Detroit Tigers: Veteran bats up for grabs on the market

The season is over for the Detroit Tigers and they need to look ahead to next season. Here are some veteran bats they could sign.

2019 was one of the worst seasons in Detroit Tigers’ history. Now that it is finally over, Detroit will need to begin looking ahead to next year so they can avoid having another season like the previous one. With every year, there are several good bats hitting the free-agent market, while Detroit isn’t the most desirable place to go at the moment, here are some names that will be worth looking into.

Jose Abreu

This is a name Detroit fans should be familiar with. Chicago’s veteran first baseman will be hitting the market. He would be a good fit to fill the hole at first base while mentoring some of the younger players on the squad. The 32-year-old hit .284 with 33 home runs in 2019 and hasn’t shown any signs of slowing down. While he will likely re-sign with Chicago or go to another contending team, there is always a chance Detroit could steal him away with the right offer.

Scooter Gennett

Gennett was an all-star in 2018, but in 2019 he didn’t look so hot. The market for him will be far less competitive than Abreu’s, and he still has a lot of potential being only 29-years-old. Gennett spent most of 2019 sidelined with an injury, but he still boasts a 10.8 career WAR and could be a great addition to the club moving forward. Detroit could use veteran players like him to help get key hits down the stretch and speed up the rebuild.

Corey Dickerson

Dickerson provided a consistently high average to the Pirates and then the Phillies throughout the 2019 season. He’s currently 30-years-old, but he’s been around in the majors since 2013. Dickerson could fill a hole in the outfield as the Tigers attempt to find which prospects will be ready for the bigs next year. Like Gennett, he has shown to be a valuable player throughout his career and Detroit could have a realistic possibility of landing him.

Detroit will also surely speak with Jordy Mercer and Edwin Jackson again about resigning, and maybe Nicholas Castellanos, but other than that, the market for free agents this offseason doesn’t look nearly as fruitful as it did last season. More likely than not, Detroit will prioritize working with their young prospects over trying to land a big bat for the future.