Detroit Tigers: Predicting 2020 Opening Day roster

Catchers: James McCann and Jake Rogers

James McCann’s offensive resurgence this season has been extremely encouraging, especially for the future of the franchise.

A standout defensive backstop, McCann struggled mightily with at the dish in 2016, notching a .629 OPS, a 66 wRC+, 21 extra-base hits and a .137 ISO in 373 plate appearances.

In 352 plate appearances so far in 2017, the catcher owns a .770 OPS, a 104 wRC+, 27 extra-base hits and a .172 ISO.

One candidate to back up McCann is Jake Rogers.

One of the prospects picked up in the Justin Verlander blockbuster, Rogers also brings excellent defensive ability and some power to the table. He could develop into one of baseball’s better backstops.

With Rogers likely to debut with the Tigers sometime before 2020, it’s possible that the team could move John Hicks to first base at some point.

The 28-year-old would still provide depth behind the plate, but he’d see the bulk of his time at first.

Hicks has shown well this season in his first extended stint in the Majors.

After appearing in just 18 Major League games prior to Opening Day, the former fourth-round pick has seen action in 55 games so far in 2018, hitting .278 with a .335 on-base percentage, a .468 slugging percentage and an .804 OPS in 173 plate appearances.

He’s also added 25 runs scored, 22 RBI, 12 doubles, 11 walks, six home runs and a stolen base.

Hicks has also added a 111 wRC+, a .342 wOBA and a .190 ISO.

Infielders: John Hicks, Jeimer Candelario, Dixon Machado, Isaac Paredes and Dawel Lugo

Offensively, Hicks will fit the profile of a first baseman if he can continue to hit. What’s more, he might be Detroit’s best option for the foreseeable future.

That’s what happens with Miguel Cabrera is penciled in at first base fir so long—the Tigers really haven’t had to invest much free agent or draft capital on younger first baseman.

Rey Rivera could eventually move to first base, but the Tigers have him in the outfield right now at short-season Connecticut.

Dominic Ficociello is another first base option, but the prospect may be a better fit as a versatile bench piece, considering he can play the infield and outfield corners.

By now, you’re obviously familiar with two of the Detroit Tigers’ long-term infield starters.

Jeimer Candelario

Jeimer Candelario should be penciled in a third base for the next decade. A quality fielder with a good eye at the plate, the former Cubs farmhand is off to a blistering start with the Tigers.

In his first 17 games (65 plate appearances), Candelario is hitting .364 with a .462 on-base percentage, a .564 slugging percentage, a .437 wOBA, a .200 ISO and a 176 wRC+.

Those numbers obviously aren’t sustainable over the course of an entire season, but the third baseman looks up to the task of hitting in the middle of Detroit’s lineup for years to come.

Dixon Machado

There’s also Dixon Machado, who like Hicks, has impressed at the plate in his first extended stretch of Major League playing time.

A standout defender, Machado is hitting .278 with a 74 wRC+ in 157 plate appearances.

He’s never going to win a batting title, but the infielder looks like he can hit enough to stick in the starting lineup.

Isaac Paredes and Dawel Lugo

Long term, Paredes will likely occupy the middle infield with Machado.

Playing against competition that is on average 3.2 years older than him in the Midwest League, Paredes is hitting .252 with a .725 OPS, 70 RBI, 65 runs scored, 28 doubles and 11 home runs.

The 18-year-old has one of the higher ceilings of Tigers position player prospects.

Rounding out the group is Lugo, who has seen time in the minors at third base, shortstop and second base.

He could eventually find success as Detroit’s utility infielder.

Outfielders: Mikie Mahtook, Christin Stewart, Mike Gerber and JaCoby Jones

As it stands, Daz Cameron and or Derek Hill could be ready at some point in 2020, if not earlier.

That being said, an outfield quartet of Mikie Mahtook, Christin Stewart, Mike Gerber and JaCoby Jones has plenty of upside.

Mahtook has been one of Detroit’s few bright spots this season, and should stick in the outfield long term thanks to his ability to impact that game at the plate, on the base paths and in the field.

Joining him in the outfield mix as early as next season should be Christin Stewart and Mike Gerber.

Christin Stewart

Stewart figures to hit alongside Cabrera and Candelario in the heart of the Detroit Tigers’ future lineup.

Armed with massive power from the left side and a penchant for drawing walks, the former first-round pick could be the Tigers’ next great slugging outfielder.

