DETROIT – It’s already been a rocky season for the Detroit Tigers on the injury front.
Free agent starting pitcher signee Alex Cobb went down before spring training games began. Shortly after, the Tigers lost two-third of their starting outfield in Parker Meadows and Matt Vierling.
Wenceel Perez, their primary backup option in center field, hit the injured list just before the start of the regular season.
Then, in the second game against the Dodgers, the Tigers lost second baseman Gleyber Torres to an oblique injury -- on a home run swing, no less.
It’s been tough. But the Tigers have found a way to piece together a reasonable lineup. They racked up 25 hits and 15 walks in three games in Los Angeles, and ambushed the Mariners with nine runs -- including six in the top of the first -- on Monday night.
Tigers’ lineup crunch
When everyone is healthy, the Tigers actually have a pretty nice collection of hitters. The problem is the puzzle pieces don’t really fit with the defensive makeup of the roster.
Even with A.J. Hinch -- a manager who’s masterful at creative lineup maneuvering -- this group is a logistical nightmare.
Think about this potential lineup, in theory:
- Justyn-Henry Malloy
- Riley Greene
- Gleyber Torres
- Kerry Carpenter
- Spencer Torkelson
- Colt Keith
- Matt Vierling
- Parker Meadows
- Dillon Dingler
That would generate some runs. But there are more than a few square pegs matched with round holes.
First of all, there are five players whose primary position is in the outfield: Malloy, Greene, Carpenter, Vierling, and Meadows. Sure, one of them could move to designated hitter, but someone will always be on the outside looking in.
The second: Nobody in this group can play shortstop. One of Trey Sweeney, Zach McKinstry, or Javier Baez pretty much has to be included.
The third issue revolves around Torres.
WATCH BELOW: Why we’re not worried about the Tigers after they were swept in opening series.
The Gleyber Torres issue
We don’t know exactly how long Torres will be on the injured list, but let’s assume he’ll be back reasonably soon.
It’s obvious why the Tigers were attracted to Torres in free agency. They desperately needed a right-handed bat, but they’re also always looking for short-term, financially viable options.
Torres had a bit of a down 2024, posting a .709 OPS with 15 homers and 26 doubles for the Yankees. But in his MLB career, he’s a guy who slashes .266/.334/.442 with a 25-homer pace per 162 games.
So why didn’t every team want this guy? Well, I’m guessing many probably did. But it sure sounds like one of the ways the Tigers managed to land him was by promising that he could play second base on a full-time basis.
Torres infamously refused to move to third base when the Yankees proposed it to him during the 2024 season. He had a rough year defensively, finishing in the 14th percentile in outs above average and the seventh percentile in arm strength. He was worth minus-11 defensive runs saved.
When Torres signed with the Tigers, he was fairly open about this being a prove-it year. He hopes to cement himself as an everyday second baseman and cash in as a free agent next offseason.
It’s hard to fault a player for doing what’s best for his career, but I’m not sure Torres is helping himself or the team if he refuses to expand his skill set.
The Tigers aren’t the only team in MLB that values versatility. It’s a league-wide trend. If Torres can play multiple infield positions, he will only help himself in free agency.
Torres is always going to be a bat-first player. But being able to stay afloat at third and second is better than simply being a below-average second baseman who damages roster flexibility.
What switch to third base would do for Tigers
Right now, the Tigers are using a combination of Baez, McKinstry, and Andy Ibanez to fill the void at third base. So far, Tigers third basemen are 5-for-19 with one double, no walks, and five strikeouts.
Torres, on the other hand, is 3-for-7 with a homer, a walk, a stolen base, and no strikeouts. He also posted an .864 OPS this spring, with three homers, three doubles, and a .340 OBP.
He would be a negative defensively, but that has never really bothered the Tigers at third base. His offense would immediately take a position of weakness and make it a strength.
Most importantly, it would allow the Tigers to replace someone like Baez or McKinstry with Malloy in the everyday lineup.
Malloy took Torres’ spot on the roster Monday, and Hinch immediately thrust him into the leadoff spot against a right-handed starter. Malloy went 2-for-4 with two walks and a double.
It’s a continuation of what he did all spring. Malloy hit .309 with a .387 OBP and .805 OPS.
Malloy has nothing left to prove in the minors. He’s amassed 1,598 plate appearances down there and put up a .280/.410/.464 slash line. In the first three Mud Hens games this season, he was 5-for-11 with two doubles, a homer, and two walks, striking out just once.
There’s little doubt that Malloy’s bat is MLB ready, but he’s awful in the field. He basically only fits at DH.
Well, when Torres comes back, that creates a logjam. If Torres is back at second base, that bumps Keith back to first, and then where does Torkelson end up?
Torkelson currently leads the Tigers with six hits and five walks through four games. He has a homer, a double, and a stolen base. He’s put together nothing but elite at-bats.
Torkelson would have to take the DH spot. Hinch can’t possibly take him out of the lineup.
The same goes for Keith. Yes, he had a rough opening series against the Dodgers. But he bounced back by getting on base four times Monday night in Seattle.
Keith went 0-for-10 against L.A. and still has a .353 OBP through four games. That’s why the Tigers gave him a nine-year contract before his debut. He’s not going anywhere.
Could Malloy move to the outfield? The only way to make that work would be for Greene to move to center field, with Carpenter and Malloy at the corners.
That would crush the Tigers defensively, and it’s still only a temporary solution. What about when Meadows returns? The Tigers aren’t going to bench their best player (Greene), their best defender (Meadows), or their best hitter (Carpenter).
It boils down to this: If Torres isn’t willing to move to third base, the Tigers have to sacrifice Malloy for Baez, McKinstry, or Ibanez in the starting lineup.
But if he is open to the idea...
Against right-handed starters:
- Parker Meadows, CF
- Riley Greene, LF
- Gleyber Torres, 3B
- Kerry Carpenter, RF
- Spencer Torkelson, 1B
- Colt Keith, 2B
- Justyn-Henry Malloy, DH
- Trey Sweeney, SS
- Dillon Dingler, C
Against left-handed starters:
- Justyn-Henry Malloy, DH
- Riley Greene, LF
- Gleyber Torres, 3B
- Spencer Torkelson, 1B
- Colt Keith, 2B
- Matt Vierling, RF
- Dillon Dingler, C
- Parker Meadows, CF
- Javier Baez, SS
I don’t hate those. I don’t hate those at all.
The Tigers are off to a solid start offensively, and so far, their defensive limitations haven’t cost them.
But they’ll be in even better shape once all of their players get healthy. And if Torres changes his mind about switching positions, all the pieces would fall into place.
