Inbox: Whom might Tigers take with top pick?

DETROIT -- There’s a ironic rhythm to the baseball season. It’s really long, and it feels that way as you’re going through it because there are games almost every day. And yet, the baseball season seems to go by sooner every year -- especially the long ones. The July Trade Deadline feels like two weeks ago. Spring Training feels like two months ago. Even though every game is unique, the losses can run into each other as they pile up.

That’s a strange way of saying that even though this has been one of the longest seasons for the Tigers, it really did seem to fly by. Thanks to all of you for following along. I know it wasn’t easy. I know it had to feel like Groundhog Day on many occasions. But the fact that so many did seem to follow regularly, even if just to complain sometimes, shows why Detroit is considered a baseball town. Hopefully we did a good job of finding the uniqueness of each game – well, OK, most of them – and the bigger themes that played into them. Hopefully the offseason flies by quickly, too, because winter can be miserable.

Anyway, on to the questions …

The Tigers entered Monday with a 4 1/2-game gap on Baltimore for the top pick in next year’s MLB Draft. So unless the Orioles lose out and the Tigers win four times, Detroit and its scouting department will be on the clock for the second time in three years. And this one could be fascinating.

Unlike the 2018 Draft in which the Tigers drafted Casey Mize, next year’s Draft has the potential for an elite hitter to go first. By most accounts, Arizona State first baseman Spencer Torkelson has the chance to be a slugging star. And though it’s rare to see a first baseman drafted first overall, Al Avila was part of the Marlins scouting department that last did it, drafting high-school slugger Adrián Gonzalez in 2000.

2020 Draft coverage: Early Mock Draft | Top college prospects | Top HS prospects

Between the Tigers’ desperate need for impact hitting and their clear opening at first base, Torkelson seems like a perfect fit -- except that University of Georgia right-hander Emerson Hancock has the scouting report of a four-pitch pitcher with an upper-90s fastball, the kind of repertoire that could make him an ace. And while it seems crazy to even consider the possibility of Detroit drafting yet another pitcher, this is a team that has sworn by drafting the best player available regardless of position.

There’s a potential third option, literally, in Vanderbilt third baseman Austin Martin, the reigning SEC batting champion who can also play around the infield. Fortunately, there’s an entire college baseball season to go before the Tigers have to pick one.

Not sure there’s much this offseason that would be seen as critical for the rebuild, aside from maybe which prospects are added to the 40-man roster and which are exposed to the Rule 5 Draft. Two former first-round picks, outfielder Derek Hill and right-hander Beau Burrows, could be interesting decisions in that sense.

As far as next Spring Training and into next season, here are three things to watch:

1. Does Willi Castro win the shortstop job out of camp? If he can hold down the spot, that’s a huge boost for Detroit’s rebuilding effort.

2. How many members of last year’s star-studded rotation at Double-A Erie open the 2020 season at Triple-A Toledo? Most of them will probably get some time in big league camp, but none are expected to crack Detroit’s rotation that soon. If they open in Toledo, that would be a good sign for their chances of making big league debuts in 2020. Matt Manning (Detroit's No. 2 prospect) and Alex Faedo (No. 9) seem like easy picks for promotions, having been in Erie since late last year. Mize (No. 1) has the talent but struggled somewhat down the stretch this year. Tarik Skubal (No. 4) didn’t get to Erie until July.

3. Can Franklin Perez (No. 6) stay healthy enough to leave Lakeland and get an extended stretch in a Minor League rotation?

The stats don’t show it, but Dawel Lugo has shown signs of becoming a pretty good third baseman since taking over pretty much every day there. He really, really needs to walk more, but the bat has been semi-productive. His defense has looked better than the negative-4 Defensive Runs Saved he has posted.

The long-term answer, though, could be No. 5 prospect Isaac Paredes. The Tigers haven’t ruled the 20-year-old out of playing shortstop, but Paredes has said more than once he feels better at third. The Arizona Fall League could be a good test for this. His hitting eye would play at either position, with a .368 on-base percentage and .416 slugging mark at Double-A Erie this year.

My guess would be Joe Jiménez or Bryan Garcia. If the last couple years have shown anything, it’s that rebuilding teams have an easier time getting relievers onto All-Star rosters, moreso than deserving position players.

Best fit would probably be at first base or corner outfield. Signing a left-handed hitter to alternate at first base and DH with Miguel Cabrera would be a fairly easy fit for the Tigers, while allowing Christin Stewart, Victor Reyes and others to get work in the outfield.