Report: Detroit Tigers were in on 2B Jean Segura before he signed with Marlins

The Detroit Tigers reportedly had interest in Jean Segura

The Detroit Tigers have still done little to nothing to try to improve one of the worst offenses in franchise history. They traded for Orioles' INF Tyler Nevin a few days ago, but he's likely more of a depth piece than anything.

However, it appears they are at least trying to upgrade the offense through free agency. Craig Mish of the Miami Herald reports the Tigers were among the teams interested in 2B Jean Segura before he signed a two-year, $17 million deal with the Miami Marlins. In the end, it sounds like Segura chose the Marlins because he lives in the Miami area.

Segura is a former top prospect for the Los Angeles Angels. ranking as the 55th best prospect in baseball in 2012 according to MLB Pipeline and the second-best propsect in the Angels' farm system behind some guy named Mike Trout.

He's always been a contact-first type of hitter, as he has a career .285 batting average and has finished with a batting average of at least .300 three times in his career. He struggled with power early in his career, but when he was traded from the Brewers to the Diamondbacks in 2016, he found his power stroke, going from 23 homers combined in three seasons in Milwaukee to 20 in 2016 alone. That remains to be the best season of his career thus far, as he put up a 6.2 fWAR that season.

After spending two years in Seattle, he wad traded to the Phillies after the 2018 season, where he spent the last four years before becoming a free agent this offseason.

Segura, 32, would have been a solid signing for the Tigers. He fits what Scott Harris wants for the most part. He doesn't walk a whole lot (5.4% career walk rate), but he doesn't strikeout a lot either (13.8% K rate). He doesn't swing-and-miss a lot a lot either. Plus, he plays solid defense.

He's mostly played second base the past few years after coming up as a shortstop. This could have potentially moved Jonathan Schoop to a corner, or they could have asked Segura to play third base.

This id the first time this offseason we've heard the Detroit Tigers being linked to a free agent after they signed with another team. They've also been linked to the likes of Adam Frazier before he signed with the Orioles, as well as Brian Anderson and Edwin Rios, who are both still available. At least they're trying?