Detroit Tigers: Outfielder David Dahl should be targeted immediately
By Tyler Kotila
The Detroit Tigers need to make a push to sign outfielder David Dahl after he was non-tendered by the Colorado Rockies to the surprise of many.
Free Agency will likely start heating up as the offseason rolls further into December, meaning the Detroit Tigers should likely make a move sooner than later. But as the non-tender deadline has passed, adding a new crop of names to the free agency board, teams might start negotiating more intently.
The Colorado Rockies surprisingly non-tendered outfielder David Dahl who is just 26 years old and a former first-round pick of the organization. He made $2.475 million last year after earning a raise, but the 2020 season was highly unkind to the left-handed hitter—a nice raise from the $560,000 he made on his contract from the 2019 season.
Even though he was terrible at the plate in 2020, $2.475 million was not too much, knowing what he is capable of and what he has shown glimpses of. The Tigers need to jump all over this opportunity to scoop up a left-handed bat to add to the organization’s lineup.
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In 2020, Dahl played in 24 games where he hit .183/.222/.247 with only four extra-base hits and nine RBI while being punched out 28 of his 99 plate appearances.
The 2021 season will be his fifth season in the big leagues; if he can avoid health issues, he is more than worth the spend.
His last 162-game season campaign saw Dahl play in 100 contests for the Rockies, where he hit .302/.353/.524 with 15 home runs and 61 RBI and was a National League all-star nominee.
Dahl could easily sneak into the organization’s lineup/outfield if he produces anywhere near those numbers.
The gamble here is that Dahl can find that success once again. Even if the Tigers went out and paid Dahl the same $2.475 million that he made in 2020, it might be worth the gamble.
Think about it this way; the Tigers will not be competing in 2021, so taking a gamble on a player that cost $2.5 million last year should not be something the Tigers are concerned with.
For crying out loud, the Tigers spent $6.1 million on C.J. Cron, who ended up getting injured, no fault of his own, but that money did not pay off as the organization had hoped. While an injury and failure to produce are different, the money being tossed on someone like Dahl should really not be of concern.
His injury-prone badge is not one the Tigers will be thrilled with, but if he can make a steady appearance in the lineup, there is not to overlook this. His 2020 struggles were in 24 games of an already shortened season, weird things happen, and some players struggle who usually wouldn’t.
As the offseason continues to press on, the Tigers have to improve their roster; they have to do something to at least fill out their roster. But, targeting Dahl after the Rockies let him become a free agent is quite worth it. They already should be looking at the closer market, but adding an outfielder provides depth and positive upside for the organization’s lineup.
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The Detroit Tigers would be silly not to be preparing an offer for outfielder David Dahl.