The Tigers are signing outfielder Manuel Margot, in response to a report from Ken Rosenthal of The Athletic. The Athletic’s Cody Stavenhagen, in the meantime, studies that it’s a serious league deal for Margot. Monetary phrases haven’t but been disclosed.
Margot, 30, was launched by the Brewers yesterday after signing a minor league cope with the membership final month. Margot posted an honest .250/.314/.375 slash line in camp with Milwaukee however was squeezed off of a roster already populated with 4 outfielders, with a fifth on the injured checklist prepared to affix the membership when wholesome. That left Margot to pursue greener pastures, which he’s now present in Detroit. The Tigers’ outfield combine has been ravaged by accidents this spring, with heart fielder Parker Meadows and proper fielder Matt Vierling each set to open the season on the injured checklist. For a crew that was already in the hunt for an extra right-handed bat, that made including Margot one thing of a no brainer for the Tigers.
Apparent a match for the membership’s wants as Margot is likely to be, nevertheless, that doesn’t essentially make him a slam-dunk resolution. In spite of everything, the 30-year-old is coming off a profession worst marketing campaign in Minnesota the place he slashed .238/.289/.337 in 343 journeys to the plate throughout 129 video games. Margot cut up time between all three outfield spots final yr, however seemed overmatched in response to defensive metrics with a -4 Outs Above Common general and damaging numbers in any respect three outfield spots. That will recommend he’s ailing outfitted to contribute not less than in heart subject frequently at this level in his profession, though Margot’s excellent defensive numbers with the Rays and Padres over time might simply justify giving him a possibility to show himself able to dealing with heart as soon as once more.
Wherever he leads to an outfield combine that figures to incorporate Zach McKinstry, Kerry Carpenter, and Wenceel Perez along with incumbent left fielder Riley Greene, Margot might want to submit stronger numbers with the bat this yr. Whereas beating final yr’s 79 wRC+ shouldn’t be an particularly tall order, an important piece of the puzzle for Margot this yr figures to be getting again to hitting properly towards lefties. Margot is a profession .279/.338/.415 hitter towards southpaws, however final season he posted only a .269/.322/.391 line towards lefties. Getting that quantity again to above common could be an enormous boon for a closely left-handed Tigers lineup that posted a wRC+ of simply 88 towards southpaws final yr.
The addition of Margot to the fold seems to go away only one open spot on the membership’s place participant employees headed into Opening Day. Slugger Spencer Torkelson, outfielder Justyn-Henry Malloy, and non-roster utility man Jahmai Jones look like the ultimate three candidates for that spot as issues stand, with Torkelson standing out because the doubtless favourite on condition that each Carpenter and Torkelson himself are tentatively anticipated to get seems within the outfield because the Tigers try to piece collectively manufacturing with out Meadows and Vierling within the fold. Torkelson misplaced his job because the membership’s incumbent first baseman to Colt Keith when the Gleyber Torres signing pushed Keith to first base, however Torkelson’s right-handed bat provides extra massive league success and the next ceiling than these of both Malloy or Jones.
