It appears new Detroit Tigers manager A.J. Hinch is willing to grant the wish of one of his biggest stars.
Hinch said he’s open to the idea of playing Miguel Cabrera at first base in 2021 in order to add flexibility to the lineup.
Cabrera was exclusively a designated hitter in 2020 and has only logged 58 games at first base over the last three seasons. But the 37-year-old future Hall-of-Famer said in an end-of-season interview that he fervently wanted to return to the field.
His new skipper, at least for now, seems OK with the idea.
“I’d like him to play first base, certainly part of the games,” Hinch said in a conference call with reporters on Wednesday. “I don’t know what the allotment’s going to be. Freeing up the DH spot is important. We’ve got to make sure he’s healthy and can handle the (first base) position a certain amount of games per week.”
Hinch said that Cabrera has always been “engaged” as both a hitter and fielder and giving him the opportunity to stay involved all the time might be beneficial.
“The more first base he can play and stay healthy, the better our team will be,” Hinch said.
After battling injuries over parts of 2017, 2018 and 2019, Cabrera was largely healthy in the shortened 2020 season.
About free agency: Even with Cabrera playing first occasionally, the Tigers could still add a free-agent first baseman. Third baseman Jeimer Candelario also spent much of the 2020 season playing first.
Hinch said he wasn’t trying to be evasive when asked about the Tigers’ specific free-agent needs, but “there are a lot of different ways we can go.”
Hinch said the Tigers could upgrade the outfield, add a second baseman or a first baseman or, perhaps, look at a catcher. (Or they could do some combination of the above).
“We’ve got to find some better at-bats. We’ve got to minimize the strikeouts and the non-competitive at-bats,” he said.
Avila said he talks daily with general manager Al Avila and other members of the front office.
“I love that I’m involved,” he said. “Al’s been tremendous about not only keeping me in the loop but (making me) an active participant.”
Bringing Cruz on board: Hinch’s hiring of assistant hitting coach Jose Cruz Jr. was many years in the making, Hinch said.
Cruz, who played 12 seasons for nine different teams in the big leagues, is part of a multi-generational baseball. His father, Jose Cruz, spent 19 seasons in the big leagues, primarily for the Houston Astros. His son, Trei, was drafted by the Tigers out of Rice University this summer.
“I was persistent with him,” Hinch said. “I think he wanted the right place, the right time, the right role. He trusts me and wanted to come on board with me.”
Pitching plans: The Tigers will stretch out left-handers Daniel Norris and Tyler Alexander in spring training, giving them the opportunity to compete for a spot in the starting rotation.
The Tigers will also look to add another starter or two in free agency.
Hinch said the Tigers were looking to add pitchers because it will be a “difficult puzzle” to find enough innings to compensate for all the pitchers who will be limited in 2021 due to their light workload in 2020.
“We just don’t know how all the innings are going to be put together,” he said. “Our goal would be to have too much pitching.”
Outlook for 2021: The Tigers could add three free agents before spring training and would probably still be picked to finish last in the American League Central.
But Hinch isn’t worried about that.
“Don’t put limitations on yourself in December,” he said. “That, to me, is a garbage mentality and it’s not how we’re going to operate here.”