Detroit Tigers: John Hicks likely to be sent to AAA today when Miguel Cabrera returns
By Matt Snyder
The Detroit Tigers haven’t announced a corresponding roster move to open up a spot for Miguel Cabrera, but the speculation is that John Hicks will be sent to the minor leagues.
The Detroit Tigers will get Miguel Cabrera back tonight after he was forced to miss nine games with a balky groin muscle.
The club has not announced a corresponding move to open up a spot on the roster, but the prevailing wisdom is that catcher (and first baseman) John Hicks to the minor leagues. Chris McCosky expressed this sentiment last night at The Detroit News.
"“The call-ups we’ve had recently, (John) Hicks included, certainly have contributed offensively,” Ausmus said. “And they didn’t hurt their own cause moving forward.”… Ausmus didn’t make it official, but it’s a good bet Hicks will be sent back to Toledo when Cabrera is activated on Tuesday."
It doesn’t seem fair to option him to AAA after the way he’s performed, but he’s certainly not going to take at-bats away from Cabrera or Victor Martinez. Unless he’s going to force James McCann or Alex Avila (who’s hitting just as well) to take a seat his only role with the major league club would be as an emergency catcher or right-handed pinch hitter (on a team with a right-handed heavy lineup).
The other possible option is to send Mikie Mahtook down. He’s hit .194/.286/.355 in 35 plate appearances this year, but the Tigers would have to be comfortable with Tyler Collins and Andrew Romine as the only options in center field. It should be noted probably that Mahtook hasn’t actually played center field at all this season.
Still, for that move to make sense, Hicks would have to be capable of playing some occasional corner outfield. Otherwise they’d just be carrying him to carry him and would be effectively playing a man down. For what it’s worth (not much), Hicks apparently did appear in left field for two innings in the minor leagues in 2015.
Next: J.D. Martinez, JaCoby Jones on road to recovery
As a third alternative, the Tigers could choose to run a man down in the bullpen for a few days to delay an actual decision but that’s unlikely in this day and age of relief pitcher usage.