Tigers Mikie Mahtook heating up: Waiver wire add?

Mike Mahtook is raking right now for the Tigers. But, could the outfielder now be considered a waiver wire add?

The Tigers are in the middle of an underwhelming season, and after the J.D. Martinez deal, it seems like they are bound to be sellers at the trade deadline. But, one offseason gamble is paying off in the form of Mike Mahtook.

Should the hot hitting outfielder now be a waiver wire add though?

Mike Mahtook was a first round draft pick by the Rays in 2008 out of LSU. The 27-year-old was supposed to be the Rays center fielder of the future, but he never quite hit the ceiling that some projected.

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After a dismal season in 2016, an oblique injury was a huge reason why, the Rays sent him to the Tigers in a minor trade this offseason. The departure of Cameron Maybin left the center field spot in Detroit wide open, yet Mahtook did not win the job out of the spring. Instead, Jacoby Jones got the starting nod and Mahtook was regulated to the bench.

Mahtook did not exactly force the Tigers hand early in the season, even though Jones struggled, as he could only muster two sub .200 AVG lines the first two months of the season. But, after seemingly every other option the Tigers had getting a look in center, Mahtook heated up in June and is now running away with the job.

Over 18 games in June, he posted a .333/2 HR/7 RBI/.863 OPS line. He is following that with a .367/2 HR/7 RBI/.964 OPS in July, and appears to be in line for even more time with Martinez out of the picture.

Mahtook credits the turnaround with being healthy and the work done in the offseason on his swing finally paying off. Whatever the case may be, it is hard to argue with the results over the last two months. The batted ball data supports his success as well as he is posting career bests with 21% LD and 43% Hard contact rates

He still has his blemishes, only four walks all season, and he does not steal any bases. But, he is hot at the plate and moving up in the order, He may not be a guy that wins owners their leagues, but over the last 30 games, it is hard to find a hotter hitter. Add the fact that he has opposite splits this season, .294 AVG vs RHP/.284 vs LHP, and he is even matchup proof as well.

Next: Padres: Trevor Cahill worth a waiver wire add?

Mike Mahtook is currently swinging it the best he ever has in his career and looks to be in line for plenty of playing time the rest of the way. Even if the AVG comes down, he can continue to average the stat lines he has here lately over the course of the rest of the season. Not too bad for a guy owned in less than 5% of leagues.

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