Colby Rasmus May Not Be The Best Fit For Detroit Tigers
By Brad Faber
@Brad_Faber
Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports
Heading into the offseason, the Detroit Tigers will need to take a look at the shortcomings of their 2014 club. Fixing the bullpen will likely be one of Detroit’s top priorities, and rightfully so. Others have suggested that the team would also be wise to add an everyday center fielder, claiming Rajai Davis would be better suited for another role.
Lately, some have been wondering if the Tigers might show interest in Colby Rasmus, a center fielder and free-agent-to-be over the coming winter. While signing Rasmus may be tempting at first glace, the Tigers might be wise to consider going a different route.
Sure, Rasmus is a left-handed hitter with some pop, which is something the Tigers could probably use. However, the 28-year-old is not coming off of a great offensive season, slashing just .225/.287/.448 with 18 home runs, 40 RBIs and an 0.6 fWAR through 104 games with the Toronto Blue Jays in 2014.
Furthermore, while he has eclipsed the 20-home run plateau on three separate occasions, he is a career .246 hitter with a lifetime strikeout rate of 25.2 percent. Although he certainly has tremendous power, playing his home games in spacious Comerica Park could cut into his power numbers as well.
There is also the issue of Rasmus’ defense. While he has drawn praise for his ability to play a great center field in the past, his UZR/150 dropped dramatically over the past year, going from 15.2 in 2013 to minus-15.3 in 2014. Rumor has it that recent injuries may have had an impact on his defensive game this season.
Although it is entirely possible that Rasmus could regain his defensive prowess, and perhaps getting off of the artificial turf at Rogers Centre would be beneficial for him, inserting him into the cavernous center field of Comerica Park still seems like risky business. Detroit may not have too many options at its disposal and the remaining crop of free agent outfielders figures to be quite thin, but taking a pass on Rasmus could still very well be the right call for the Tigers to make this offseason.
Brad Faber is a Detroit Tigers writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Brad_Faber, “Like” him on Facebook, or add him to your network on LinkedIn or Google.
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