Detroit Tigers: 10 Free Agents to sign heading into the 2021 season

Outfielder: George Springer

Why not make a splash signing that not only helps the Detroit Tigers immediately but in the future as well?  It doesn’t hurt that the Tigers have recently hired Springer’s former manager A.J. Hinch; perhaps the veteran outfielder will be inclined to join his former bench boss in Detroit?

I don’t think Avila is in the market to spend upwards of $25-million per season to land the likes of outfielder George Springer, but that’s not to say the organization shouldn’t be considering it.  The 31-year old outfielder can start in any of the three outfield positions and excel at defending each post.

The Detroit Tigers’ top outfield prospect Riley Greene is a year or two away from making a regular impact at the MLB level.  At this point, Greene is the only outfield prospect that is considered a ‘sure-thing,’ leaving guys like Parker Meadows, Daz Cameron as major league hopefuls.

I feel the organization needs to look for an everyday alternative to Christin Stewart or a reunion with veteran Cameron Maybin.  Also, it’s yet to be determined if Victor Reyes is an everyday option, although he performed exceptionally well last season, hitting .277 along with swiping eight bags.

As it stands now, the Tigers are likely to start Stewart, Jones, and Reyes along with mixing in Harold Castro, who hit .347 last season.  The Tigers will also have Travis Demeritte on their bench, but he’s easily replaceable and not a viable major league option.

It would be nice to plug Springer in as the teams’ everyday right fielder hitting second or third in the batting order in front of Miguel Cabrera.  Cabrera would significantly benefit from having a Springer in front, and whichever power hitter, the organization, decides to bring in to play first base providing the future Hall Of Famer linup protection.

In 189 at-bats in 2020, Springer hit 14 home runs and added 32 RBI’s while stashing a line of .265/.359/.540.

Springer, at 31-years old, even on a long-term deal, will have an opportunity to remain an offensive factor in three or four years when the Tigers are once again playing meaningful games.  Also, it doesn’t hurt to have a veteran like Springer around to mentor the likes of Greene and Torkelson as they begin to cut their teeth at the major league level.