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Report: Tigers agree to 1-year deal with Mercer

Justin K. Aller / Getty Images Sport / Getty

The Detroit Tigers have a new shortstop.

The team has agreed to a one-year, $5.25-million contract with Jordy Mercer, according to Jon Heyman of Fancred Sports.

Mercer's deal will also include $250,000 in incentive clauses, Heyman reports.

Mercer, 31, had spent his entire seven-year career with the Pittsburgh Pirates, where he was the starting shortstop on three playoff teams. While never a strong hitter, his bat declined somewhat in 2018, posting a .696 OPS with six homers and 39 RBIs over 117 games while collecting 0.1 bWAR. Defensively, he saved minus-nine runs and put up a minus-0.3 ultimate zone rating, both among the worst showings of his career.

But before last year's downturn, he did put together some solid seasons for Pittsburgh, hitting a career-high 14 home runs in 2017. For his career, Mercer owns a .256/.316/.383 slash line (91 OPS+) with 55 homers, 277 RBIs, 222 walks, 496 strikeouts, and has been worth 7.5 wins above replacement, per Baseball-Reference.

Mercer is the third veteran to sign a one-year deal with Detroit this winter, joining starters Matt Moore and Tyson Ross. The rebuilding Tigers are likely hoping that Mercer will perform to his capabilities, allowing the team to deal him for prospects at the deadline.

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