Tyler Collins

While he would seem to have a path to semi-regular playing time in 2017 with Cameron Maybin shipped out of Detroit, it's difficult seeing Collins as a middle-of-the-order fixture. None of his skills have scouts or fans flipping off the charts with excitement. Being a left-hander who can play all three positions and acquits himself adequately against righties, Collins could stick in the majors long term as a fourth outfielder, but nothing in his scant MLB history (383 plate appearance) or more expansive minor league history (2280 plate appearances) suggests there's much more to his game. He'd be best served honing and maintaining his defense as he continues into his late-20s because it will keep him employed longer.

Collins did a nice job in 2015, producing a .266/.316/.417 line with four home runs and 25 RBI in 192 at-bats. He has a bit more pop than he showed last season -- he did hit 21 homers at Double-A in 2013 -- but it's unlikely he will ever match that number in the big leagues. Collins probably profiles best as a fourth outfielder, or as the left-handed half of a platoon. An offseason trade landed Cameron Maybin in Detroit, which will likely leave Collins in the aforementioned fourth-outfielder role, though additional playing time could open up if Maybin becomes more of a factor in center field in place of Anthony Gose.

Collins split time between Triple-A Toledo and Detroit in 2014, marking his first taste of pitching at either level. He finished his first full season at the Triple-A level hitting .263/.335/.423 with 18 homers, 12 steals, 62 RBI and 63 runs in 468 at-bats. The 24-year-old outfielder actually made the Tigers’ Opening Day roster last season, but he was sent down after limited action through the first two weeks of the season and wasn't recalled until rosters expanded in September. Collins finished his time in Detroit hitting .250/.280/.375 with one homer and four RBI in 24 at-bats. Collins is a left-handed swinging outfielder who doesn't excel at any one particular facet of the game – he possesses modest pop at the plate with decent speed and solid defense at a corner outfield position. He projects long term as a bench option, a role that Detroit currently has vacant, but his path to a more prominent role in 2015 became obstructed with the acquisition of Yoenis Cespedes via trade in December.