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What will happen to the Tigers roster at the start of free agency?

Posted on by L. Dreeye
What will happen to the Tigers roster at the start of free agency?

The period of calm is over. The stove is already starting to burn.

Scott Harris and the rest of Tigers management will gather in San Antonio this week for the league’s general managers meeting, marking the unofficial start of baseball’s hot Ashes period.

This is where the Tigers will begin to lay the foundation for next season’s team building.

And of course, after Detroit’s miraculous run to the playoffs, the Tigers are entering new territory this winter. There are expectations. There is a reason to be aggressive. The Tigers don’t demolish or rebuild. In theory, they strive to win.

Add a right-handed bat and more

At his post-season press conference, Harris outlined the team’s goals for the offseason. The Tigers are looking to add a right-handed bat and, of course, they’re looking to add more pitching.

Perhaps we will learn more details in the coming days. But there is an obvious question. Will the Tigers be active players at the top of the free agent market? Harris has not yet stated which position or positions he would most like to promote. But the corner infields seem like Detroit’s most natural place for an addition. At third base, Alex Bregman looks like a top free agent option and a player who could make sense for Detroit if the Tigers are willing to pay the high price.


Could Alex Bregman reunite with his former Houston manager AJ Hinch in Detroit? (Troy Taormina/Imagn Images)

In the infield, players such as Christian Walker, Paul Goldschmidt and Pete Alonso are free agents who will be looking for various forms of salary on the open market. Anthony Santander plays in the outfield, but he has experience early on and could be a good fit. The Tigers still have Spencer Torkelson, so there is a potential dilemma to overcome when adding a first baseman.

And knowing this front office, there’s no guarantee the Tigers will simply try to snatch a big name in free agency. The Tigers could look to the trade market for a more creative upgrade. Yandy Diaz of the Tampa Bay Rays, Ryan Mountcastle of the Baltimore Orioles and Rhys Hoskins of the Milwaukee Brewers are among the names that make sense as potential targets.

On the pitching side, the Tigers need to add at least one swing-and-miss option in the back end of their bullpen. Also expect the Tigers to sign at least one starting pitcher. The Tigers are unlikely to pursue the Blake Snells or Max Fried of the world. But they may be looking for another project, like Michael Lorenzen and Jack Flaherty in years past, to round out their rotation.

Among the more proven options, a reunion with Flaherty remains an interesting proposal. Others like Nick Pivetta, Nathan Eovaldi, Sean Manea and Luis Severino are among the long list of options. The Tigers could also be interested in a power pitcher like Michel Kopech, who could work as both a starter and reliever.

Lineup decisions: What’s going on with Brendan White?

If you’ve forgotten how much the Tigers traded at the deadline, consider the fact that they have no free agents. The only contract option they have to decide on belongs to right-hander Casey Mize, whose $3.1 million contract option with the team was always a fait accompli. Expect the Tigers to pay Mize a $10,000 buyout, retain control of Mize, and renegotiate at a lower price before arbitration.

Because the Tigers have no pending free agents, the Tigers also have no players eligible for qualifying offers.

However, immediate action awaits us. Monday is the deadline for teams to reinstate players from the injured list within 60 days. For the Tigers, that means Javier Baez (right hip surgery), Sawyer Gipson-Long (left hip, right elbow), Alex Faedo (right shoulder sprain) and Brendan White (right radial nerve).

Of these players, White is most at risk of being designated for assignment rather than being added back to the roster. While he has an upside, White has battled hand issues all season and underwent a hydrodissection procedure in August.

The Tigers currently have 39 players on their 40-man roster, so even if they only reinstate three players, two more must go. Left-hander Brian Sammons, right-hander Ricky Vanasco, first baseman Bligh Madris and outfielder Ryan Vilade are among those at risk of being DFAed at some point this winter.

Arbitration/non-tender awards: is this the end for Akhil Baddu?

The Tigers are set to have nine arbitration-eligible players, and the contract filing deadline for both arbitration-eligible and pre-arbitration-eligible players is Nov. 22.

Akil Baddu and Alex Lange are ineligible for Super Two arbitration status as neither has reached the 86-day service threshold for the 2024 season.

Baddu, a fan-favorite outfielder, is among the players most likely to lose a roster spot this winter. Infielder Ryan Kreidler and right-hander Mason Englert are two other players who could be vulnerable.

Depending on how much the Tigers intend to add to their roster, they could even face tough decisions regarding key players like Andy Ibañez and Zach McKinstry.

Arbitration-eligible Tigers players (with projected salaries, per MLB Trade Rumors):

• Tarik Skubal: $8 million
• Casey Mize: $2 million.
• Jake Rogers: $2.5 million.
• Will West: $1.4 million.
• Zach McKinstry: $1.3 million.
• Jason Foley: $3.5 million.
• Matt Vierling: $3 million
• Andy Ibañez: $1.5 million.
• Beau Briske: $1.3 million.

Draft Rule 5 Decision: Joseph Montalvo and Other Trade Additions

The Tigers have until Nov. 19 to decide which prospects they would like to add to the 40-man roster and thus protect from the Rule 5 draft.

Among the many names eligible, pitchers Chase Lee, Tyler Owens and Joseph Montalvo – all added at the trade deadline from the Texas Rangers last summer – may have the best chance of being added to the 40 players. Montalvo may be the most talented of them all, but given that he has yet to reach the higher-A level, it is unlikely that another team would select him in the Rule 5 Draft. Others such as Lael Lockhart Jr., Gage Workman and R.J. . Petit, represent borderline cases.

With 40-man spots costing more these days, the Tigers will likely have high standards for who they add.

(Top photo by Akil Baddu: Nick Antaya/Getty Images)