Andy Dirks

Dirks received his first legitimate chance at a true full-time gig in 2013, but lackluster production and lingering knee issues ended up limiting him to the larger half of a timeshare in left field. The 28-year-old outfielder finished the season hitting .256/.332/.363 with nine homers and seven steals in 438 at-bats. The left-handed Dirks had shown decent ability to hit southpaws in past seasons, but he managed just a .234 batting average against lefties last season, which led to extra playing time for platoon partner Matt Tuiasosopo. Dirks’ walk rate (8.7%) and strikeout rate (17.4%) were close to the expected results, but his BABIP dipped from an inflated .368 in 2012 to .299 last season, which helps explain his drop in production. While Dirks doesn’t have any glaring holes in his game, he doesn’t project to reach levels much higher than what he's hinted at the past three seasons. He's current positioned to platoon with Rajai Davis in left field this season.

The 2012 season marked the first time Dirks was given a chance at significant playing time at the major league level. The 27-year-old outfielder took advantage of the opportunity, slashing .322/.370/.487 with eight home runs and 35 RBI in 314 at-bats. If it not for an Achilles injury that forced him to miss two months of action in the middle of the season, Dirks would have been a bigger breakout story. The Achilles injury is a thing of the past, but Dirks' role with the Tigers in 2013 is still somewhat up in the air. He provides adequate defensive play in the corner-outfield spots and has no real holes in his game, but the Detroit brass still is not sold on Dirks being an everyday player. Assuming Detroit does not bring in a full-time left fielder via free agency or trade, the most likely scenario is the left-handed hitting Dirks taking over the better half of a platoon in left field. That could limit his value in shallow formats, but Dirks will still be an interesting player to consider for outfield depth in deeper leagues.

Dirks was a surprise addition to the Tigers' 2011 Opening Day lineup after a strong showing in spring training. The 26-year-old outfielder proved his worth by supplying the team with solid defense while hitting seven homers and swiping five bags in a part-time role. The bits of power and speed Dirks flashed last season were legitimate, as he totaled 15 homers and 22 steals while in the minors in 2010. He's not very selective with pitches and benefited from a high BABIP throughout the minors, but Dirks could see slight improvements on his .251 average with the Tigers last season. Overall, Dirks is a solid fourth or fifth outfielder at the major league level, which is the role he'll play for the Tigers in 2012.