https://totallytigers.wordpress.com/2023/03/03/saturday-survey-67/
SATURDAY SURVEY.
Totally Tigers
Jonathan Schoop is in the final year of his contract that will pay him $7.5 million. Last season was his worst year offensively, however his fielding was exceptional and earned him a Gold Glove nomination.
Scott Harris has declared that any players going forward must control the strike zone. Twice now, A. J. Hinch has commented on Schoop?s inability to do such and pointed out that he left 40 walks on the table with 3-0 counts on him last year. More if you include all at-bat situations.
Jonathan has a 37% chase rate, a 28% strikeout rate and walks only 3.7% of the time which is last in MLB.
Several days ago, Hinch hinted that there may be changes should Schoop not improve. What is not being said openly is that Schoop may be platooned if things don?t change.
In any case, it is highly unlikely that the Tigers will extend Schoop after this year as they did after 2021.
He remains one of the Tigers? more expensive players and the organization must now have to consider trading him before the end of the year in order to try to get something in return. In need of acquiring as much talent as possible, they will probably not want him to walk and get nothing in return.
There is value in acquiring a top defensive player, esp. one who plays up the middle for a playoff-bound team.
So what is the best strategy for the team to follow? Giving him as much playing time as possible in order to showcase him as potential trade bait? Or giving him limited playing time (and thus decreasing his value) if he struggles at the plate once again?
What should the Tigers do with Jonathan Schoop this year?
1. Play him in order to trade him and get something in return.
2. Platoon him with a better offensive player.
VOTE
