Contract. Nova arrives after making 34 starts a season ago for the White Sox. Daniel Norris found a niche last season as a starter who could be effective in three-inning stints. Spencer Turnbull went 3-17 with a 4.61 ERA in 2019.

If Detroit decides to hold off on promoting its top prospects, Gardenhire will still have some interesting decisions to make in the rotation. Matthew Boyd struck out 238 hitters last year but also allowed 39 home runs.

Michael Fulmer hasn’t pitched since 2018, but the delay before the start of this season gave him more time to work his way back from Tommy John surgery. Jordan Zimmermann’s tenure in Detroit has mostly been a bust, and he now enters the final year of his

Declining slugger?

The shortened season figures to cost Miguel Cabrera any chance at reaching 500 home runs this year. He needs 23 for the milestone, and it might have been tough even in a 162-game season. Cabrera has only 31 homers since the start of 2017, and at age 37, there are plenty of questions about how much he has left.

Versatile

Niko Goodrum can do a little of everything for the Tigers, having played every position but pitcher and catcher last year. He also hit a dozen homers and stole a dozen bases in 2019.