First Things First: Should the Detroit Tigers Bring In a First Baseman?

Detroit Tigers Trade Candidates

Ji-Man Choi

The Tigers could get creative and trade for a controllable player and see if they fit the team dynamic, and could always cut bait if the experiment doesn’t work out via trade or release. One of those players has found himself in Tampa Bay the last few years after bouncing around the league a bit. Choi’s got experience hitting all over the lineup, first, third, sixth, etc. Tampa Bay has a litany of arbitration-eligible players that won’t all be tendered a contract. Choi is expected to earn about $3.4 million in his second year of arbitration eligibility. Might be a situation where the Tigers can get Choi for cheap, in which case they should hop all over the chance. If Choi winds up getting non-tendered by Tampa Bay, then he could be available as a free agent as well.

Daniel Vogelbach

Vogelbach was an all-star back in 2019 with the Mariners, but it feels like a lifetime ago at this point. This past season in Milwaukee the left-handed hitting slugger only mustered 9 home runs and 24 runs batted in 215 at-bats. This is another player who could be traded before the non-tender deadline to the Tigers for cheap if they want to take a flyer on him, or wait to see if he is cut loose by Milwaukee. A reason the Brewers may hang onto Daniel is if the universal designated hitter becomes a reality in both the American and National Leagues in 2022.

All of these players would be placeholders until Spencer is ready, but all could make a case to stay in the lineup easily with good play. All have the potential to contribute and help the Tigers become a more well-rounded squad. Do I think the team should ultimately go out and get one of these players? If the price is right, why not?