellanos moved to the outfield grass.

Of course, Presley could still be useful to the Tigers in center field as a compliment to JaCoby Jones.

However, should both Tyler Collins and Jim Adduci stick on the 40-man roster through the offseason, either one of the duo could play a part in the outfield in 2018.

Collins has the ability to man center field, while Adduci can fill in as the team’s left fielder, shifting Mahtook to center if Jones needs to be brought along slower.

There’s also the fact that one or both of Mike Gerber and Christin Stewart could be with the team as early as next April, if not later in the season.

What’s more, utility players in both Detroit (Andrew Romine) and Toledo (Dominic Ficociello) can spend time in the outfield if need be, lessening the need for Presley as a depth piece.