The Tigers addressed an immediate need this offseason on Wednesday signing Pittsburgh Pirates free agent shortstop Jordy Mercer to a one-year deal worth $5.25 million, plus $250,000 in incentives.
This was first reported by Jon Heyman.
Jordy Mercer has deal with Tigers— Jon Heyman (@JonHeyman) December 12, 2018
During his career, the 32-year-old Mercer has slashed 256/.316/.383 while putting up a .251/.315/.381 line in 2018.
As far as his comparisons to the outgoing Jose Iglesias MLBTradeRumors.com via Bless You Boys breaks down the numbers further:
In 2018, Mercer had a wRC+ of 85, compared to Iglesias’s 90. Mercer had a 1.0 WAR, Iglesias has a 2.5, and both project to be lower in 2019. In defensive terms, Mercer is a step down for sure, with a -9 DRS to Iglesias’s +1 in 2018, but he isn’t a particular liability, even with that negative number.
In any sense the Mercer move isn’t one that’s going to stiffen the pants of Tigers fans in 2019 but it’s not a bad bridge option considering the organization won’t have anyone ready for the position once the regular season rolls around. Currently Willi Castro who’s the Tigers’ top rated short stop prospect probably won’t sniff the Major League’s until the second half of 2019 at the soonest.