MLB: One free agent each team needs to target this offseason

One free agent each MLB team needs to target this offseason

WASHINGTON, DC - OCTOBER 27: Gerrit Cole #45 of the Houston Astros pitches in the first inning during Game 5 of the 2019 World Series between the Houston Astros and the Washington Nationals at Nationals Park on Sunday, October 27, 2019 in Washington, District of Columbia. (Photo by Alex Trautwig/MLB Photos via Getty Images) /

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KANSAS CITY, MO – JUNE 29: Cole Kalhoun #56 of the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim hits a home run in the first inning of a game against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on June 29, 2014 in Kansas City, Missouri. The Royals defeated the Angels 5-4. (Photo by Jay Biggerstaff/TUSP/Getty Images) /

Detroit Tigers: Kole Calhoun

The Tigers emerged victorious in MLB’s race to the bottom of the standings this year with 114 losses. Detroit’s 19-56 record in the second half was utterly embarassing, and they were outscored by 172 runs. It’s almost impossible to be outscored by two runs per game as a professional baseball team, but the Tigers managed to pull it off. They had 40 losses of five runs or more on the year.

There is no real end in sight to the losing for the Tigers, who are still several years away from fielding a competitive team.

With the roster gutted, all that’s left to do is hope drafting and developing prospects works out. Because the Ilitch family has more than enough money to spend on their roster, the Tigers should be able to target several low-risk veteran free agents this winter with an eye on flipping them come July.

Eight-year veteran Kole Calhoun could fit that bill for the Tigers. The 32-year-old is a free agent after the Angels declined his option for 2020. Calhoun had a productive run in Los Angeles, but top prospect Jo Adell is ready for his MLB debut.

Calhoun is in the in-between stage of his career where a multi-year deal is unlikely to come his way on the open market. His best chance at a full-time job is to latch on with a rebuilding team and perform well enough to be traded back to a contender.

He is a career .249/.322/.467 hitter with 140 home runs and 451 RBI. Calhoun hit a career-best 33 home runs in 2019 but hit just .232/.325/.467 and saw his defensive numbers slide again.

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