Cash-strapped Tigers could target these free agents

Detroit — The Tigers, cash-strapped as they’ve been since the early 2000s, sure picked the right offseason to essentially sit out the free-agent sweepstakes.

This wasn’t a great free-agent class, by any means.

And Detroit only dipped a couple toes in the pool, signing only the general manager’s son, catcher Alex Avila, to a one-year, $2-million contract.

Every other free-agent player signed this offseason by the Tigers has been to a minor-league contract, including two this week, veteran outfielder David Lough and lefty reliever Mike Zagurski. Other notable minor-league signings include infielders Omar Infante and Brendan Ryan, reliever Edward Mujica and outfielder Alex Presley.

The Tigers, not finding suitable returns for any of their big trade chips such as Ian Kinsler, Justin Verlander, J.D. Martinez and Miguel Cabrera, figure to have a payroll approaching $200 million by Opening Day in April.

General manager Al Avila vowed recently to get that payroll under the luxury-tax threshold by 2018.

So that would seem to suggest there’s just no wiggle room for the Tigers these days. But that’s not completely true. There remains a possibility the Tigers could sign a bargain free agent or two before spring training starts next week, or even during spring training.

Any such deal, after all, likely would be a one-year pact, and not have any effect on 2018’s payroll.

With that in mind, here are some options that remain on the free-agent market.

Michael Bourn, CF

At 34, he’s a shell of the player he was in his prime, but he still has some athleticism, and the Tigers are lacking there. He can steal bases, and can play center field, where the Tigers don’t have a preferred starter. He can be had for $2 million or less as he tries to rebuild his value.

Doug Fister, SP

The Tigers starting rotation could be a strength, especially on top with Justin Verlander, Michael Fulmer, Daniel Norris and Jordan Zimmermann. But Zimmermann’s health is a concern, as is Anibal Sanchez. Fister, 33, had great years in Detroit, and a familiar setting could help him rebound.

Luke Hochevar, RP

The No. 1 overall pick in the 2006 draft, his career seemed to take off once the Royals moved him from starter to reliever. Then he had Tommy John surgery a couple of years ago, and hasn’t been quite as dominant. That said, Hochevar, 33, still has put up great peripheral statistics.

Angel Pagan, OF

Here’s another center-field possibility who could compete for a job with Tyler Collins, JaCoby Jones and Mikie Mahtook. Pagan, 35, didn’t play much center last season, but was the Giants’ starting center fielder the year before. He’s got some pop, and still can steal some bases.

Travis Wood, RP

The Tigers’ bullpen, obviously, has long been the team’s Achilles’ heel, even in years when it was supposed to be much-improved. Wood, 30, a lefty, isn’t a big name by any means, but he was remarkably efficient for the Cubs in 2016, his first full year as a reliever after moving from the rotation.

Other possibilities

Coco Crisp, OF; Sam Fuld, OF; Peter Moylan, RP; Carlos Villanueva, RP

Tigers’ spring training starts Tuesday. Opening Day is April 3 on the road against the Chicago White Sox, with the home opener April 7 against the Boston Red Sox.

tpaul@detroitnews.com

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