Tigers Rumors: Detroit Targeting Juan Pierre and Johnny Damon
By Editorial Staff
UPDATE
Danny Knobler of CBSSports.com is now reporting that the Tigers also have interest in free agents Hideki Matsui and Raul Ibanez.
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Ever since receiving the ‘punch in the gut’ that was Victor Martinez’s injury, the Detroit Tigers have been on the hunt for a replacement. While it’s realized that no one will really be able to fill the void left by Martinez, the Tigers do have several viable options remaining on the free agent market. Yesterday it was reported that the club has turned its attention to free agents Johnny Damon and Juan Pierre.
Jon Paul Morosi of Fox Sports confirmed that the Tigers were pursuing Damon yesterday afternoon. Shortly after, Jim Bowden of ESPN reported that Detroit was also considering speedy outfielder Juan Pierre.
Each player represents a different way to go about replacing Martinez’s production.
At this point in his career, Damon is considered by most to be a designated hitter. He did man the outfield last season for a few games with the Rays, and he’s still racking up double digit stolen base totals, but for the most part teams would target Damon as a DH.
Pierre, on the other hand, is not your prototypical DH. The 33-year-old is a light-hitting outfielder who’s stolen 45 or more bases eight times in his career.
Bowden believes that the Tigers are targeting both players to fill the role of table-setter which would allow others such as Brennan Boesch and Delmon Young to collect more RBI’s. Pierre could also man the outfield in place of Boesch and Young while they fill the role of designated hitter.
For more on the Tigers, be sure to check out Motor City Bengals.
You can check out all of the available free agents by position below.