Detroit Tigers: C.J. Cron should be a non-roster invite at Spring Training

The Detroit Tigers have made some quiet moves during the offseason, but why not continue? Signing first baseman C.J. Cron makes sense, and frankly, he’s being screwed after the way his 2020 season was cut short.

Recently, the Detroit Tigers have added Jonathan Schoop after a recent one-year, $4.5 million contract to be the organization’s second baseman. Originally, re-signing Cron and Schoop would have been adequate for offseason additions.

Cron deserves another chance, and stashing his bat and allowing him to play first again in 2021 would have been a solid opportunity. He sustained an injury early on in the 2020 60-game sprint season that ultimately shut things down for him in 2020.

In 2021, Cron should be given a “prove-me” type contract, and that starts by extending a non-roster invite to him for Spring Training. Even if he ends up at the Triple-A level with the Toledo Mud Hens, Cron should be given the opportunity to stick around the Tigers organization.

Ahead of Spring Training, the Detroit Tigers need to extend a non-roster invite to first baseman C.J. Cron.

More from Detroit Jock City

• Tigers Sign Manager A.J. Hinch to Long-Term Extension
• Lions vs. Bears Week 14 Opening Odds Disrespect Detroit
• Former Tigers Celebrate Jim Leyland Hall of Fame Call
• This Pistons Team Could be the Worst in Detroit Sports History
• 4 Free Agents Tigers Should Sign During Winter Meetings

As was mentioned above, the Detroit Tigers lost C.J. Cron to an injury, but he did manage to log thirteen games for the organization before his injury. Cron hit .190/.346/.548 with four home runs and eight RBI before sustaining his knee injury.

Cron had started to tap into some real power. The average may not look exciting, but it seemed like Cron was hitting for power when he did make contact.

There’s no telling of how things would have panned out, hopefully with a better average and continued power streak.

As the 2021 season draws closer, first baseman Miguel Cabrera has been vying for more time in the Tigers infield with new manager A.J. Hinch.

Even with this likely to come to fruition, Cron deserves a chance; he got screwed out of a 2020 season after getting injured.

While extending a roster spot to him would require a corresponding move, for now, Cron could settle for a non-roster invite. He was cleared for full activity and is healthy, and would be able to jump back into things down in Lakeland.

The Tigers have announced their Spring Training invites, and there are some non-roster invites besides the obvious prospects. However, why not give Cron a chance? At the very minimum, Cron could be released before the conclusion of Spring Training.

If Detroit Tigers General Manager Al Avila were to make some late additions to the Spring Training roster, C.J. Cron should be one of them.