Detroit Tigers: Three players the team should add as depth pieces

Detroit Tigers executive vice president of baseball operations and general manager Al Avila could do with more depth signings. Here are three fits in Ian Krol, Mike Bolsinger and Tanner Scheppers.

Detroit Tigers fans could conceivably see the team add more depth this offseason in the form of minor league signings.

With a rebuild in full effect, Detroit will be relying more on young players to carry the Major League team.

While this is all and well, the organization will also need veterans to potentially step in and help alleviate the pressure on the younger players if they struggle.

Here’s a look at three pitchers Detroit should consider adding on minor league deals this winter as potential depth pieces.

These players would likely begin in Toledo, but could work their way into the Major League picture.

There’s plenty of potential to be had up and down the free agent market, and one of these players could conceivably become a contributor or even an eventual trade chip for the Tigers.

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Ian Krol

Yes, this is the same Ian Krol who couldn’t quite figure things out with the Detroit Tigers in 2014 and 2015.

Part of the haul, or lack thereof, in the second Doug Fister trade, Krol pitched to a 5.18 FIP, a 1.698 WHIP and 8.0 strikeouts per nine innings in 60.2 relief frames for the Tigers during those two seasons.

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However, this also the same Ian Krol who managed a 2.91 FIP, a 0.9 fWAR, a 10.0% swinging strike percentage and 9.88 punch outs per nine frames in 2016.

Just a season removed from those numbers, the southpaw is well worth a flier on a minor league deal.

While he struggled in 2017 (-0.2 fWAR, 5.01 FIP and 8.08 strikeouts per nine innings) it’s worth noting that Krol missed more bats with an 11.4 swinging strike percentage.

Mike Bolsinger

Bolsinger could be an intriguing depth addition for a Detroit Tigers team in search of rotation depth.

The 29-year-old previously worked to a 1.1 fWAR, a 3.62 ERA, a 3.91 FIP, a 3.82 xFIP and a 4.04 SIERA in 109.1 innings (21 starts) for the Los Angeles Dodgers back in 2015.

While he hasn’t been able to nail down a consistent spot on a Major League roster since, Bolsinger did work to a 1.70 ERA, a 2.62 FIP and a 3.01 xFIP in 47.2 innings (16 total appearances, including five starts) for Toronto’s Triple-A affiliate in 2017.

Tanner Scheppers

A first-round pick in 2009, Scheppers was excellent for the Rangers in 2013, notching a 1.88 ERA, a 3.74 FIP and a 3.88 xFIP in 76.2 frames.

Next: Should the Tigers sell high on Mikie Mahtook?

He hasn’t quite been the same since with a 5.47 FIP and a 1.595 WHIP in just 74 innings since that breakout campaign. However, he’s worth a look as a Toledo bullpen arm with bounce-back potential.