MLive photo by Melanie Maxwell

What to expect in 2019?

DETROIT -- When the Detroit Tigers open the 2019 season on March 28, they won't have to worry about rain-outs, snow-outs or frigid weather.

Such is the advantage of playing Opening Day in Toronto, with a roof over their head at Rogers Centre.

But it's much less certain who will be wearing a Tigers jersey five months from now.

Don't expect a lot of big free-agent spending this winter. The Tigers won't be shopping in the Bryce Harper and Manny Machado aisle. Instead, they'll be looking for value at the margins, much as they did last winter.

With plenty of offseason questions still unanswered, we took our best stab at the Tigers' 2019 Opening Day lineup below.

Further reading:

2018 Tigers pitching report card: Amid struggles, staff made progress

2018 Tigers offensive report card: With sluggers gone, team is in transition

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AP photo by Jim Mone

1. Jeimer Candelario, 3B

Age on Opening Day: 25

Numbers: 144 G, .224/.317/.393, 19 HR, 54 RBI, 2.0 bWAR, 2.5 fWAR.

His production declined down the stretch and he produced a lower-than-hoped for .317 on-base percentage. But the Tigers have no attractive options at lead-off hitter, so he'll have to do for now.

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AP photo by Paul Sancya

2. Nicholas Castellanos, RF

Age on Opening Day: 27

Numbers: 157 G, .298 BA/.354 OBP/.500 SLG, 23 HR, 89 RBI, 2.9 bWAR, 3.0 fWAR.

The Tigers' best hitter is a good fit for the No. 2 spot. The Tigers haven't closed the door completely on moving him to first base, but that move seems unlikely for a variety of reasons.

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MLive photo by Melanie Maxwell

3. Miguel Cabrera, 1B

Age on Opening Day: 35

Numbers: 38 G, .299/.395/.448, 3 HR, 22 RBI, 0.6 bWAR, 0.7 fWAR

Cabrera has another five years on his contract, and it's unlikely that he's ready to step into a full-time DH role. The Tigers don't have another first baseman waiting in the wings, although John Hicks has proved himself at least competent at the position and he should get plenty of starts there to give Cabrera occasional DH/rest days.

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MLive photo by Mike Mulholland

4. John Hicks, DH

Age on Opening Day: 29

Numbers: 81 G, .260/.312/.403, 9 HR, 32 RBI, 0.2 bWAR, 0.0 fWAR.

It seems safe to say that Hicks will be on the roster in 2019, but it's much less clear what exactly his role will be. For now, we're going with a DH/catcher/first base combination. In addition to Cabrera, Christin Stewart could also be a tempting DH option when the Tigers wish to get a better glove in the outfield.

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AP photo by Paul Sancya

5. Christin Stewart, LF

Age on Opening Day: 25

Numbers: 17 G, .267/.375/.417, 2 HR, 10 RBI.

Only a disastrous spring training or an injury will keep Stewart from winning the starting left field job in 2019. At least initially, expect manager Ron Gardenhire to play Stewart in left field regularly, defense be damned. But if the Tigers develop another outfield option, it will be very, very tempting to stick Stewart at DH, despite his young age.

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AP photo by Paul Sancya

6. Niko Goodrum, 2B

Age on Opening Day: 27

Numbers: 131 G, .245/.315/.432, 16 HR, 53 RBI, 1.5 bWAR, 1.1 fWAR

Goodrum may offer more value as a super-utility man than as an everyday second baseman, and he may get roughly the same amount of at-bats in either role. We're penciling him at second base for now, but if the Tigers find a bargain in free agency, Goodrum could shift to the bench.

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AP photo by Paul Sancya

7. JaCoby Jones, CF

Age on Opening Day: 26

Numbers: 129 G, .207/.266/.364, 11 HR, 34 RBI, 2.0 bWAR, 1.2 fWAR:

Jones' defense is keeping him in the lineup for now, but the Tigers' patience won't last forever. And if they can find another Leonys Martin-like free-agent this winter, Jones could shift to a reserve or platoon role.

