DETROIT -- Opening the Tigers inbox as we wait for the World Series and the Hot Stove season that follows.

Finding impact hitters has been a concern for the Tigers since they began exploring trading veterans at this time two years ago. They've been hoping to trade for offense, and did add some hitting with Jeimer Candelario and Isaac Paredes, the club's No. 13 prospect, in the trade with the Cubs for Justin Wilson and Alex Avila. They had hoped a top hitter would emerge for them with the top pick in the Draft, but never found a bat to move them off of Casey Mize, though their second-round pick of Parker Meadows has the potential to be that guy. At this point, they're hoping next summer's Draft (they pick fifth) can net them another hitter, but they also acknowledge it's a need they might have to eventually fill with a trade or two once their rebuild is further along. That's part of the reason why they're trying to get some payroll flexibility for the long term.
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Look for the Tigers to go the stopgap route. They're hopeful of Willi Castro or Sergio Alcantara within a year, but general manager Al Avila believes they could benefit from a veteran presence at the position in the meantime, especially if they go young at second base with Dawel Lugo.

I think the Tigers, especially manager Ron Gardenhire, would like having Pete Kozma, 30, back on another Minor League deal with a Spring Training invite. But I don't think they see him as more than a fill-in option at short, and that creates a problem. Assuming the Tigers find somebody else to start at short, then Kozma would either have to sit the bench as a utility player or go back to Triple-A Toledo. The Tigers already have utility infield options with Niko Goodrum (if he doesn't start the season at second base) and Ronny Rodriguez. And Castro and/or Alcantara are expected to hold down the shortstop job in Toledo.
Have the Tigers given up on Dixon Machado?
-- George K., Madison, Wis.
The Tigers had hopes of replacing Jose Iglesias with Machado at some point over the last couple years, which is why they carried Machado on the roster through the 2017 season. However, the 26-year-old's struggles at the plate this year proved too much to endure. He could be a last-resort option for the Tigers as a stopgap, but at this point I expect Machado and the Tigers will move on.

The Tigers liked what they saw late in the season from Michael Mahtook after he struggled in Spring Training and early in the year. But with Christin Stewart and Nicholas Castellanos penciled into the corner outfield spots, and JaCoby Jones likely to get every chance to hold down the starting job in center, Mahtook, 28, will probably have to try to make the team as an extra outfielder, providing insurance in left field and a right-handed bat off the bench. His ability to play all three outfield spots helps his cause.

Kind of expected this question would've come up at some point. The Dodgers signed Player Page for Max Muncy to a Minor League contract after the A's released him at the end of Spring Training in 2017. He had come off a bad '16 season between Oakland and Triple-A Nashville, and the A's didn't want him to block some of their younger players. Dodgers GM Farhan Zaidi knew him from his time in the A's front office and placed a call.
The Tigers made some early-season veteran depth signings that year, including first baseman James Loney and outfielder Matt den Dekker, but didn't go after Muncy. At that point, those signings were more about insurance in case of injuries on a team still hoping to contend, rather than finding bounceback candidates for a rebuilding club. If Muncy had more of a big league resume at the time, or if Muncy's release happened this past Spring Training instead, the Tigers might have had more interest.