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Detroit Tigers should sign recently non-tendered Jace Peterson

By Ben Rosener |
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 27: Jace Peterson #8 of the Atlanta Braves bats against the New York Mets during their game at Citi Field on April 27, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NY - APRIL 27: Jace Peterson #8 of the Atlanta Braves bats against the New York Mets during their game at Citi Field on April 27, 2017 in New York City. (Photo by Al Bello/Getty Images)
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BALTIMORE, MD – AUGUST 03: Miguel Cabrera #24 of the Detroit Tigers celebrates with Ian Kinsler #3 and Jose Iglesias #1 after they both scored against the Baltimore Orioles in the third inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on August 3, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images)
BALTIMORE, MD – AUGUST 03: Miguel Cabrera #24 of the Detroit Tigers celebrates with Ian Kinsler #3 and Jose Iglesias #1 after they both scored against the Baltimore Orioles in the third inning at Oriole Park at Camden Yards on August 3, 2017 in Baltimore, Maryland. (Photo by Rob Carr/Getty Images) /

Detroit Tigers executive vice president of baseball operations and general manager Al Avila should sign some recently non-tendered players. One hypothetical fit is Jace Peterson.

Detroit Tigers fans have seen plenty of talent exit the team since Opening Day.

From the likes of Justin Verlander, Justin Upton and J.D. Martinez to Alex Avila, Justin Wilson and Andrew Romine, the list of departures has steadily grown.

Most of the aforementioned group were traded during the regular season, but Romine—along with Anibal Sanchez, Bruce Rondon and Alex Presley—have left the organization by one way or another this offseason.

It obviously remains to be seen just what the Tigers will do this winter, but it wouldn’t be a shock if the likes of Romine, Sanchez, Rondon and Presley aren’t the only offseason departures.

Moving forward, the Tigers could conceivably trade shortstop Jose Iglesias, closer Shane Greene, setup reliever Alex Wilson and second baseman Ian Kinsler.

In most of those cases, Detroit has a ready-made replacement waiting in the wings.

Dixon Machado is a like-for-like successor to the slick-fielding Iglesias, while any number of young arms like Joe Jimenez, Bryan Garcia, Jairo Labourt or Zac Reininger could step into late-inning roles.

Kinsler is a bit more tricky to replace.

CHICAGO, IL – AUGUST 27: Ian Kinsler #3 of the Detroit Tigers batsl against the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field on August 27, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL – AUGUST 27: Ian Kinsler #3 of the Detroit Tigers batsl against the Chicago White Sox at Guaranteed Rate Field on August 27, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

Replacing Kinsler

Outside of Machado, who is also an option to step in at second, the next internal option is Kody Eaves.

Eaves showed plenty of promise last year with both Double-A Erie (124 wRC+, .200 ISO) and in the Arizona Fall League (.943 OPS), but he’s yet to play in the Majors and has 29 more career plate appearances than you do at the Triple-A level.

Because of this, it would certainly make sense for the Detroit Tigers to add another second base option.

As it would happen, one just become available in Jace Peterson.

Jace Peterson

Recently non-tendered by Atlanta, Peterson played in just 89 games for the National League East franchise last season.

All told, he logged 215 plate appearances.

The 27-year-old was blocked long-term with Atlanta by both Dansby Swanson and Ozzie Albies up the middle.

Peterson wouldn’t have the same issue in Detroit, where long-term solutions like Isaac Paredes, Sergio Alcantara, Alvaro Gonzalez and others are still a few years away from the Majors.

At the very least, the veteran would give the Tigers another option to turn to up the middle.

The former first-round pick can also play shortstop, third base and left field, but his primary position is second base.

MILWAUKEE, WI – APRIL 30: Jace Peterson #8 of the Atlanta Braves slides into home plate to score a run past Manny Pina #9 of the Milwaukee Brewers in the seventh inning at Miller Park on April 30, 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images)
MILWAUKEE, WI – APRIL 30: Jace Peterson #8 of the Atlanta Braves slides into home plate to score a run past Manny Pina #9 of the Milwaukee Brewers in the seventh inning at Miller Park on April 30, 2017 in Milwaukee, Wisconsin. (Photo by Dylan Buell/Getty Images) /

More on Jace Peterson

His defensive stats aren’t anything to write home about (9 DRS, -11.1 UZR/150 in 2,108.2 defensive innings), however his on-base skills could play well in Detroit’s lineup.

Peterson has logged walk rates of 12.6% and 12.7% in each of the last two seasons with Atlanta. In 2015, his walk rate finished at 9.4%.

The veteran doesn’t bring much to the game in terms of power, with a lifetime .098 ISO, but if he can get on base at a consistent clip, he has a chance to be a useful contributor.

Back in 2016, Peterson turned in a .350 on-base percentage to go along with a 95 wRC+.

If he can post similar numbers for the Detroit Tigers, he’d be an ideal free agent addition for a franchise in need of an influx of talent.

The second baseman also comes with some controllability for whichever team signs him.

Per Spotrac, the former Padre has three years of controllability remaining, all coming via arbitration.

Earlier in the offseason, MLBTradeRumors projected Peterson to earn $1.1 million through arbitration ahead of next season.

Next: Tigers could use some more catching depth at Triple-A

Even if Peterson simply serves as a place holder for the likes of Eaves, Paredes or another young infielder acquired down the line, signing him could prove to be beneficial for the Tigers.

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