Detroit Tigers Could Have Rock-Solid Catching Duo In 2016

Heading into the 2016 MLB season, the Detroit Tigers‘ starting lineup will feature a number of excellent players. The catching position should be no exception.

For starters, James McCann, who enters spring training as the team’s No. 1 catcher, is coming off of a fantastic rookie campaign. In 2015, McCann slashed a very respectable .264/.297/.387 with seven home runs and 41 RBIs. Defensively, he threw out a whopping 41 percent of would-be basestealers and became only the sixth catcher in MLB history to play in 100 or more games without committing an error.

Although the issue of who the Tigers will use as McCann’s backup remains unsettled at this point, the odds-on favorite certainly appears to be Jarrod Saltalamacchia. Of course, Bryan Holaday, who is out of minor league options, remains in the mix as well. However, given the way things are shaping up, it would indeed be a bit of a surprise to see Holaday make the team over the veteran Saltalamacchia.

Obviously, and perhaps most importantly, the switch-hitting Saltalamacchia can give the right-handed heavy Tigers a much-needed left-handed bat. Moreover, it is also worthwhile to note that for as impressive as McCann was last season, he struggled against right-handed pitching, posting a mere .609 OPS. He could certainly use a left-handed hitting partner.

Admittedly, Saltalamacchia’s bat hasn’t been quite as impressive since leaving the Boston Red Sox after the 2013 season, but he is still a .251/.325/.447 career hitter from the left side. He is certainly still a threat to hit the ball out of the ballpark as well.

It remains to be seen how everything will work out, but at least on paper, it would appear that McCann and Saltalamacchia could be the perfect combination. The Tigers could indeed have a rock-solid catching duo in 2016.