Detroit Tigers free agency primer: Danny Valencia an ideal fit

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CHICAGO, IL – AUGUST 27: Miguel Cabrera #24 of the Detroit Tigers prepares to bat against the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field on August 27, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera should be moved to designated hitter full time. If that happens, the team will need a new first baseman. Danny Valencia could be a fit.

Detroit Tigers fans will see a younger team in 2018. While the club could be active in the trade market in terms of adding prospects for the future, Detroit could also add some free agents.

One area of need that the team should address is first base.

Even if Miguel Cabrera returns fully healthy and producing once again at his usual Hall-of-Fame rate, the Tigers should still move him to designated hitter on a full-time basis.

That would open up a need at first base, a position that thanks to the presence of Cabrera, Detroit hasn’t invested much in capital in regarding alternatives.

As it stands, the team’s only alternatives are John Hicks and Efren Navarro.

Hicks could see time there, but he struggled mightily in September (-0.4 fWAR, 33 wRC+ and a .227 wOBA in 59 plate appearances) and may be better suited to serving as James McCann’s backup while occasionally seeing time at first.

Efren Navarro

Then there’s Navarro, who was only added to the 40-man roster in September. A quality fielder, Navarro simply hasn’t hit enough in the Majors.

He contributed just four extra-base hits in 69 plate appearances with Detroit.

The ex-Angel also added a .299 wOBA, a 92 WRC+ and a 30.4 strikeout rate. At 31, he doesn’t exactly fit with the rebuilding Tigers.

Detroit could hand the position to 25-year-old Dominic Ficociello, but the untested prospect looks like a better bet to stick in the Majors as a utility man off the bench.

The trade front could be a viable option for the Tigers. However, it’s possible that the free agent market could prove to be more fruitful.

While there are plenty of free agent options at first base, Danny Valencia stands out as one of the best fits.

BALTIMORE, MD – AUGUST 28: Danny Valencia #26 of the Seattle Mariners catches a fly ball hit off the bat of Mark Trumbo of the Baltimore Orioles in the fourth inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on August 28, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images) /

Defensive versatility

Danny Valencia’s glove work doesn’t exactly stand out from a defensive metrics standpoint.

He was solid in terms of defensive runs saved in 984 innings for the Mariners at first base in 2017 with a +2 number.

However, his UZR/150 checked in at -9.2. Elsewhere, he logged a -25.6 UZR/150 and a -18 DRS in 582.2 innings at third base for Oakland in 2016.

Elsewhere, the veteran has logged 228 career innings in left field and 366.1 frames in right field. Overall, he’s worked to a collective -2.1 UZR/150 and a -5 DRS as an outfielder.

While those don’t exactly scream value defensively, Valencia’s ability to man all four corner positions makes him a potentially useful contributor for the Detroit Tigers.

If the team signs him to a short-term deal (as they should be doing with all free agents this winter), Detroit could utilize Valencia mainly at first base, where he’s been the most effective in his career from a defensive standpoint.

Third base and the outfield

That being said, the team can also shift him to other positions on a given day if need be.

Valencia could conceivably see somewhere between 10-15 games at third base to keep Jeimer Candelario fresh while also logging innings in the outfield corners.

The Mariners first baseman’s defensive metrics in the corner outfield aren’t Kevin Kiermaier level, but he’s shown relatively well in right field, with a 1.3 UZR/150 and a -1 DRS.

That would be a significant improvement for the Tigers, a team that had by far the worst right field defense in the league, with a collective -21 DRS and a -17.1 defensive runs above average.

SEATTLE, WA – JULY 30: Danny Valencia #26 of the Seattle Mariners hits a sacrifice fly off o relief pitcher Josh Smoker #49 of the New York Mets that scored Nelson Cruz #23 of the Seattle Mariners during the seventh inning of an interleague game at Safeco Field on July 30, 2017 in Seattle, Washington. The Mariners won the game 9-1. (Photo by Stephen Brashear/Getty Images) /

Potential offensive fit with the Detroit Tigers

Valencia’s .156 and .159 ISO numbers the last two seasons don’t exactly fit the profile of an offensive masher at first base.

That being said, he’s mashed 32 home runs and 77 total extra-base hits in his last 1,017 extra-base hits.

The former Twin, who incidentally started his Major League career under new Tigers manager Ron Gardenhire in Minnesota, has found plenty of success against southpaws in his career.

Platoon potential

In 994 lifetime plate appearances against left-handed pitching, Valencia owns a 130 wRC+, a .364 wOBA, a .191 ISO and a .850 OPS.

There’s also plenty of potential in a platoon consisting of the veteran and John Hicks.

Hicks logged 124 plate appearances last season against right-handed pitchers. He hit .286 with a 109 wRC+, a .338 wOBA, a .152 ISO and a .784 OPS.

Detroit could slot Valencia in as the team’s sixth hitter behind Miguel Cabrera, Nicholas Castellanos and Candelario.

Conversely, Gardenhire could bat the ex-Twin fifth and bump Candelario to the second spot in the order.

Added pop

Either way, Valencia would give the Detroit Tigers an extra source of pop in a lineup that will begin 2018 without the likes of Justin Upton, J.D. Martinez, Alex Avila and potentially Ian Kinsler if the second baseman is dealt this winter.

In September of 2017, Detroit’s decimated offense finished 20^th in slugging percentage. They also ranked 24^th in ISO and wRC+ and 29^th in on-base percentage.

Adding Valencia obviously won’t solve all the offensive issues.

However, there’s plenty of value to be had on a moderately-priced, one-year deal.

In that situation, the 33-year-old would then become a trade chip by the time July rolls around. This would give the Tigers the opportunity to amass more prospects for the future.

Next: You'd probably be ok with a Curtis Granderson signing this winter, right?

Ideally, Christin Stewart will be ready for the Majors by July, giving the team a power bat to replace Valencia in the lineup.

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