Mike Gerber

Not quite the slugger Stewart is, Gerber is probably more similar to Mahtook in the sense that he contributes in multiple facets of the game.

The 25-year-old reached Triple-A this season, filling out the stat sheet in the process.

In 432 plate appearances, Gerber hit turned in an .869 OPS, 69 runs scored, 50 RBI, 26 doubles, 14 home runs, 10 stolen bases and three triples.

JaCoby Jones

Jones will likely be on the team by the time 2020 rolls around. However his role obviously remains to be seen.

If he can hit more, the outfielder is a surefire starter thanks to his defensive and base running ability.

However, if Jones continues to struggle at the plate, he could still play a part as a defensive replacement or pinch runner late in games.

Designated hitter: Miguel Cabrera

A fixture in the Detroit Tigers lineup since arriving in the Motor City prior to the 2008 campaign, Miguel Cabrera likely isn’t going anywhere.

According to Spotrac, the future Hall of Famer is under contract through the 2023 season. He has mutual options on his deal for both the 2024 and 2025 campaigns.

Per the same publication, Cabrera is making $30 million a season through 2021, with a $32 million salary in 2022 and 2023.

With a 92 wRC+, a .154 ISO and a -0.1 WAR—everyone is entitled to an off year, right?—potential trade partners likely aren’t going to justify paying Cabrera that much money in a trade.

What’s more, the veteran has full-no trade protection thanks to his 10-and-5 rights.

Ideally, Cabrera will be able to bounce back in 2018 and beyond, returning to the offensive force that made him a lock for Cooperstown.

Conceivably, a switch to designated hitter on a more consistent basis could benefit Cabrera, as he would avoid any potential injuries in the field.

This would help him extended his career significantly.

It’s also possible that Detroit could use Christin Stewart or John Hicks at this position as well.

Starting pitchers: Michael Fulmer, Franklin Perez, Matthew Boyd, Grayson Long and Daniel Norris

In a perfect world, the Detroit Tigers will be able to parlay Jordan Zimmermann’s contract into a prospect at some point in the coming seasons.

In that same perfect world, the veteran would turn things around before a trade.

It should be noted that, per Spotrac, the veteran has a full no-trade clause through 2018 and a limited no-trade clause in 2019 and 2020.

In that regard, a trade is easier said than done.

Should Zimmermann be dealt or Norris fail to stick in the rotation, the Tigers should have a number of prospects close to graduating from the minors by the 2020 campaign.

These include Kyle Funkhouser, Beau Burrows, Sandy Baez, Tyler Alexander, Gregory Soto and Matt Hall.

Additionally, Matt Manning and Alex Faedo shouldn’t be far from the Majors by the time 2020 rolls around.

It’s also possible that some of those pitchers could make their way to the bullpen on a temporary basis if the rotation is full.

All told though, it’s not hard to get excited about a rotation headlined by Fulmer and Perez.

This rotation has playoff potential if everything clicks, especially if Manning and Faedo make some kind of an impact.

Bullpen: Shane Greene, Joe Jimenez, Daniel Stumpf, Jairo Labourt, Bryan Garcia, Zac Reininger, Jordan Zimmermann and Mark Ecker

The 2020 season (per Spotrac) will mark Shane Greene’s final season of controllability before he reaches free agency.

With so much team control left and some strong production (26.1 strikeout percentage, 3.67 FIP) this season, Greene could conceivably be dealt before 2020.

If he isn’t dealt, the right-hander will be pitching late in games. If he is dealt, pitchers like Paul Voelker, Jason Foley, Gerson Moreno and Adam Ravenelle are names to watch.

Should Greene be moved, Joe Jimenez would eventually close games.

Jimenez hasn’t had the smoothest start to his Major League career, with 28 hits, 25 runs (23 earned), eight walks and four home runs surrendered in just 16 innings pitched.

However, Jimenez is still only 22.

He has nothing left to prove in the minors, so he should get every chance to figure things out with the Detroit Tigers in the coming years.

Despite all the base runners and runs allowed, Jimenez’s ability to miss bats has been encouraging. Among current Tigers relievers with at least 10 innings, the 22-year-old leads the way with an 11.6 swinging strike percentage.

Next: These Tigers could leave town over the winter

Only the since-traded Justin Wilson (14.3%) and the since-demoted Bruce Rondon (12.2%) have logged higher numbers in the category.