Detroit Tigers: Three hypothetical additions to improve depth

Detroit Tigers executive vice president of baseball operations and general manager Al Avila could do with more depth signings. Here are three fits in Clint Robinson, Rob Scahill and Chris Smith.

Detroit Tigers fans could see executive vice president of baseball operations and general manager Al Avila add some significant depth this offseason.

This is all speculative mind you, but the Tigers could trade away a number of veteran pieces this winter.

While the team will likely rely more on younger players, said players sometimes struggle at first.

If this is the case, Detroit might need some depth options to serve as insurance policies.

Said players could begin in Toledo, but could also work their way into the Major League picture.

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There’s plenty of potential to be had up and down the free agent market.

Ideally some of these players could conceivably become a contributor or even an eventual trade chip for the Tigers.

Once again, this is all speculative, but here are three hypothetical depth adds for the Detroit Tigers.

Clint Robinson

If the Detroit Tigers move Miguel Cabrera off of first base, the team will be in need of more options at first base.

Once conceivable option could be Clint Robinson.

The now-ex Nationals first baseman was excellent as a supporting piece to Bryce Harper and company in 2015, with a 114 wRC+, a .152 ISO, a .340 wOBA and a .358 on-base percentage in 352 plate appearances.

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If Robinson can produce at a similar level, he could be a quality depth addition for the Detroit Tigers considering he can play first base and both corner outfield spots.

Rob Scahill

Since debuting in the Majors with the Colorado Rockies in 2012, Scahill has strung together some quality performances.

The right-hander owns a 3.79 ERA, a 4.66 FIP and a 9.1 swinging strike percentage in 144.2 career relief innings.

While he struggled somewhat in a brief 2017 spell with Milwaukee (22.1 innings, 5.75 FIP and a 6.9 swinging strike percentage), Scahill could provide some useful depth in Triple-A with Toledo if he can regain the form he showcased from 2015 to 2016.

In that span, the right-hander worked to a 3.03 ERA, a 3.95 FIP and 51 strikeouts in 65.1 innings.

His swinging strike percentages finished at 9.4% and 10.8% respectively.

Chris Smith

The 36-year-old Smith struggled mightily in 55.2 frames for Oakland in the Majors (5.97 xFIP, 2.59 home runs per nine innings), but was much better at the Triple-A level.

In 74 innings with Oakland’s Triple-A team, the right-hander notched a 3.16 ERA and a 3.72 FIP in 15 outings (12 starts).

He also struck out 7.78 batters per nine innings over the same span.

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As a member of Toledo’s rotation, Smith could give the Tigers an experienced hurler to turn to if the team needs a spot starter.