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Detroit Tigers free agency primer: Examining the first base market

By Ben Rosener

KANSAS CITY, MO - JULY 18: Eric Hosmer #35 of the Kansas City Royals tags out James McCann #34 of the Detroit Tigers during the 6th inning of the game at Kauffman Stadium on July 18, 2017 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MO - JULY 18: Eric Hosmer #35 of the Kansas City Royals tags out James McCann #34 of the Detroit Tigers during the 6th inning of the game at Kauffman Stadium on July 18, 2017 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /
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OAKLAND, CA – SEPTEMBER 26: Yonder Alonso #10 of the Seattle Mariners swings and watches the flight of his ball as he hits a two-run homer against the Oakland Athletics in the top of the fourth inning at Oakland Alameda Coliseum on September 26, 2017 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CA – SEPTEMBER 26: Yonder Alonso #10 of the Seattle Mariners swings and watches the flight of his ball as he hits a two-run homer against the Oakland Athletics in the top of the fourth inning at Oakland Alameda Coliseum on September 26, 2017 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Thearon W. Henderson/Getty Images) /

More likely, or at least conceivable, scenarios (continued)

Yonder Alonso

2017 teams: Oakland Athletics, Seattle Mariners
2017 stat of note: 2.4 WAR

It was very much a tale of two seasons for Yonder Alonso.

An All-Star in the first half with Oakland, the first baseman collected 22 home runs in 371 plate appearances to go along with a 137 wRC+, a .260 ISO, a .369 on-base percentage and a 13.5 walk percentage.

After being traded to Seattle, Alonso hit just six home runs in 150 plate appearances. He added a 118 wRC+, a .174 ISO, a .353 on-base percentage and a 12.0 walk percentage.

The on-base ability was still there for the first baseman, but he wasn’t able to replicate his power surge upon his move to the Pacific Northwest.

If Alonso can produce at a rate similar to his Oakland stats, he’d be a quality addition on a one-year pact.

Oakland was able to net 24-year-old outfielder Boog Powell in the deal for the former Padre.

A similar trade return for the Tigers would only help the rebuild in the sense that the team would be getting a controllable, Major-League piece with upside.

Lucas Duda

2017 teams: New York Mets, Tampa Bay Rays
2017 stat of note: .279 ISO

Rounding out the list of potential first base fits on the free agent market for the Detroit Tigers is Lucas Duda.

Acquired from the Rays by the Mets at med-season for ex-Tigers pitching prospect Drew Smith, Duda didn’t do much outside of contributing in the power department at the plate.

That being said, Duda destroyed plenty of baseballs in 2017. He posted a .279 ISO to go along with a .496 slugging percentage, 30 home runs and 28 doubles in just 491 plate appearances.

Next: Carlos Gonzalez is a fit for the Tigers as a free agent, it's true.

For a Detroit team in need of power—the Tigers ranked 18th in slugging percentage and 19th in ISO in September—Duda would be an intriguing, short-term add.

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