Detroit Tigers free agency primer: Melky Cabrera is a fit

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DETROIT, MI – APRIL 29: Melky Cabrera #53 of the Chicago White Sox watches his solo home run that breaks a 4-4 tie during the 10th inning of a game against the Detroit Tigers at Comerica Park on April 29, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) /

Detroit Tigers players didn’t have the most productive offensive month in September. One way to improve the offense ahead of 2018 would be to sign Melky Cabrera.

Detroit Tigers fans didn’t see the best offensive production out after Justin Upton was traded on August 31.

The Tigers finished 20^th in slugging percentage 24^th in wRC+ and ISO, 25^th in wOBA and 29^th in on-base percentage in September and October to finish the regular season.

Detroit struggled mightily despite Nicholas Castellanos going on a late-season tear that saw him crush nearly every pitch in sight with a .359 batting average, a .377 on-base percentage, a .632 slugging percentage, a .420 wOBA, a 165 wRC+ and a .274 ISO.

The team also struggled despite Alex Presley’s .402 BABIP-fueled month of production (126 wRC+, .363 wOBA and a .347 batting average) and Jeimer Candelario’s torrid debut at the plate (.136 wRC+, .378 wOBA, .406 on-base percentage and an .874 OPS).

Struggles

Detroit was done in not only by the departures of Upton and J.D. Martinez, but also the absence of Victor Martinez and the partial absence of Miguel Cabrera.

Ian Kinsler’s .276 on-base percentage certainly didn’t help either.

Moving forward, for Detroit to score with more consistency, reinforcements will be needed.

Of course, with a rebuild in full swing, statistical outputs likely don’t matter as much as they did when the Tigers were contending, but the need is still there.

The need will grow if Martinez misses more time next season or if Kinsler is traded.

While a heart of the order featuring a healthy Cabrera alongside Castellanos and Candelario should do plenty of damage, the Tigers will need better production from other spots to improve the offense.

TORONTO, ON – SEPTEMBER 8: Nick Castellanos #9 of the Detroit Tigers is congratulated by Jeimer Candelario #46 and Dixon Machado #49 after hitting a grand slam home run in the third inning during MLB game action against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on September 8, 2017 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /

Offense

Looking around the diamond, the best way to address this would be to bring in another outfield option.

Detroit is set at catcher with James McCann, as well as shortstop with either Jose Iglesias or Dixon Machado.

Castellanos is in right field, while Candelario is entrenched at third base. Meanwhile, Cabrera should play first base, designated hitter, or a bit of both in 2018.

Center field could use an upgrade, but Detroit can simply shift Mikie Mahtook there.

With Mahtook in center field, there’s a definite need in left field.

Short-term help

While the Detroit Tigers are unlikely to burn prospects on a short-term fix, the free agent market could provide just that—a short term fix.

Christin Stewart could very well command at-bats by June or July at the earliest or by Opening Day 2019 at the latest.

Because of this, signing a veteran to a short-term deal makes plenty of sense.

This is all speculative mind you, but the Tigers could look to sign an outfielder to said short-term deal before flipping the player at the trade deadline for more prospects for the future.

One potential solution is Melky Cabrera.

The former White Sox and Royals player is entering free agency as a 33-year-old after splitting the 2017 campaign between the two American League Central franchises.

OAKLAND, CA – AUGUST 16: Melky Cabrera #53 of the Kansas City Royals bats against the Oakland Athletics at Oakland Alameda Coliseum on August 16, 2017 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images) /

Melky Cabrera in 2017

In 666 plate appearances, the veteran hit .285 with a .324 on-base percentage, a .423 on-base percentage, a .319 wOBA and a 98 wRC+.

He also added 85 RBI, 78 RBI, 30 doubles and 17 home runs.

It was Cabrera’s fifth straight season with a batting average of at least .272. Over the same period, his BABIP never eclipsed .316.

In other words, his hitting is not only consistent, but also isn’t a fluke either.

What has also been consistent has been Cabrera’s ability to rake at Comerica Park.

In 231 plate appearances in Detroit, the former Yankee is hitting .315 with a .352 on-base percentage, a .486 on-base percentage and an .838 OPS.

Those 231 plate appearances have also netted 31 RBI, 12 doubles, five triples, five home runs and three stolen bases.

In an outfield market crowded with power bats like J.D. Martinez, Jay Bruce, Jose Bautista, Carlos Gonzalez and Curtis Granderson, Cabrera would be an ideal fit for the Tigers.

Potential Detroit Tigers lineup with Melky Cabrera

The outfielder could hit second in front of Miguel Cabrera, Nicholas Castellanos and Jeimer Candelario, or switch spots with Candelario and hit fifth.

Regardless of whether Kinsler is traded, Melky Cabrera could serve as a valuable table setter for the Tigers with his ability to get on base.

What’s more, Cabrera is a switch hitter, so his ability to hit from the left side would bring some much-needed balance to Detroit’s right-handed heavy lineup.

Next: The Tigers just completed the Justin Wilson trade

If Kinsler is traded, and this is all speculative mind you, a batting order featuring Melky Cabrera hitting leadoff, Candelario batting second, Miguel Cabrera hitting third and Nicholas Castellanos batting cleanup would be intriguing to watch see.

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