Detroit Tigers need to add a bat, if not two

Say what you will about the 81-81 2010 version of the Detroit Tigers. While we wait for the post season plan to come together we can definitely say that they have one piece of the puzzle. That piece is first baseman Miguel Cabrera who also happens to be their clean up hitter. For this team to be successful in 2011 General Manger Dave Dombrowski will need to find a bat for the three hole, and a big bat to help protect Cabrera in the five spot of the lineup.

That likely means a couple of free agent singings as currently the Tigers do not seem to have those kinds of bats on their roster. Magglio Ordonez was a pretty good three guy, but he is old and may not be back with the team. On top of that it does not look like last year’s break out player (at least in the first half of the season) Brennan Boesch figures into the Tigers long term plans. Cabrera was at his best with Maggs in front of him and Boesch behind him and that makes finding new players for these roles critical to the Tigers success.

Since they have already offered third baseman Brandon Inge a contract extension. And are looking to platoon Jhonny Peralta and Ramon Santiago at short. With a similar plan for Will Rhymes and Scott Sizemore at second this help has to come in the form of a designated hitter and/or corner outfielder.

In my mind what the Tigers need for these two spots is Carl Crawford and Adam Dunn. That of course would not leave any room for Maggs since his days of playing the outfield are at an end. If the Tigers has the left handed hitting Crawford at three, the right handed hitter Cabrera at four, and the left handed hitting Dunn at five this lineup would look very good indeed.

Related Links:

•Pride of the Tigers
•MTR baseball
•The history of Detroit Sports
•Joshua Lobdell.com