Detroit Tigers: Opening Day 2021 Roster Projection 3.0

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.