Detroit Tigers: Competition brewing for utility infielder role

The Detroit Tigers lost Andrew Romine to free agency. With fellow utility infielder Dixon Machado stepping into a starting role, who will be Detroit’s utility infielder in 2018?

The Detroit Tigers have seen many players from 2017 depart, either via trade or free agency. One under the radar departure was utility infielder Andrew Romine’s, who was claimed by the Mariners shortly after the season ended.

Dixon Machado seemed destined to take over Romine’s role, but the Ian Kinsler trade has thrust him into the starting lineup at second base.

So with no Romine and with Machado starting on a regular basis, the Tigers need a utility infielder for next season.

While utility infielder is not the most pressing need for a rebuilding team, it is an important position on any ballclub.

The Tigers have a couple minor league options ready to battle it out, but just to be safe they went ahead and added veteran infielder Pete Kozma on a minor league deal.

Kozma has the upper hand on the job, but will still have to battle a few others in camp if he wants to play his seventh major league season in Detroit.

Let’s take a look at what Kozma brings to the table, and who he will have to beat out to win the job.