It appears the Detroit Tigers have finally emerged from the ashes of their long and grueling rebuild — and not a moment too soon. Detroit was baseball’s biggest surprise last season as the team went from being a seller at the July trade deadline to knocking off perennial World Series contender Houston in the postseason.
Despite a flawed roster with various holes, thanks to a combination of gritty players, some luck and manager AJ Hinch holding it together, the Tigers found a way to be the Cinderella team in 2024. And now, this offseason provides Detroit with a unique opportunity to build on its success and get back to being a powerhouse in the AL Central.
Detroit has quietly developed several talented players at the league level, including Riley Greene and Kerry Carpenter. Greene is a budding star who made his first All-Star appearance last season and is a staple in the middle of Detroit’s lineup. Carpenter has become one of the best left-handed bats in the American League, and even though he spent time on the injured list in ’24, he posted an impressive .932 OPS with 18 homers and looked very comfortable hitting in the postseason.
The crown jewel of the Tigers’ turnaround is none other than 2024 AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal. He’s been one of the best pitchers in baseball since returning from left flexor surgery in late 2023. His performance skyrocketed last season as he became arguably the best starter in MLB.
While many wondered if the Tigers would trade Skubal during his phenomenal season, the decision not to move the young star was arguably the biggest turning point of Detroit’s season. And as Skubal continued to dominate in the second half of the season, Detroit continued to win.
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After a surprising run in ’24, the Tigers still have a young and inexperienced roster. The team’s moves this winter should focus on raising the ceiling while bolstering key pieces on the current roster to make another leap.
Offensively, the Tigers were one of the more left-handed lineups in baseball last season. They would benefit immensely from the addition of a right-handed bat or two. One of the more intriguing options available is third baseman Alex Bregman. He would bring a wealth of veteran and postseason experience to a young team on the rise and fill a big hole at third. Not to mention the pair would give him the opportunity to play for his former manager in Hinch.
Another question for Detroit to answer on offense is what will the Tigers do with Javier Báez and Spencer Torkelson? Baez was a disaster in Detroit, missing most of the second half of 2024 with a hip injury. Detroit acquired rookie Trey Sweeney in the July trade that sent Jack Flaherty to the Dodgers, and now Sweeney needs a place to play. At the very least, Báez will need to show that he can hit against lefties if he hopes to see consistent time next season.
As for Torkelson, he hasn’t lived up to the hype that accompanied him as the No. 1 pick in the 2020 MLB draft. His inability to consistently hit at the major league level has accelerated the Tigers’ rebuild. While Torkelson will likely get one more opportunity to show he belongs in the big leagues, there are potential upgrades on the market. Free agent Christian Walker would first provide Detroit with a solid punch and elite defense. If the Tigers don’t plan to spend at that level, someone like Carlos Santana could provide similar qualities for much less.
Detroit could also add some veteran arms to the rotation behind Skubal. Detroit’s rotation, or lack thereof, was one of the main reasons the season ended in the ALDS. The Tigers didn’t have enough starting pitching for the entire postseason series and were forced to go with openers and bullpen games.
The Tigers would especially benefit from some experience in their relatively young rotation. Starters like Walker Buehler and Sean Manaea could be the type of veteran arms that fit the Tigers’ needs.
The AL Central surprised the entire sport this year with three teams reaching the postseason in the Tigers, Royals and Guardians. All three advanced at least one round. The advantage the Tigers have over other teams in the division is their ability to pass. Their 2024 payroll was $98.5 million, and they have a projected payroll of just $79 million for 2025, which would rank 27th in the league, according to Spotrac. Historically, the Tigers have never been afraid to flex their financial muscle in free agency or make a big splash on the trade market.
And aside from Baez, who is owed $73 million over the next three years, the Tigers don’t have major financial commitments and most of their roster is still pending arbitration. With retired Miguel Cabrera’s massive contract finally off the books, Detroit has the kind of financial flexibility the organization hasn’t enjoyed in over a decade.
In his two years with the Tigers, president of baseball operations Scott Harris has been methodical in his approach to building the roster. But after Detroit’s excellent 2024 with a team that had some holes, a few key additions this winter could give the Tigers a strong chance to make it back-to-back for the first time since 2013-14.