Despite boasting one of the most formidable offenses in baseball, the Tigers are still on the prowl for additional offense. General Manager Dave Dombrowski has expressed that he is still looking for a right-handed bat that can fill part-time roles in the order.
Don't expect the Tigers to hit the free agent market soon however, as Dombrowski pointed out, he would prefer to fill the role internally. There are several options the Tigers have for a right-handed batter, namely, Danny Worth and minor league 2B/SS Jeff Kobernus.
Worth has major league experience with the Tigers, turning in a .216 batting average in 90 plate appearances with Detroit last season. Although his batting average was not what the Tigers wanted, his on-base percentage hovered around .330 for the season. He also has proven that he is a capable stop-gap on the infield when the need arises.
Kobernus, 24, has yet to play in the majors after being drafted in the 2nd round of the 2009 draft by the Washington Nationals. The infielder has steadily increased his batting average in each of his four professional seasons, ultimately recording a .282 batting average with Double-A Harrisburg in 2012. Kobernus reached base at a .325 rate last season, making him valuable to his club.
While Detroit is looking for a righty-hitter, they are not necessarily looking for another power hitter, as evidenced by their interest in Worth and Kobernus. The Tigers have the pop they need in the lineup, what this team needs now are role players that can play consistently and stay healthy. Worth and Kobernus appear to fill those roles. Look for both to get extended playing time in Spring Training to determine who will go north with the club.
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