Detroit Tigers free agency primer: Howie Kendrick is ideal free agent addition

Detroit Tigers fans could conceivably see the team make some additions this offseason. One free agent who would be an ideal fit is the versatile Howie Kendrick.

Detroit Tigers general manager Al Avila and the rest of the front office enter an offseason in need of veteran stop gaps.

The team doesn’t need to sign an entire team of veteran placeholders for future prospects, but adding starting pitcher or two, a middle infielder, an extra outfielder and a reliever would certainly seem prudent.

With some uncertainty in the rotation, Jose Iglesias and Ian Kinsler hypothetical trade candidates, a log jam full of question marks in center field and a young bullpen, there are needs aplenty.

Long term, those positions shouldn’t be areas of need.

From Franklin Perez and Beau Burrows to Grayson Long, Matt Hall and Sandy Baez, there are plenty of starting pitching prospects starting to reach the upper levels of the minors.

Elsewhere, Isaac Paredes has exciting all-around potential up the middle, while Daz Cameron and Derek Hill make for a promising outfield pairing.

There’s also Christin Stewart, who could be the Tigers’ answer in left field.

Ahead of Cameron and Hill on the minor league ladder, the slugger would likely push Mikie Mahtook to center field until the duo are ready, easing any needs for a center fielder.

Bullpen-wise, a veteran arm could help ease the burden on some of the team’s younger pitchers.

Still, the reality is that none of those aforementioned prospects will likely be ready by Opening Day 2018.

Prospects

We could see reliever Bryan Garcia or perhaps outfielder Mike Gerber earlier, but that’s about it.

The likes of Perez, Burrows, Long and Stewart are more likely to be in Detroit by the time the trade deadline rolls around at the earliest.

However, until then, the Detroit Tigers need stop-gap options.

Any stop-gap option the team signs or acquires needs to be on a short-term contract. That way there’s no financial burden and the player can be easily moved for more prospects in July.

Howie Kendrick

One potential free agent this offseason who could fill a number of the team’s needs is Howie Kendrick.

A 12-year veteran and former All-Star with the Angels in 2011, Kendrick made his mark in the Majors early on as one of the game’s better offensive second baseman.

After nine seasons with the Halos, the 34-year-old moved to the Dodgers, where he started to play at more positions around the diamond.

The infielder made the move to the outfield, where he’s seen the bulk of his playing time in a 2017 season split between the Phillies and Nationals.

Still, Kendrick also logged innings at second base and first base. He also moonlighted as an occasional third baseman with the Dodgers.

In other words, he’s versatile—that’s exactly what the Detroit Tigers need at this point.

Filling a need

While Kendrick isn’t exactly a starting pitcher or reliever, he could help fill pretty much every other need the Detroit Tigers have in the field.

The veteran’s defense in left field has taken somewhat of a dip in terms of value from 2016 (4.3 UZR/150, 0 DRS) to 2017 (-2.3 UZR/150, -4 DRS).

The former Dodger also turned in a 12.2 UZR/150 and a 0 DRS in a miniscule 22 inning sample in right field last season.

Still, those stats a decent overall improvement over some of the corner outfield defense got Detroit last season.

Howie Kendrick 2017 defensive metrics in left field (458.2 innings): -2.3 UZR/150, -4 DRS.

J.D. Martinez 2017 defensive metrics in right field (438 innings): -7.8 UZR/150, -6 DRS.

Alex Presley 2017 defensive metrics in right field (259.2 innings): -0.9 UZR/150, -7 DRS.

Nicholas Castellanos 2017 defensive metrics in right field (173 innings): -80.5 UZR/150, -7 DRS.

Tyler Collins 2017 defensive metrics in right field (128.2 innings): -19.2 UZR/150, -2 DRS.

Mikie Mahtook 2017 defensive metrics in left field (113.1): 12.3 UZR/150, -5 DRS.

Kendrick could also fill in across the infield.

If Kinsler is traded, the veteran could log significant innings at the position, where he owns a career 4.0 UZR/150 and a +13 DRS in 9741.1 innings, including a 2.4 UZR/150 and a +1 DRS in 129 innings at the position last season.

What’s more, Kendrick could also spell Jeimer Candelario occasionally at third base.

However, perhaps most significantly, Kendrick can play first base.

He’s only seen action in 91 innings at the position since the start of the 2012 campaign, but the 34-year-old has logged 660.1 innings at first in his career.

Finding a first baseman should be paramount for Detroit this offseason.

Miguel Cabrera needs to move off the position to designated hitter in order to prolong both his effectiveness at the plate and his career in general.

Adding Kendrick to help man first would certainly help.

The Tigers could move the versatile fielder across the diamond from the outfield corners to second and first base. He’d be an ideal candidate to share time with John Hicks at first.