Detroit Tigers 2016 Fantasy Preview

Mar 31, 2016; Lakeland, FL, USA; A young fan makes contact with Detroit Tigers first baseman Miguel Cabrera (not pictured) during the sixth inning of a spring training baseball game against the New York Yankees at Joker Marchant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /

Detroit Tigers 2016 Fantasy Preview

The Tigers added pieces for yet another run. Will it finally be the right formula this year, or will this team still have weaknesses that it can’t overcome?

Detroit Tigers 2016 Projected Starting Lineup:

C: James McCann (.264, 7HR, 41RBI)
1B: Miguel Cabrera (.338, 18HR, 76RBI in 429AB)
2B: Ian Kinsler (.296, 11HR, 73RBI, 10SB)
SS: Jose Iglesias (.300, 2HR, 23RBI, 11SB)
3B: Nick Castellanos (.255, 15HR, 73RBI)
LF: Justin Upton (.251, 26HR, 81RBI, 19SB with SD)
CF: Anthony Gose (.254, 5HR, 26RBI, 23SB)
RF: J.D. Martinez (.282, 38HR, 102RBI)
DH: Victor Martinez (.245, 11HR, 64RBI)

The Tigers thought enough of McCann to let Alex Avila go. If he struggles, they have an accomplished backup with a good bat in Jarrod Saltalamacchia (.225, 9HR, 24RBi in 200 AB with MIA/ARI). McCann is worth a look in deeper leagues. He carries a solid average and has a little bit of power.

Cabrera’s power was down a little last year, but he is past his prime. That can be expected. You still like to see the high average. He is still a very good run producer. Over a full season, he still projects to drive in over 100. I am comfortable taking him in the fourth round.

Kinsler is still one of the top options at second base. He isn’t great in any one category, but he helps you in all of them. He is worth using a seventh round pick on.

Iglesias has a nice average, but he wont do much else for you. He is best left for deeper leagues, but he will help you there.

Castellanos has solid power in a good lineup. If he can raise his average a bit, he is standard league material. Right now, he is best left for the end of drafts in leagues with 12 teams.

Upton flashed more speed than ever last year, but don’t count on it again. His home runs are likely to rise in Detroit, and so will his run production. The strange thing about all of this is that it’s easy to forget Upton is still in his prime. He is a prime candidate for a bounceback season. He should drive in 100 runs. We know he has the ability to hit .270 or higher. 30 homers is also a good bet. He can be a bargain in the eighth round, which is where I’ve seen him go.

Gose struggled some in his first year as a starter, but he is still hitting atop one of the best lineups in the American League. He will score a lot of runs, and he can steal his share of bases. I would be ready to pounce in standard leagues. In all other leagues, he is worth picking up.

J.D. Martinez showed awesome power last year. I wouldn’t expect 38 homers from him again, but 30 is a fair number. With the addition of Upton, he might not drive in 100 again, but he should be close. He is a good pick in the fourth or fifth round.

Victor is a bit tough to use in standard leagues because of the one UTIL slot. There are so many players who are DH-only right now, that you would rather use it on someone else. He is still worth a bench spot in standard leagues. If he can stay healthy, there is no reason for him not to hit .280 again.

Next: How Will The Rotation Shape Up?

Mar 9, 2016; Lakeland, FL, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Justin Verlander (35) throws warmup pitches during the first inning of a spring training baseball game against the Washington Nationals at Joker Marchant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /

Detroit Tigers 2016 Projected Pitching Rotation:

Justin Verlander (5-8, 3.38 ERA, 1.09 WHIP, 113K in 133.1 IP)
Anibal Sanchez (10-10, 4.99 ERA, 1.28 WHIP, 138K)
Jordan Zimmerman (13-10, 3.66 ERA, 1.20 WHIP, 164K with WAS)
Mike Pelfrey (6-11, 4.26 ERA, 1.48 WHIP, 86K in 164.2 IP with MIN)
Shane Greene (4-8, 6.88 ERA, 1.55 WHIP, 50K in 83.2 IP)
Francisco Rodriguez (1-3, 2.21 ERA, 0.86 WHIP, 62K in 57 IP, 38/40 saves with MIL)

Breaking news: Justin Verlander is not going to win another Cy Young or MVP award. Now that we have that out of the way, it is important to realize that he can still be a good pitcher. He was last year even though the record doesn’t reflect that. He put up good numbers, and is worth a look in the 10th-12th round.

Sanchez was a mess last year, but there is evidence to suggest that some of his high ERA is bad luck. Not all of it, which is why I am leaving him to deeper leagues. The strikeout totals aren’t high enough to risk the ERA in standard leagues. He may be worth a spot start though.

Zimmerman proved that the arm problems are gone, and had a solid year with the Nationals last year. I would expect his ERA to tick up in the American League though. He may win more games, but his ERA may also wind up at 4. I would pick him up to round out my standard league rotation.

The Tigers are desperate if they are picking up castoffs from the A.L.’s worst starting rotation. Pelfrey was a mess last year with the Twins. Stay away from him. And Greene. It goes to show the level of desperation that Detroit had that they let Greene keep starting with his ERA at nearly 7.

K-Rod quietly had a very good year in Milwaukee last year. Detroit needed a closer, and they got a really good one. His peripheral numbers were among the best of his career, and he should get plenty of chances. He is worth a pick in the second tier of closers.

Next: What Prospects Are Worth Watching?

Mar 11, 2016; Kissimmee, FL, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Michael Fulmer (32) throws in the first inning of a spring training baseball game against the Houston Astros at Osceola County Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /

We will take a look at a few prospects that could crack the majors for the Tigers this year, and in what type of leagues you should be looking for them in. Let’s get started!

Michael Fulmer, RHP: Fulmer will have a rotation spot this year. The only question is when. He was a stellar 10-3 with a 2.24 ERA in the minors last year, and Detroit needs help in the rotation if they are going to make the playoffs. He could be up before May 1st. When he gets called up, those of you in 12 team leagues or larger should pick him up.

Steven Moya, OF: Moya has as much pop as anyone in the minor leagues, and yes, I realize that Joey Gallo is still in the minors. Moya does have a problem making contact. He struck out 175 times in 540 at bats last year, but hit 23 homers. He hit just .182 in 22 September at-bats, but if he hits at AAA, the Tigers may have to find a place for him. He is worth picking up if you need power and he earns an everyday role in Detroit.

Dixon Machado, SS: Machado filled in for an injured Jose Iglesias last September and hit .235 in 68 at bats. He is never going to be a great hitter, but he is a really good defender. That trait could land him in the lineup in Detroit soon. They don’t need him to hit with all of the other beef in the lineup. He likely wont be of any fantasy use except in deep leagues or leagues that reward defensive stats.

Myles Jaye, RHP: Jaye has been traded three times in three years, but he could stick in Detroit. Relying on Pelfrey and Shane Greene is risky. Jaye was 12-9 with a 3.29 ERA at AA last year. If he pitches well in the minors again, he will get a shot in Detroit sometime this summer. If he does, those of you in deep leagues can kick the tires.

Next: Is Lamar Miller A Top Tier RB

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