KANSAS CITY, Mo. _ The Detroit Tigers may be a better team this season without J.D. Martinez.
That seems preposterous, given that he was batting .305 with 16 home runs and 39 RBIs in 57 games before being traded to the Diamondbacks for three infield prospects on Tuesday.
But Martinez ranked as one of the worst defensive right fielders in baseball this season. According to FanGraphs, Martinez has a defensive runs above average value of minus-7.2. The only full-time right fielders rated worse in baseball are Hunter Renfroe of the Padres (minus-10.8) and Nick Markakis of the Braves (minus-10.7).
"We're definitely going to miss the bat," said Tigers manager Brad Ausmus of losing Martinez. "You're not going to replace the bat. Now you can get a left-handed bat in the lineup but let's be honest, J.D.'s right-handed bat against a righty is better than most left-handed bats against a righty. In that sense, you're not going to replace the offense.
"We probably will cover a little bit more ground in right field. But the offense won't be replaced."
Ausmus said the foot injury J.D. Martinez suffered to begin the season hampered him. "I thought the foot affected him this year for sure," Ausmus said.
Andrew Romine got the start in right Thursday against lefty Danny Duffy. Romine entered the game 0 for 3 lifetime against Duffy.
"Romine hasn't played in a while," Ausmus said, adding that Duffy was a "tough lefty."
The Tigers started Jim Adduci in right in Wednesday's 4-3 loss.
