It’s been a busy 24 hours for the Detroit Tigers, who appear to be in the midst of their own version of Extreme Makeover, Baseball Edition. After dealing away Doug Fister and signing closer Joe Nathan, many assumed another domino would fall. By later Tuesday night, proof existed those folks might soon be proven correct.
Center fielder Shin-Soo Choo, long known as a Tiger tormentor from his days with the Cleveland Indians, is reportedly Detroit’s next top free agent target according to Mark Feinsand of the New York Daily News. Choo, primarily a top of the order hitter, had a stunning .423 on-base percentage last season with the Cincinnati Reds. He also had 20 steals, socked 21 home runs and was a complete offensive force after switching leagues.
All in all, Choo fits the lean, mean profile which the Tigers appear to be angling for within their lineup this offseason. Though his defense might leave plenty to be desired, the potential benefits for the lineup figure to be more staggering for Detroit. In his career, Choo has raked at Comerica Park, hitting for power and average while collecting six home runs and 22 RBI’s. Though he has struggled to produce against left handed pitching, Choo has never had trouble making contact with the ball, as a solid career .288 hitter.
Would Choo’s potential addition make current center fielder Austin Jackson expendable on the trade market? Might Choo himself simply get slotted into left field at Comerica Park? Knowing Dave Dombrowski’s often surprising dealing ways, the possible addition of Choo would still likely not spell the end of Detroit’s intense offseason of change. Should things change, in addition to Choo, the Tigers could also be interested in outfielder Jacoby Ellsbury, a player with a similar profile.
This news could also prove to have an interesting, likely forgotten subplot revolving around some of Choo’s prior words. Back in 2010, when Choo was still a member of the Indians, the outfielder reportedly told Jhonny Peralta, who had recently been traded to the Tigers that “when he was a free agent, he wanted to go to Detroit.” Victor Martinez is the only Indians connection left on the Tigers that Choo might remember from his days in Cleveland. Could the presence of Martinez along with the Peralta conversation from the past have an effect on his thinking in 2013? Was the prior conversation with Peralta simply in jest? As always, expect money to speak the loudest within any potential negotiations.
Another step in Detroit’s offseason looks to be taking shape, as Choo, the top free agent available in the minds of most, is reportedly the Tigers’ next big target. Keep an eye on this one in the week ahead.
Max DeMara is a senior editor at The Detroit Sports Site. You can find him on Twitter @SportsGuyTheMax
