Detroit Tigers: An early look at some possible free agent targets

NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 27: Brandon Nimmo #9 of the New York Mets reacts at second base after his second inning RBI double against the Colorado Rockies at Citi Field on August 27, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
NEW YORK, NEW YORK - AUGUST 27: Brandon Nimmo #9 of the New York Mets reacts at second base after his second inning RBI double against the Colorado Rockies at Citi Field on August 27, 2022 in New York City. (Photo by Jim McIsaac/Getty Images)
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OF Joc Pederson

Detroit Tigers
SAN FRANCISCO, CALIFORNIA – AUGUST 29: Joc Pederson #23 of the San Francisco Giants reacts after hitting a two-run home run in the fourth inning \asd at Oracle Park on August 29, 2022 in San Francisco, California. (Photo by Ezra Shaw/Getty Images)

I’ve been pounding the table for the Tigers to sign Pederson for a couple of years now. He’s always a prime one-year deal candidate who can hit hide out in left field and he’ll slug over .500.

Pederson will turn 31 early next season, and he’s not quite the slugger he was with the Los Angeles Dodgers when he was hitting 25-30 homers a year, but he’s a fantastic platoon option, and the Detroit Tigers desperately need some more production against right-handed pitchers.

Pederson is slashing .257/.333/.502 with 19 home runs this season while playing half his games at Oracle Park in San Francisco. That should squash up any concerns about him not hitting for power at Comerica Park.

Defensively, he’s never been very good. If the Tigers signed him, that would theoretically move Austin Meadows to right field, which would not make for an ideal outfield defense situation. He might even have to platoon with Miguel Cabrera at DH.

Pederson is signed to a one-year, $7 million deal with the Giants this season. Something like that, maybe a little more should get a deal done.

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