Lakeland, Fla. — Better late than never, right?
Tigers players, the real ones, the big-leaguers, will officially report for spring training on Sunday, a mere 27 days later than originally scheduled thanks to the 99-day lockout which ended with the acceptance of a new collective bargaining agreement Thursday night.
“See you on the field,” tweeted Miguel Cabrera.
Indeed. Cabrera will certainly be a focus point for the first part of this 2022 season, which remains intact at 162 games. Having reached the 500-home run milestone last August in Toronto, he enters the season just 13 hits shy of 3,000.
Sometime maybe in late April or early May, Cabrera will join Henry Aaron, Willie Mays, Rafael Palmeiro, Alex Rodriguez and Eddie Murray as the only players in baseball history to produce at least 500 homers and 3,000 hits.
In the meantime, the Tigers have more than a few things to sort out over these next four weeks in Lakeland. Among them:
Filing out the rotation
The Tigers signed lefty Eduardo Rodriguez for five years and $77 million to anchor a young but talented rotation. It’s probably safe to pencil in right-hander Casey Mize and lefty Tarik Skubal in the next two slots – both coming off encouraging rookie seasons.
The last two spots aren’t secure.
Right-hander Matt Manning and lefty Tyler Alexander hold the spots entering camp, but both will have to fight to keep them.
Manning, after essentially sitting out all of 2020, endured a bumpy big-league initiation last season. But, to his credit, he kept grinding and improving. By his final start, his fastball was hitting 98 mph on the radar gun again, his slider had become a weapon and he was able to mix in curveballs and change-ups effectively.
The rotation spot heading into camp, while not guaranteed, is likely his to lose.
As for Alexander, he might be a victim of his own versatility. He posted a 3.30 ERA and held opponents to a .249 average in 15 starts last season, but he’s also a valuable resource for the Tigers’ bullpen – able to pitch effectively in multiple roles.
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Thus, the Tigers are expected to sign another veteran starting pitcher, or two before the season starts. Among the names linked to the Tigers before the lockout were former White Sox right-hander Carlos Rodon, lefty Tyler Anderson and right-hander Michael Pineda.
The Tigers could also pursue trade options with teams like Oakland (Frankie Montas, Sean Manaea) or Cincinnati (Luis Castillo).
Let the kids play
The top two prospects in the Tigers’ system – center fielder Riley Greene and first baseman Spencer Torkelson – are expected to be given every opportunity to make the club’s opening day roster. But it’s important to note, they are not necessarily a package deal.
Greene, though a year younger, is perceived to be a notch ahead of Torkelson developmentally. While there may not be anything more to be gained in Triple-A for Greene, some in the organization believe Torkelson would benefit from another month in Toledo.
Here’s the twist, though. If Torkelson can hit his way onto the squad, it solidifies the Tigers’ infield. It takes soon-to-be 39-year-old Cabrera out of the mix at first base and allows Jonathan Schoop to be the regular second baseman.
If Tork starts in Toledo, then manager AJ Hinch has to mix and match on the right side of the infield, using Schoop at first base.
As for Greene, it seems the center field spot is his to lose. The Tigers ranked 30th in baseball in center field defense last year. The defensive bar can’t be set any lower. Derek Hill, for all his spectacular catches last year, was a minus-7 in defensive runs saved.
Greene was solid in 86 games in center field last year between Erie and Toledo, making just three error in 210 chances.
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Adding Greene’s potent left-handed bat to the lineup, plus his energy, competitiveness and athleticism, might trump any growing pains he may have defensively.
Both are coming into camp primed and ready after four weeks of minor league minicamp. Expect both to get most of the reps in the first batch of Grapefruit League games, while the incoming 40-man players get their legs under them.
Sorting out the outfield
If we presume Greene is the center fielder, then two-thirds of the everyday outfield is set. Robbie Grossman will be the starting right fielder.
That means that Akil Baddoo, Victor Reyes, Hill and Daz Cameron are going to be in a serious battle.
