Should the Detroit Tigers sign Kevin Kiermaier to bolster the outfield?

Detroit Tigers should consider signing Kevin Kiermaier.

The Detroit Tigers may not be in a spot to spend much money, but they may be looking to add some depth bats. For the Tigers, it will come down to finding players who fit the roster and give them a chance to add pieces that will bring benefit. One of the things that they need to do is add a right-handed bat to the outfield.

While this would end up leaving the Detroit Tigers with a bulky outfield core, it would allow them to move on from Akil Baddoo, if they pursued the signing of a right-handed hitter to join the outfield core. This also would rely on Parker Meadows being a big leaguer in 2024, which is a very probable possibility.

The right-handed bat that comes to mind is Kevin Kiermaier, who has a career under his belt as a solid outfield bat. Kiermaier is 33 years old and has 11 years under his belt in the big leagues. he came up with the Tampa Bay Rays and was able to get the job done for his team, being one of the premier defenders in the league.

If Detroit wants a right-handed back with the ability to defend, Kiermaier is a solid choice. In 2023, Kiermaier played in 129 games for the Blue Jays, where he slashed .265/.322/.419 with 21 doubles, six triples, and eight home runs. He drove in 36 runs and swiped 14 bags along the way throughout the summer in Toronto.

Kiermaier sounds good on paper, but there's hope that Meadows can be the go-to in centerfield. However, to begin the 2023 season, Riley Greene's time as a DH might be the best place for him to take a conservative approach to his return to the ice. For Detroit, it will be vital for them to be smart with Greene to keep him going strong for the future.

But with that in mind, they will have to figure out a plan for Meadows, who debuted in 2023 and looks like he can be a big leaguer in 2024. As mentioned, he's expected to play a role, but he's suited for centerfield. Signing someone like Kiermaier could be a roadblock for that.

Bringing in Kiermaier and then moving Meadows to the corner, or even rotating him in center with Kiermaier, is a possible remedy to that. Meadows learning from Kiermaier seems like a pretty darn good idea if you ask me. Plus, signing Kiermaier should be relatively inexpensive and allow the Tigers to save money to spend elsewhere to round out the roster on a budget.