Detroit Tigers: Christian Bethancourt, Edgar Olmos would make for versatile depth pieces

Detroit Tigers executive vice president of baseball operations and general manager Al Avila could do with more depth signings. Here are two fits in Christian Bethancourt and Edgar Olmos.

Detroit Tigers fans have seen plenty of versatile players in the past.

From utility infielders like Ramon Santiago to more super subs like Don Kelly, there have been plenty of utility aces who have made their mark in the Motor City.

Most recently, Andrew Romine was the team’s resident utility player. The veteran routinely filled in across the diamond, even playing all nine positions in the same game during a late-season contest versus the Minnesota Twins.

However, Romine was claimed off waivers by the Seattle Mariners earlier in the offseason.

He joined a host of other players departing the organization, including second baseman Omar Infante, reliever Jeff Ferrell, starting pitcher Myles Jaye, catcher Bryan Holaday and outfielders Alex Presley, Tyler Collins and Steven Moya.

Tigers executive vice president of baseball operations and general manager Al Avila has already brought in a number of minor league signings to help replenish the depth with the likes of Kevin Comer, Mark Montgomery and Niko Goodrum signing via minor league pacts.

Goodrum’s addition is particularly significant given that like Romine, he too can play across the infield and the outfield.

Versatility

Defensive flexibility, as well as the ability to pitch in multiple roles, is becoming more and more important in today’s game, so having as much versatile depth as possible would certainly benefit the Detroit Tigers.

At worst, they’d be useful players to have available at Triple-A Toledo.

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

Christian Bethancourt

Formerly one of the game’s more promising catching prospects, the Bethancourt is a free agent after most recently playing for the San Diego Padres.

The backstop, who is also just 26-years-old, pitched extensively for the Padres’ Triple-A affiliate in 2017.

Bethancourt racked up 41.2 innings, allowed 60 hits, 40 runs (38 earned), 33 walks and eight home runs. He also struck out 23.

Those aren’t exactly numbers to write home about, but the former Padre has a blazing fastball and a cannon of an arm behind the dish.

During a rebuild, the Detroit Tigers need to get creative in how they bring in talent.

Taking a flier on Bethancourt as a two-way player and letting him develop on both sides of the ball as at either Double-A Erie or Triple-A Toledo could pay significant dividends down the line.