Detroit Tigers: Opening Day 2021 Roster Projection 3.0

Since December, I have discussed some sort of roster construction for the Detroit Tigers, ranging from the 26th man on the roster to the starting rotation. As we are getting closer to Opening Day, I think it’s time to put one final one that focuses not only on the home opener against Cleveland but covers the rest of the roster.

Manager AJ Hinch has some tough decisions heading into the final stretch here. Do they have a five-man outfield? Do they carry five lefties in their bullpen? Does Jake Rogers get the backup catching job? Is the six-man rotation going to happen?

Whatever the case will be, here are some important dates you should know.

Detroit Tigers key dates including minor league schedules:

Triple-A: The Toledo Mud Hens are scheduled to start on May 4 at home against Nashville. Schedule.

Double-A: The SeaWolves home opener is set for May 11: Schedule.

High-A: The West Michigan Whitecaps schedule:

Low-A: Lakeland Flying Tigers schedule: 

Home opener: April 1 home opener against Cleveland.

As Evan Woodbery of Mlive.com pointed out, March 27 is another key date. Why? That is the date the Tigers must make a decision on Derek Holland and Erasmo Ramirez. Detroit either puts them on the roster, releases them, or agree to pay a $100,000 bonus by that date.

Non-roster impact in camp

Speaking of Derek Holland and Erasmo Ramirez, they have had a strong spring training camp and that was a much-needed boost. Both are veteran arms that can provide innings early on. Where to put Ramirez and Holland in a bullpen with not a lot of new faces may be the challenge but they have earned the opportunity.

As far as Greg Garcia and Renato Nunez go, Nunez went 2-for-2 yesterday and despite the late start getting into camp,  in a lineup that needs power, Nunez’s track record speaks for itself. Let’s start with the starting rotation.

Detroit Tigers Projected Starting Rotation on April 1st.

1. Matthew Boyd
2. Julio Teheran
3. Tarik Skubal
4. Michael Fulmer
5. Jose Urena

After Michael Fulmer’s last start and how the Tigers used him in today’s game against the Phillies out of the bullpen, he may start the season there since Spencer Turnbull’s status due to COVID-19 procedures may put a delay in when he will start the season.  Urena, I admit, I thought would be best out of the bullpen in my original projection. But looking deeper in at his numbers, it may not be the case.

Urena’s stat line: 61 IP 78 H ERA 6.20 in 44 games. Hitters are putting up a slash line of .306/.362/.486.  Want more? In 248 plate appearances when batters face him for the first time in relief, .305/.366/.477 with 8 HR allowed. So the premise I had in him of him airing it out for one inning is not plausible.

As far as Casey Mize is concerned, I think he will one of the first to be called up. Fulmer moves to the bullpen when Turnbull gets back.

Detroit Tigers Position Players:

Infield: Jonathan Schoop, Jeimer Candelario, Willi Castro, Miguel Cabrera, Niko Goodrum, Issac Paredes, Renato Nunez (7)

Catchers: Wilson Ramos, Grayson Greiner (2)

Outfield:  JaCoby Jones, Robbie Grossman, Nomar Mazara, Akil Baddoo (4)

Baddoo is forcing the Tigers’ hand but in a good way. As Chris Brown highlighted, credit to the Tigers scouting department for identifying his skill set.  He makes adjustments at the plate as the case today in the game against the Phillies. After he struck out in his first at-bat, he adjusted to  Chase Anderson and was ready.

I know it is spring training but he keeps excelling at every opportunity given. He walked in the minors around 10%. No one saw this common and if you look at the recent history of the Tigers’ Rule 5 picks, they have been sent back so I thought before camp, he may get a few at-bats and go back to Minnesota but I was wrong.  Now he adjusts once teams get the scouting report on him we will see and how much playing time he will get.

Why him over Victor Reyes? Reyes has a minor league option and the maneuvers to keep Baddoo on the roster via trade would risk losing him. If the team is rebuilding, don’t you want to have a player like Baddoo in your system? Plus, if they need to, Goodrum can play the outfield so the position versatility  for Goodrum will be in play for Hinch,

As far as Isaac Paredes over Harold Castro, the upside in Paredes’s bat and his approach at the plate is why I chose him over Castro. I have nothing against Castro and we have seen a lot of him in camp recently but he does have a minor-league option and hearing the quote about Paredes from AJ Hinch, it makes total sense to have him on the team over Castro.

“I’m not sure Triple-A is the best for his development,” said Hinch. “I think with the adjustment he’s going to have to make — with contact being the premium skill that he has and really, really good hands — that might have to happen in the big leagues for him to get the full development. “I want him to play with some urgency and a chance to make this team. I’ve said it to him and I’ve said it publicly: I think he can help us win.”

General Manager Al Avila credited David Chadd for making Nunez a priority to sign so if management is strong about him, then he should make the roster. Nunez fills a void at first base and can hit with power. The concern is his glove but for now, Detroit is more concerned with getting more home runs in the lineup.