Tigers Den Roundtable: Who will be the Tigers’ MVP in 2018?

Good news: Opening Day is just three days away! That means it’s time for the time-honored tradition of making bad predictions before the MLB season. We’re old pros at making these picks (but still amateurs at actually getting things right).

You will see our full season predictions tomorrow, but we wanted to offer readers a sneak peek, as well as ask an important question: who will be the Tigers’ best player this year?

This week’s question: Who will be the Tigers’ MVP in 2018?

Patrick O.: Michael Fulmer, because everyone else sucks!

Cameron: Nicholas Castellanos will be the Tigers MVP. I predict that he won’t be a total abomination in the outfield, and will hit over 30 home runs. Hopefully he’ll sign an extension some time throughout the span of the season.

Peter: Me and you. The Fans. We the fans that stick it out and tune in day after day to watch and support a team that has a bleak current future. After suffering though over a decade of horribleness in the ‘90s and the nightmare that was 2003, to then get a decade of hope and bliss only to fall short of that ultimate goal, now we are asked to endure despair again after being so so close to sweetness. Yes, this will pass, but it will not be easy.

Chris: I think it will be a toss-up between Miguel Cabrera and Castellanos. A healthy Cabrera that has his hitting stroke back could go for 30 home runs, at least 80 or 90 RBI, and close to, if not over, a .300 batting average. And if he has the swing that will put the fear of God into pitchers, he’ll draw walks, be they intentional or not. Granted, that’s contingent on injuries avoiding him. Castellanos has really found his swing and hits the ball hard. He could be a .270-.280ish guy with 30 home runs and 100 RBI if last year is any indication. Defense may be another story as he continues to find his way out there, but he’ll no doubt be a huge contributor again this year.

Jay: Shane Greene will be the Tigers’ MVP. He’s one of the few players on the team that I am confident will play well. He’s also going to get a fantastic return if Al Avila plays his cards right. Seems simple enough to me.

Ashley: I’m going to say Daniel Norris, just because I really, really want this to be the year he breaks out and becomes the starting pitcher we’ve all been hoping for. A big year for Norris would also be a harbinger of good things to come for the rebuilding Tigers, and I just need that kind of optimism in my life.

Brandon: I’ll take Miguel Cabrera. He’s looked good all spring, and while I’m optimistic about Castellanos and Candelario, Cabrera is still the man that powers this offense, however it may struggle. I think he has another big season in him.

Kyle: From a production standpoint, it has to be Cabrera. The offense in general will probably struggle this year, and Cabrera may have rough patches as well, but there is no way he will look as poor as last season when he was injured. He is unlikely to ever produce AL MVP numbers ever again, but he should be the Tiger to stand out the most in 2018.

Jeff: I’m going with the same pick I had last year, Nicholas Castellanos, only because I don’t think Cabrera will be healthy enough all season long. Castellanos is entering his age-26 season, right at the beginning of his prime years. He had career highs in homers (26) and RBI (101) last year, and will likely only improve on those numbers. He could easily be the only Tiger to reach 30 homers in 2018. Not to mention, his hard hit rate (43.4 percent) and line drive rate (24.5 percent) were as good as ever in 2017. Hopefully he can get his fly ball rate (38.2 percent) a little higher to achieve those 30 homers.

Rob: Cabrera. He has looked like his old self over the past couple weeks, and has another couple big seasons left in him.