Detroit Tigers: Isaac Paredes could be moved around the infield in 2021

The Detroit Tigers have many prospects vying for time during the 2021 season, and Isaac Paredes is one of the many prospects who is doing so. The issue is, where will he be playing in this upcoming season. Rumors have Paredes moving over to second base.

Coming up through the minor leagues, Paredes was labeled as a shortstop; however, after his monumental call up he only played third base for the Detroit Tigers. But it seems like, in 2021, Paredes is going to be moving around the infield.

But is versatility really a bad thing? No. While Paredes settles in and the Tigers realize what they have in other prospects, Paredes moving around should not be viewed as a bad thing. Plus, the Tigers have a generational talent making his way to the big leagues as a third baseman.

Now the aforementioned Spencer Torkelson is not anywhere near the big leagues, but there is no reason to let Paredes get settled in at third base if Torkelson is viewed as the organization’s future at the hot corner.

The Detroit Tigers do not need Isaac Paredes to specialize at one position quite yet; moving him around will be beneficial.

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While the issue of incoming prospects being one issue, the Tigers’ current roster has some roadblocks to having Paredes be the everyday player at third base.

Especially with Miguel Cabrera vying for more time at first base in 2021, that means more changes.

The Tigers will likely see Jeimer Candelario shift over to third base, and after the year that Candelario had, he will be looking to continue that same output in 2021.

This would mean Paredes has to be the “here and there” guy at third, on days when Candelario is moved over to first since Cabrera likely cannot be the everyday player over at first.

At shortstop, Willi Castro is expected to be lobbying for the starting job in Spring Training.

Niko Goodrum was the shortstop in 2020 before being demoted back to the utility role he excelled at in 2019. This means Paredes’ likelihood of playing games at shortstop is better than his likelihood of playing at third.

However, at second base, it could be a lot easier to fit him in. This offseason, they have not re-signed their 2020 second baseman Jonathan Schoop or added a new infielder to take his place. That being said, Paredes will likely find a home there more often than not.

In his first stint in the big leagues, Paredes logged 34 games where he hit .220/.278/.290 with five extra-base hits and six total RBI. In a full 2021 season, expect him to settle in nicely, even if he is being shifted around the infield. He should be able to emerge as a mainstay in 2021 and avoid trips back down to the minors.

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Paredes will be able to develop some versatility, and a shift over to second base is not going to be the worst thing for him or for the Detroit Tigers amid their rebuild.

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