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Detroit Tigers reportedly sign Niko Goodrum and Kevin Comer

By Ben Rosener |
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 06: A detail of a Detroit Tigers hat and glove are seen during warm ups against the New York Yankees during Game Five of the American League Championship Series at Yankee Stadium on October 6, 2011 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - OCTOBER 06: A detail of a Detroit Tigers hat and glove are seen during warm ups against the New York Yankees during Game Five of the American League Championship Series at Yankee Stadium on October 6, 2011 in the Bronx borough of New York City. (Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)
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DETROIT, MI – JUNE 28: A wide view of Comerica Park during a MLB game between the Detroit Tigers and the Chicago White Sox on June 28, 2015 in Detroit, Michigan. The Tigers win on a walk off home run 5-4. (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI – JUNE 28: A wide view of Comerica Park during a MLB game between the Detroit Tigers and the Chicago White Sox on June 28, 2015 in Detroit, Michigan. The Tigers win on a walk off home run 5-4. (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images) /

Detroit Tigers executive vice president of baseball operations and general manager Al Avila has reportedly added two intriguing depth pieces in Niko Goodrum and Kevin Comer.

Detroit Tigers fans could see a number of new faces next season.

With a rebuild in full swing, the Tigers are in the midst of jettisoning a number of veteran pieces in an attempt to get younger.

During the season, starting pitcher Justin Verlander, outfielders J.D. Martinez and Justin Upton, catcher Alex Avila and closer Justin Wilson were traded.

Since the season ended, Detroit bought out Anibal Sanchez, while also removing a number of players from the team’s 40-man roster.

Among the players removed from the 40-man roster include catcher Bryan Holaday, pitchers Jeff Ferrell, Myles Jaye and Kyle Ryan, first baseman Efren Navarro, utility player Andrew Romine and outfielders Jim Adduci, Tyler Collins and Alex Presley.

Moving forward, it certainly wouldn’t be a surprise to see Detroit add young players to fill in as depth pieces.

According to a tweet from The Detroit News’ Chris McCosky, the Tigers have added a pair of young players.

McCosky tweeted the following on Thursday afternoon:

“Confirmed Tigers have signed former Twins utility player Niko Goodrum to a minor league contract. Also signed RHP Kevin Comer.”

McCosky would later go on to report in a tweet that both players signed minor league deals with the Tigers.

DETROIT, MI – JUNE 28: A Detroit Tigers hat, glasses and glove sit on the dugout stairs during a MLB game against the Chicago White Sox at Comerica Park on June 28, 2015 in Detroit, Michigan. The Tigers win on a walk off home run 5-4. (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI – JUNE 28: A Detroit Tigers hat, glasses and glove sit on the dugout stairs during a MLB game against the Chicago White Sox at Comerica Park on June 28, 2015 in Detroit, Michigan. The Tigers win on a walk off home run 5-4. (Photo by Dave Reginek/Getty Images) /

Kevin Comer

As it would happen, Comer himself announced in a tweet on Friday that he was joining the Detroit Tigers orginization.

The right-hander was the 57th-overall pick in 2011 by the Toronto Blue Jays.

However he has spent most of his minor league career in the Houston Astros’ minor league system.

A former starting pitcher, Comer transitioned to the bullpen full time, producing some excellent results along the way.

In 63.2 innings for Houston’s Triple-A club in the hitter-friendly Pacific Coast League, the reliever was a bit unlucky as his BABIP finished at .367.

Still, he struck out 10.46 batters per nine innings to go along with a 3.68 ERA and a 3.78 FIP.

The right-hander surrendered just 0.71 home runs per nine frames while notching a 72.8% strand rate.

It certainly wouldn’t be a surprise to see Comer develop into a consistent contributor for the Tigers. The bullpen is in flux, to say the least and the former Astros farmhand certainly has shown he can consistently record outs.

If the season started today, and this is purely speculative mind you, only Shane Greene, Alex Wilson, Daniel Stumpf and perhaps Joe Jimenez would be assured roster spots in the bullpen.

That should leave plenty of room for Comer to crack the Major League roster at some point next season.

Coincidentally, we here at Motor City Bengals actually wrote last week about Comer being an intriguing depth piece that the Tigers should take a flier on.

DETROIT, MI – APRIL 7: A general view of Comerica Park prior to the start of the opening day game between the Boston Red Sox and the Detroit Tigers on April 7, 2017 at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI – APRIL 7: A general view of Comerica Park prior to the start of the opening day game between the Boston Red Sox and the Detroit Tigers on April 7, 2017 at Comerica Park in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Leon Halip/Getty Images) /

Niko Goodrum

Also reportedly joining the Detroit Tigers is Niko Goodrum.

Goodrum, who like Comer is still only 25, made his Major League debut with the Minnesota Twins in 2017.

He hit .059 in 18 plate appearance, but showed potential on the base paths with a 0.2 BsR in such a small sample size.

Goodrum fared much better at Triple-A last season, where hit .265 with a .309 on-base percentage, a .435 slugging percentage, a .325 wOBA and a 102 wRC+.

The ex-Twin also chipped in with 71 runs scored, 66 RBI, 25 doubles, 13 home runs, 11 stolen bases and five triples.

The former second-round pick could be an eventual replacement for Romine given his versatility.

Last season with Minnesota’s Triple-A affiliate Goodrum appeared in and started games at all four infield spots and all three outfield spots.

As it would happen, Goodrum played for new Triple-A Toledo manager Doug Mientkiewicz in 2014 with the Fort Myers Miracle (Advanced-A) in the Florida State League and again in 2015 and 2016 with the Chattanooga Lookouts (Double-A) in the Southern League.

In conclusion

Signings like Comer and Goodrum will be key for the Detroit Tigers moving forward.

It’s unlikely that Detroit, or any team for that matter, will again find a player who can make an impact like J.D. Martinez after joining in a relatively minor transaction.

Next: 3 hypothetical Ian Kinsler trade ideas involving the Angels

Still, the more young players the Tigers bring in as depth pieces, the more likely it is that some of them stick as contributors for the Major League club.

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