The Detroit Tigers continue their search for a first baseman after the loss of 2015 All-Star Miguel Cabrera. To try and help the issue, the Tigers claimed first baseman Marc Krauss off waivers from the Tampa Bay Rays on Monday.
The 27-year-old is hitting .133/.188/.267 with one home run and six RBI over 15 games with the Los Angeles Angels and Rays this season. He has played in 134 total games over three big league seasons and has 11 career home runs and a .192 average. Krauss played for the Houston Astros, then the Angels, then Rays.
The left-handed hitter was drafted by the Arizona Diamondbacks in the second round of the 2009 MLB Draft. Krauss was traded three years later to the Astros for Chirs Johnson, who is now playing for the Atlanta Braves. Krauss has a poor -1.3 career WAR (wins above replacement).
Detroit will make a corresponding move once Krauss joins the team. Cabrera, who is a two-time Most Valuble Player award winner and a Triple Crown Winner, is expected to miss the next six weeks.
The Tigers start a series in Washington against the Seattle Mariners on Monday night.
On a side note, without Cabrera, many believe the Tigers will be sellers once the trade deadline comes around. Detroit has many chips, including David Price, Yoenis Cespedes and Rajai Davis, who will all be free agents soon. They would draw huge intrest on the market. The Tigers need to either deal and wait for next season or trade prospects for big names and push for the World Series title.
"That's not really my call," said manager Brad Ausmus when asked Sunday if he'd be surprised if the Tigers were sellers this month. "But I'd probably be surprised."
"Because I still think we have a good team."
As of June 6th, 2015, the Tigers are third in the American League Central with a 41-40 (.506) record. They sit six games behind the Kansas City Royals for first place in their division. As for the Wild Card, the Tigers are 1.5 games behind the Baltimore Orioles for the second spot in the Wild Card standings.