Baddoo is a candidate to begin the 2024 season at Triple-A Toledo with Detroit's outfield now deeper than in previous years, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.
Analysis: Baddoo made 357 plate appearances for the Tigers in 2023, though he may be unable to match that in 2024. Parker Meadows has emerged as the presumptive center fielder of the future, and Riley Greene should slide over to right field in his return from September Tommy John surgery. The team also added veteran Mark Canha during the offseason, and he figures to play left field. Baddoo could give the Tigers a left-handed bat and some speed off the bench, though the versatile Matt Vierling could also serve as a fourth outfielder. Either way, Baddoo's fantasy stock has dropped as the Detroit outfield has gotten deeper.
Akil Baddoo Agrees to terms
Baddoo and the Tigers agreed to a one-year, $1.55 million deal Thursday to avoid arbitration, Chris McCosky of The Detroit News reports.
Analysis: The righty-hitting outfielder may struggle to top the 357 plate appearances he received in 2023, as the Tigers' outfield will be better than it has been in recent seasons, with the addition of Mark Canha and emergence of Parker Meadows. Baddoo should still get starts against lefties. He is a career .233 hitter and had 11 home runs with 14 steals and a career-low 24.9 percent strikeout rate last year.
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