Detroit Tigers: Impact of a potential Christin Stewart 2018 call up

Outfield need

As it stands, the Tigers could use the influx of talent in the outfield.

Mikie Mahtook and Nicholas Castellanos are the only established options heading into next season.

Outside of the duo, Detroit also has JaCoby Jones.

However, Jones has yet to establish himself at the plate in the Majors.

Incumbents

After those three, the remaining incumbent options are 32-year-old Alex Presley, 32-year-old Jim Adduci, 31-year-old Andrew Romine and 27-year-old Tyler Collins.

With the exception of Collins, the other outfield candidates don’t fit with Detroit’s rebuild based on their respective ages.

In regard to Collins, the outfielder hasn’t been able to hit consistently since making his Major League debut in 2014.

It wouldn’t be a surprise to see Detroit head into Opening Day with all four of the aforementioned outfielders playing elsewhere.

Trade chips?

Detroit should look to sell high on Presley this offseason.

So far, the veteran has registered a .366 on-base percentage and a 0.7 WAR in 250 plate apperances.

Extracting a prospect for Presley would be a definite win for general manager Al Avila considering the outfielder joined the organization on a minor league deal.

Similarly, Avila should look to trade Romine. Detroit would be better off giving his bench spot to a young player.

Contending teams are always looking for versatile reserve options, so there could conceivably be a trade market for Romine.

That leaves Mahtook, Castellanos, Jones, Gerber and Stewart in the outfield mix.

It also wouldn’t be a shock to see Detroit add a veteran outfielder on a one-year deal.

Either way, Stewart’s presence in the lineup sometime in 2018 would go a long way in boosting the Tigers’ offense.