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AP photo by Paul Sancya

8. Grayson Greiner, C

Age on Opening Day: 26

Numbers: 30 G, .219/.328/.281, 0 HR, 12 RBI, 0.0 bWAR, 0.0 fWAR

This is a tricky one. Longtime starting catcher James McCann will probably get non-tendered this season. If that happens, will John Hicks become the starting catcher, or will he have too many responsibilities at first base and DH? The Tigers like Greiner, but he has limited Major League experience and, at least for the moment, not much of a bat. We'll pencil him in for now, but until we know the Tigers' plans for McCann and Hicks, this position is uncertain.

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AP photo by Chris O'Meara

9. Adeiny Hechavarria, SS

Age on Opening Day: 29

Numbers: 94 G, .247/.279/.345, 6 HR, 31 RBI, 0.8 bWAR, 0.4 fWAR

The Tigers will almost certainly sign a free-agent shortstop this winter. It will almost certainly not be Jose Iglesias. Beyond that, who knows? I'm picking Hechavarria because he's got a good glove, will be reasonably priced and probably won't haggle over a one-year deal.

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MLive photo by Melanie Maxwell

Off the bench

This is a total crapshoot. If Hicks is going to play nearly 100 percent of the time at first base or DH, the Tigers will need a third catcher, probably a cheaply signed veteran.

Mikie Mahtook could make the team as a fourth outfielder/occasional platoon with Stewart. If he learns how to play first base, all the better. On the other hand, the Tigers could use a left-handed outfielder to platoon with Jones in center.

Gardenhire would love to have a Pete Kozma-like utility infielder. Maybe Pete Kozma?

If Niko Goodrum gets bumped to the bench, he can fill a super-utility role.

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The rotation

Four of these spots are fairly obvious. The only question is whether the Tigers sign a fifth starter on the free-agent market or hold a wide-open spring competition for the role.

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AP photo by Paul Sancya

1. Michael Fulmer

Age on Opening Day: 26

Numbers: 3-12, 4.69 ERA, 4.52 FIP, 4.29 xFIP

132.1 IP, 46 BB, 110 K, 19 HR

0.9 bWAR, 1.3 fWAR

Fulmer is coming off the most disappointing of his three seasons with the Tigers. Trade talk has understandably died down: The Tigers have no intention of selling with his value at a low ebb.

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AP photo by Ron Schwane

2. Matthew Boyd

Age on Opening Day: 28

Numbers: 9-13, 4.39 ERA, 4.45 FIP, 4.72 xFIP

170.1 IP, 51 BB, 159 K, 27 HR

2.1 bWAR, 2.0 fWAR

The Tigers' top starter in 2018 is just a bit more consistency away from garnering more league-wide recognition.

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3. Jordan Zimmermann

Age on Opening Day: 32

Numbers: 7-8, 4.52 ERA, 4.88 FIP, 4.35 xFIP

131.1 IP, 26 BB, 111 K, 28 HR

0.6 bWAR, 0.9 fWAR

Judged against his massive contract, 2018 was just like Zimmermann's previous two years -- a disappointment. But judged against the more realistic goal of Zimmermann being a serviceable starter, rather than an ace, 2018 was a big step in the right direction.

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MLive photo by Mike Mulholland

4. Daniel Norris

Age on Opening Day: 25

Numbers: 0-5, 5.68 ERA, 4.63 FIP, 4.22 xFIP

44.1 IP, 19 BB, 51 K, 8 HR

0.0 bWAR, 0.3 fWAR

Yes, his velocity dip is worrisome, but that concern is mitigated by the fact that Norris is striking out batters at a career-best clip. He wasn't perfect in September, but he pitched well enough to be penciled into the 2019 rotation for now.

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AP photo by Jim Mone

5. Spencer Turnbull

Age on Opening Day: 26

Numbers: 0-2, 6.06 ERA, 16.1 IP, 4 BB, 15 K.

Turnbull only has a handful of starts above Double-A and he might eventually be a better fit in the bullpen. But at the moment, there are no better options and his brief audition in September offered some encouraging signs. Still, it wouldn't be surprising if the Tigers add a veteran in the mold of Mike Fiers and put Turnbull in Toledo to start the season. Left-hander Blaine Hardy could also be an option.

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MLive photo by Mike Mulholland

In the bullpen

The Tigers bullpen actually pitched reasonably well down the stretch (with a few notable exceptions), so there is a foundation to work with in spring training.

For now, let's pencil in Shane Greene, Joe Jimenez, Alex Wilson, Buck Farmer, Drew VerHagen, Daniel Stumpf, Victor Alcantara and Blaine Hardy.