Detroit Tigers: Who are the leadoff candidates for 2018?

The Detroit Tigers will have questions to answer going into this coming season. Among them is finding a new leadoff hitter.

Last month, the Detroit Tigers traded Ian Kinsler to the Los Angeles Angels. Kinsler had spent four seasons in Detroit, slashing .275/.328/.436 over 607 games. During his time in Detroit, Kinsler made an All-Star team, won a Gold Glove and consistently provided excellent value with both the bat and the glove.

The Angels, who already have the best player in the game in Mike Trout, have had a noisy offseason. They signed Justin Upton to a new deal and inked Zack Cozart to a three-year contract to play third base. They also, of course, brought in Japanese superstar Shohei Otani. Kinsler will be joining what could potentially be an outstanding club.

With Kinsler no longer in town, the Tigers will need to find a new leadoff hitter for 2018. During his tenure in Detroit, Kinsler typically batted in one of the top two spots in the order. Last year, he hit almost exclusively in the leadoff spot.

Admittedly, Kinsler did not have his best season last year. Through 139 games, he batted .236/.313/.412 (90 OPS+) with 22 home runs and 52 RBI. It wasn’t the same kind of year he had back in 2016 when he hit .288/.348/.484 (122 OPS+) with 28 home runs and 83 RBI.

Still, while Kinsler was not a .300 hitter or an on-base machine last season, he provided both power and a certain amount of speed out of the leadoff spot. The Tigers could have a tough task in replacing him. Here are a few candidates who could bat leadoff for Ron Gardenhire‘s Tigers in 2018.