Tigers Like Ryan Spilborghs

According to Jayson Stark of ESPN, the Tigers are among a few teams interested in Colorado outfielder, Ryan Spilborghs:

“While the Phillies tread water waiting for the starting-pitching market to loosen up, they’re still hunting quietly for right-handed hitting outfield depth. The latest name on their radar screen, according to clubs that have spoken with them, is Rockies’ energizer Ryan Spilborghs. But Spilborghs, who won’t even be arbitration-eligible until next year, appears to have several other teams interested. Among the clubs known to like him: Detroit and Boston.”

Spilborghs, who will turn 30 in September, is a right-handed hitter who has never played 100 games in a big league season. However, he has a career on-base percentage of .365, which is better than the marks of Placido Polanco, Curtis Granderson and most other Tigers outfielders.

It seems to me that if the Tigers were to go after Spilborghs, it would likely mean the end for Magglio Ordonez. Why else would they need this guy? He’s much better defensively that Magglio and he’s obviously out-slugging the former slugger right now. Spilborghs has spent at least 89 innings at every outfield position this season, so he is versatile.

The Tigers outfield is a bit crowded right now and that’s not including Carlos Guillen. As it stands, the Tigers have the following options in the outfield:

• Clete Thomas
• Josh Anderson
• Curtis Granderson
• Magglio Ordonez
• Marcus Thames
• Ryan Raburn

Is there really room for Spilborghs there? I think it’s pretty obvious that someone would have to go for good to make room for another outfielder.