Fight for final spots fierce as camp opens
>> Manager AJ Hinch will officially commence his fourth spring training with the Tigers on Monday with the pleasant dilemma of having more roster-worthy players than available roster spots.
“It’s a good problem to have,” he said.
There are six starting pitchers fighting for five rotation spots. One or two bullpen jobs are available, depending on whether the Tigers keep the sixth starter in the bullpen. And as for the 13 position-player spots, there might only be one or two openings depending on how Hinch wants to configure things.
“I am going to lay out very
bluntly what we need to get better at and how we plan to address the next six weeks,” Hinch said Saturday, as a central Florida rainstorm forced most of the workouts indoors. “And also how, even though we only have a small number of spots open, it’s still going to be pretty competitive.
“The group of players that may feel like they’re already on the team, they’re still battling for other things.”
There is a multitude of ways Hinch can sort out this puzzle and strong spring performances can hold sway, just as they did last spring for players like Ryan Kreidler and Trey Wingenter, long shots who played their way onto the Opening Day roster.
The best example of this is what is shaping up as a battle between keeping a fifth outfielder or an extra utility man.
The projected starting outfield, at least going into camp, is Parker Meadows in center, 35-year-old veteran Mark Canha in left and Riley Greene in right. Kerry Carpenter will be the fourth outfielder, splitting time between right field and designated hitter.
The projected top two utility players are expected to be lefthanded hitting Zach McKinstry and right-handed hitting Andy Ibanez.