Another wrinkle is that the Tigers are likely to carry three catchers, with Eric Haase also seeing time in left field and possibly first base.
Depending on whether the league allows for expanded rosters, beyond 26 players, the Tigers will carry four or five outfielders.
Baddoo, who bats left-handed, could end up platooning with either switch-hitting Reyes or right-handed hitting Hill, in left field.
The new blood
Torkelson was talking at the end of minicamp about what he was looking forward to once big-league camp started.
“Javy Baez,” he said. “The guy is amazing to watch.”
It will be a sight for a lot of sore eyes to see a player with the dynamism and magnetism of Baez in a Tigers uniform. Just his presence seems to have raised the Tigers’ profile around the industry, and that’s before he’s even stepped on the field.
The Tigers also may trot out a brand-new battery for the opener against the White Sox – Rodriguez and new catcher Tucker Barnhart.
Rodriguez, over his last three seasons with the Red Sox posted a 45-19 record with a 4.11 ERA, averaging 10 strikeouts and three walks over nine innings. He’s also pitched in 11 postseason games.
And Barnhart, the Tigers’ first left-handed hitting catcher since Alex Avila, is a two-time Gold Glove winner and reputedly an excellent handler of pitching staffs.
A question of utility
It seems like we can say, with some degree of certainty, that Harold Castro will be one of the club’s utility players. Every spring they try to unseat him and fail.
In four seasons, playing every position but catcher, he’s hit .291 and a .690 OPS. A left-handed hitter, he hit .293 off right-handed pitching last year. He hit .325 with two outs and runners in scoring position. He hit .357 in what Baseball Reference determined as high-leverage situations.
Hitting Harold.
The question is, will there be a second utility guy or will Haase serve that role.
If it’s a 26-man roster, the Tigers will likely take 13 pitchers (five starters, eight relievers), three catchers, a designated hitter and four outfielders (not counting Haase). So that’s 21 players. Add Candelario, Baez, Schoop and Torkelson, with Castro – and there’s your roster.
That would leave Willi Castro, Isaac Paredes, Kody Clemens and Zack Short out of the mix.
Obviously, the landscape could change. The league could allow for expanded rosters, the Tigers could decide to start the year with one less pitcher, Torkelson may start the season in Toledo, they could decide to use Harold Castro and Haase as the extra outfielder.
Check back in a few weeks on this one.
Late start
The lockout affected everybody, certainly, but it was especially unfortunate for younger players on the 40-man who are fighting for one of the final roster spots.
Not just for players like Paredes, Short and Willi Castro, but guys with no service time like pitchers Angel De Jesus and Elvin Rodriguez and Clemens. It was also costly to players coming off injuries like pitchers Alex Faedo, Rony Garcia and Joey Wentz.
Conversely , players not on the 40-man like Greene, Torkelson, shortstop Ryan Kreidler and pitchers Beau Brieske, Reese Olson and Garrett Hill got a four-week head start.
You can expect a heavy dose of minicampers in the Tigers lineup for the first couple of Grapefruit League games.
Especially, speaking of late starts, if the Tigers have to endure the usual batch of visa issues for players (Schoop, Jose Cisnero) coming in from outside the U.S.
Dark horses
Is there a player or two who may rise up and unexpectedly steal a roster spot – ala Baddoo last year?
Well, there is no Rule 5 contender this spring. The 2022 Rule 5 draft was cancelled, a victim of the lockout. And you wouldn’t say Greene or Tork would be stealing roster spots when they are being given every chance to win them.
If there is a dark horse, it will have to be coming from the bullpen. The last few spots are up for grabs, with veterans like Joe Jimenez and Bryan Garcia barely holding on.
On the 40-man, right-hander Jason Foley or De Jesus will be in the fight. Off the 40-man, keep an eye on Drew Carlton and Keider Montero – both right-handed pitchers who impressed at minicamp.
chris.mccosky@detroitnews.com
Twitter: @cmccosky