Tigers add much needed power surge to a powerless lineup

Finally, a pair of offseason moves we can embrace. Reports say that the Detroit Tigers have signed second baseman Jonathan Schoop and first baseman C.J. Cron.

It’s been an offseason to forget, in my opinion, but perhaps general manager Al Avila is finally made a couple of deals that will actually benefit the Detroit Tigers during this dark time in Tigers history.

If I’m being candid, it has a feel of the late ’90s early ’00s to me. I used to go to Tiger Stadium to watch Bobby Higginson patrol right-field and hit cleanup on a terrible Tigers team, but I loved them.

I remember when Juan Gonzalez signed and immediately complained about the dimensions of Comerica Park, prompting the Ilitches to move in the fences. Finally, the Tigers signed Ivan Rodriquez, signaling the beginning of the end of a long, drawn-out embarrassing rebuild.

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Now, Jonathan Schoop and C.J. Cron aren’t even close to Ivan Rodriquez, don’t take the wrong approach here, but it will be the first additions this Winter by the Tigers that mean something.

Al Avila mentioned during the Winter meetings; the team was finally prepared to spend again and surround the young prospects with some middle-aged professional bats. So what does he do? Signs back-up catcher Austin Romine, a career .239 hitter to a one-year deal worth a touch over $4-million.

Romine famously squared off with Miguel Cabrera at home plate as a member of the New York Yankees in what appeared to be a little boxing match that ended up with both players rolling around in the dirt. Romine, of course, the brother to former Tiger Andrew hit a career-high .281 with 8 home runs last season. We’ve seen this before, haven’t we? You know he will return to his .239 average, right?

Al Avila followed that signing up with right-handed starter Zack Godley, a former Diamondback who won 15 games back in 2018 and followed that up with a horrendous ’19. He tossed 92 innings posting a 5.97 ERA with a WHIP of 1.500 between Arizona and Toronto going 4-5 on the season.

So finally, Detroit struck a deal with both Schoop and Cron, both filling much-needed holes on the diamond and in the batting order. I’d expect both of them to hit in the middle of Detroit’s lineup. Both players will be candidates to be traded at the MLB trade deadline for future assets.

Jonathan Schoop, a power-hitting second baseman, had played the majority of his career with the Baltimore Orioles, most recently played with the Twins hitting 23 home runs while driving in 59 runs hitting .256 last season in 121 games.

C.J. Cron also played with Minnesota last season, hitting 25 home runs and adding 78 RBI’s while hitting .253.

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As per Anthony Fenech; both deals are for one-year, both worth $6.1-million. The pair will bring a much-needed power surge into a lineup needing a spark.

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