Detroit Tigers: Adam Eaton an intriguing name to target this offseason
By Tyler Kotila
The Detroit Tigers should consider signing outfielder Adam Eaton to add some depth to their outfield, even if it’s a bit more costly than other free agents.
The 2021 Major League Baseball offseason is here, and the Detroit Tigers will have to round out their outfield. While letting prospects start filling the roles and breaking into the big leagues might be the move, spending money on Adam Eaton is something to ponder.
Eaton, now 31-years old, has spent nine years in the big leagues with three different franchises. A product of the Miami University RedHawks baseball program and former draft pick of the Arizona Diamondbacks is on the free-agent market.
He spent two years with the Diamondbacks and then jumped ship to the Chicago White Sox as a part of the three-team trade involving Mark Trumbo. He would spend three years in the White Sox outfield before being shipped to the Washington Nationals in the Lucas Giolito trade.
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Eaton has spent the last four seasons in a Nationals uniform, including being a part of the 2019 World Series champion team that defeated the Houston Astros to take home the World Series trophy.
The veteran outfielder would be an interesting signing for the Tigers, but one they should keep in mind as this offseason progresses forward.
Spending millions on an outfielder is not too enticing for the Tigers, but the benefits from Eaton could be enticing enough for the Tigers organization.
He is a veteran outfielder who could work with some of the younger outfielders the Tigers currently have, teaching them the big-league way and helping them develop.
He also can still put up exceptional stats and be one of the Tigers’ better offensive players.
In 2020, Eaton hit .226/.285/.384 with four home runs and 17 RBI over 41 games played. This is a bit of a difference from his 2019 campaign where he hit .279/.365/.428 with 15 home runs and 49 RBI over 151 games for the Nationals on their way to a World Series victory.
Given that the Tigers awarded $6.1 million contracts to both C.J. Cron and Jonathan Schoop last offseason, Eaton should not be considered overspending. He might cost a bit more than the Tigers would like to give in an offseason where spending increases are highly unlikely.
Eaton could serve a definite role and fill a spot in the lineup on a daily basis for this organization. He could be given a shorter-term contract where he would make $4-6 million annually.
It might be a stretch given that it seems teams are going to be tight on spending this offseason, but the hope is that the Tigers consider him. The Tigers will have to fill out their roster with a few signings; it is just a matter of who they feel is the most cost-effective option.
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The bottom line is that the Detroit Tigers could get plenty of value out of Adam Eaton and they should explore signing him this offseason.