Detroit Tigers: 4 players to target in free agency

Detroit Tigers should consider Andrew Benintendi for their outfield.

One of the things that the Detroit Tigers want to do is bring in a right-handed hitting outfielder. While Matthew Scheidel broke down the idea of targeting Mitch Haniger from the Seattle Mariners, if Scott Harris is less picky, the team could expand to find someone to play left field.

For that, the team should be turning to Andrew Benintendi to help anchor left field. The way things stand, they have Riley Greene to patrol centerfield and a new and improved Austin Meadows to play right field. This leaves them with room in left field to split time with Akil Baddoo.

While it would add another left-handed bat which is not entirely what the Tigers want, Benintendi would be able to slot in ahead of Baddoo and possibly allow Eric Haase to platoon if he is not needed behind the dish.

The intrigue may not be as exciting as Haniger since he is a right-handed hitter, but Benintendi is still exciting for the bat himself. He's been with the Kansas City Royals for the last two seasons and was traded to the New York Yankees at the trade deadline.

Benintendi played in 126 games, totaling 521 plate appearances, slashing .304/.373/.399, and managed 23 doubles, three triples, and five home runs. He picked up 51 RBI between his time in Kansas City and the Big Apple.

Adding another bat who's proven he can hit at the big-league level might be intriguing. There will be more of an intrigue with right-handed bats, but the Tigers have to consider Benintendi if the price is right. A trade could move someone like Baddoo and free up a spot for a right-handed bat to be acquired.

The point is, the Tigers have options. Passing up on Benintendi at a bargain price seems a bit silly.