The Detroit Tigers are reluctant to use center fielder Austin Jackson as their leadoff hitter for the 2012 season. According to Jerry Crasnick of ESPN, the Tigers will look for one this off season as they do not have any logical internal candidates.

Crasnick says that Jose Reyes is the “dream candidate,” but that David DeJesus and Kelly Johnson are among the more likely candidates for the spot as they would be “lower-cost free agents.” By signing DeJesus or Johnson, the Tigers will have more money left over to fill the other holes they need to address this offseason.

Yesterday, we learned that the A’s are likely to part ways with DeJesus and he could fill the void that was created when Magglio Ordonez departed.

Johnson hit .222/.304/.413 with 21 HR’s and 58 RBI’s in 545 AB’s with the Blue Jays and Diamondbacks in 2011. DeJesus hit .240/.323/.376 with 10 HR’s and 46 RBI’s in 442 AB’s with the A’s in 2011.