The Detroit Tigers have improved their analytics department under first-year general manager Al Avila.

"We didn't really revamp the analytics department," Avila said. "We didn't have an analytics department."

Detroit promoted Sam Menzin from analytics coordinator to director of baseball operations and hired former Apple executive and Toronto Blue Jays assistant general manager Jay Sartori to serve as senior director of baseball operations in November.

The goal is to use data to make decisions easier.

"Those are the kinds of things that they can give you," Avila said. "Then you turn to your scouts and you go with scouting information, which is how we did it with Justin Upton. Then if all comes together, you get the right player.

"(Analytics) is not the complete answer. It's just one part of the process in putting together a team."