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5 Outfielders Who Should Still Be On Detroit Tigers’ Radar

Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports
Heading into the 2016 MLB season, there is plenty of reason to believe that the Detroit Tigers may be primed to re-emerge as a force in the AL Central. However, some are still concerned about the Tigers' outfield situation as it currently appears that some combination of Cameron Maybin, Anthony Gose, Tyler Collins and Mike Aviles will be covering center and left field. If the Tigers decide they could still use another outfielder, here are five guys they should target.

Heading into the 2016 MLB season, there is plenty of reason to believe that the Detroit Tigers may be primed to re-emerge as a force in the AL Central. However, some are still concerned about the Tigers' outfield situation as it currently appears that some combination of Cameron Maybin, Anthony Gose, Tyler Collins and Mike Aviles will be covering center and left field. If the Tigers decide they could still use another outfielder, here are five guys they should target.

5. Dexter Fowler

5. Dexter Fowler Caylor Arnold-USA TODAY Sports
Last season with the Chicago Cubs, Dexter Fowler slashed a solid .250/.346/.411 with 17 homers and a 107 OPS+ (league average is 100). Fowler would give the Tigers a better-than-average bat, but it may be worth noting he had minus-12 defensive runs saved in center field last year.

Last season with the Chicago Cubs, Dexter Fowler slashed a solid .250/.346/.411 with 17 homers and a 107 OPS+ (league average is 100). Fowler would give the Tigers a better-than-average bat, but it may be worth noting he had minus-12 defensive runs saved in center field last year.

4. Denard Span

4. Denard Span Dale Zanine-USA TODAY Sports
Over the past three seasons with the Washington Nationals, Denard Span has slashed a solid .292/.345/.404 with a 105 OPS+. The former Minnesota Twin is coming off of hip surgery, but he will only be 32 years old by the start of next season and should still have plenty left in the tank.

Over the past three seasons with the Washington Nationals, Denard Span has slashed a solid .292/.345/.404 with a 105 OPS+. The former Minnesota Twin is coming off of hip surgery, but he will only be 32 years old by the start of next season and should still have plenty left in the tank.

3. Justin Upton

3. Justin Upton Jake Roth-USA TODAY Sports
Throughout his nine-year career, Justin Upton has slashed a solid .271/.352/.473 with a 121 OPS+ while clubbing 20-plus homers on five separate occasions. However, strikeouts have been a bit of an issue for Upton, and last season he had an above-league-average K-rate of 25.6 percent. His potential price tag is still expected to be quite high, too.

Throughout his nine-year career, Justin Upton has slashed a solid .271/.352/.473 with a 121 OPS+ while clubbing 20-plus homers on five separate occasions. However, strikeouts have been a bit of an issue for Upton, and last season he had an above-league-average K-rate of 25.6 percent. His potential price tag is still expected to be quite high, too.

2. Alex Gordon

2. Alex Gordon Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
Throughout his nine-year career, Alex Gordon has slashed .269/.348/.435 with a 112 OPS+, and he has also reached double-digits in the home run department in each of the past five years (twice hitting 20-plus). Gordon has also been very impressive with the glove, racking up 94 DRS over the past five years. Like Upton, though, the price tag on the soon-to-be 32-year-old may simply be too high.

Throughout his nine-year career, Alex Gordon has slashed .269/.348/.435 with a 112 OPS+, and he has also reached double-digits in the home run department in each of the past five years (twice hitting 20-plus). Gordon has also been very impressive with the glove, racking up 94 DRS over the past five years. Like Upton, though, the price tag on the soon-to-be 32-year-old may simply be too high.

1. Yoenis Cespedes

1. Yoenis Cespedes Jeff Curry-USA TODAY Sports
After the Tigers dealt Yoenis Cespedes to the New York Mets last summer, many thought that an eventual return to the Motor City was a very real possibility. However, Cespedes went on a serious tear over the two months he spent with the Mets (17 homers, 157 OPS+), and it has been thought for quite a while now that he may have priced himself out of the Tigers' range. Indeed, a Cespedes reunion may not be the smartest move financially, but the Tigers should still have him on their radar.

After the Tigers dealt Yoenis Cespedes to the New York Mets last summer, many thought that an eventual return to the Motor City was a very real possibility. However, Cespedes went on a serious tear over the two months he spent with the Mets (17 homers, 157 OPS+), and it has been thought for quite a while now that he may have priced himself out of the Tigers' range. Indeed, a Cespedes reunion may not be the smartest move financially, but the Tigers should still have him on their radar.

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