Detroit Tigers: 3 ways to address the shortstop predicament

The Detroit Tigers will have to address the long-term solution at shortstop. Throwing money at it may be the only option. Or is it?

In the series against Cleveland, the Detroit Tigers saw their defense cost them the series in the rubber match on Sunday as Zach Short’s two errors allowed for Cleveland to come back in the game. As a collective, the Tigers are -17 in DRS at shortstop.

I suggested last week that one of the most impactful free agents the Detroit Tigers must sign is Carlos Correa.  Lynn Henning of the Detroit News wrote a piece yesterday ($) that throwing money at shortstop would limit the budget because of their mid-market status and it could hamper the Tigers’ ability to make moves to address other issues.

He is right to a degree. The Tigers have glaring holes across the roster and by resigning Jonathan Schoop, it is at least a start and hopefully, as Bless You Boys suggested, not the only thing that the Tigers do this off-season.

Ryan Krielder as Chris Brown mentioned on the Tigers Radio Podcast last week, is on pace to set the home run record for shortstops but it doesn’t mean he is ready to take over the mantle.

Prospects like Gage Workman, Trei Cruz, and Colt Keith maybe a few years away and there are no guarantees of penciling in prospects and calling it a day.

So instead of another year of hobbling together a shortstop, and if Detroit is not going to spend big, what would be another solution? The trade route.

Now, let’s look at three teams that may experience a roster crunch this winter or a scenario in which it makes the most sense for the Tigers. Keep in mind these trade ideas are just that…ideas. Detroit does not need a dynamic shortstop, rather, one that can man the position to put them in positions to win.