The Marlins and infielder Jean Segura agreed to a two-year, $17MM deal last week, but it seems the Tigers were also interested in his services. A report from Barry Jackson and Craig Mish of the Miami Herald indicates that Detroit pursued Segura but the South Florida resident let the Marlins know he was willing to play for them, eventually leading to a deal.
Though the Tigers ultimately came up short in their Segura pursuit, it’s still worth noting that they’ve considered upgrading their lineup via free agency since they might now pivot to the remaining options. The fact that they are looking to make improvements isn’t at all surprising given how dismal the club was on offense last year. Collectively, they hit .231/.286/.346 for a wRC+ of 81, which was dead last in the majors.
To this point in the offseason, their focus has been more on the pitching side. They’ve signed Matthew Boyd and Michael Lorenzen to bolster their rotation, with their most significant move on the position player side being the acquisition of Tyler Nevin from the Orioles. Though they could hope for bounceback campaigns from players like Javier Báez, Austin Meadows and Akil Baddoo, it also makes sense that they would look for external additions.
As of right now, the Detroit infield likely projects to feature Spencer Torkelson at first, Jonathan Schoop at second and Báez at short, with third base likely falling to Ryan Kreidler. The hot corner was manned by Jeimer Candelario until he was non-tendered and signed by the Nats. Kreidler played second, third and shortstop last year and could potentially take over for Candelario, though Nevin, Zack Short, Kody Clemens, Andy Ibáñez or Andre Lipcius are on the 40-man and could factor in there as well.
Segura could have fit into the mix in a few different ways. He’s primarily been a second baseman over the past few years and could have bumped Schoop over to first, which is where he played for most of 2021. However, he put up elite defensive marks at the keystone last year, with Outs Above Average giving him an incredible +27 grade, the best among all fielders in the league. Segura is also a strong defender at second and could have given the club an excellent right side of the infield, though that likely would have involved Schoop and Torkelson taking up the first base and designated hitter slots most days, potentially nudging Miguel Cabrera out of the lineup in what is likely to be his last season.
Another possibility would have been the Tigers simply putting Segura at third base. He doesn’t have a ton of experience at that position but the Marlins seem to have enough faith in his abilities at the hot corner that they are planning on installing him there. In that scenario, Kreidler could have been moved to a utility role or back to the minors. His first 26 MLB games resulted in a batting line of just .178/.244/.233, so it could make sense to at least have backup plans in place should his struggles continue. The same goes for Torkelson, who has hit .203/.285/.319 in his first 110 major league games.
Segura is the latest in a series of infielders that have also been connected to the Tigers. The club also had reported interest in Adam Frazier who has now signed with the Orioles and Wil Myers who will be with the Reds in 2023. Brian Anderson was also listed among their targets, who is still available. Now that the Tigers have missed on Segura, Myers and Frazier, they could circle back to Anderson, or look to other free agent infielders such as Josh Harrison, Donovan Solano or Rougned Odor. None of those players will likely break the bank and the Tigers should have a bit of payroll wiggle room. They are currently at $124MM, per the calculations of Roster Resource, south of the $135MM Opening Day figure they had last year, per Cot’s Baseball Contracts.
Doesn’t matter now.
coulda, woulda, shoulda.
Al Kaline, Norm Cash, Bill Freehan et al, is Detroit still located in the US or has China purchased that too?
Let’s take a look at Trump’s taxes and see if he listed a sale of Detroit to China as income….
That’s funny, I’ve heard a different name attached to China, you know, the one with the laptop?
Why no curly I don’t quite know who you are talking about but please go on as I’m mighty curious to know.
@Buzz, are you trying out for the Tigers OF, because your way, way out there in Left field…
I believe the proper pronunciation is ‘Jina’. I’m here to help.
Whitmer swapped it for Covid lockdowns.
Was that at the same time Ivanka got all those Chinese patents when she was allegedly representing our government?
Grifters gotta grift.
Love me some Big Gretch!
Nah, LeBron is chinese property…..the whole NBA is….Trump, although a Yankee fan, has no intention of letting china into baseball.
Padres were also 2nd
This kind of stuff is news when a clear majority of the free agents have signed deals before the New Year. It’s almost like there was supposed to be a lockout after the New Year or something. All this recent activity seems off, but maybe the trade market can get moving if sellers stop asking for a Soto ransom for every above average player (Pirates).
Although sad that the Tigers missed out on adding Jean Segura to their team, his addition would have been very unlikely to help the Tigers as they seek to once again be competitive after several disastrous years which led to the departure of their long time GM Al Avila who’s son played for the Detroit Tigers organization for a few years under his watch. Although the Tigers are a very depressing MLB team, it’s best to be optimistic even in the face of such a sad reality.
I never knew they were related. I did confuse the two when fans were talking about them, but I thought it was just a coincidence.
Al Avila even once traded his son mid-season to the Cubs. That was perhaps the best trade Avila has made for the Tigers.
Gruß,
BSHH
He said after trading Alex his wife wouldn’t speak to him for two weeks.
Who would have thought Jean Segura was the Tigers White Buffalo.
Sounds like someone doesn’t like it because they can’t get Bryan Reynolds for nothing from a small market club. Too bad.
Huh?
Huh? smartest thing you’ve ever said here.
Commenting on the Rangers fan above.
Ok so? Why did this story need an article? Jean Segura is average to above average, not a superstar. MLBTR must be really struggling for ideas right now
Its an MLB Rumors site?
Your attitude is struggling wreck to.
LFG, it’s the middle of the dull period of every offseason. I would want to know this info if it pertained to my Pads, but I still like the knowledge update regardless. After all, you clicked on the article and thought enough to write something… so maybe be blessed for whatever info we can get our hands on with 42 days left on the docket, no? I might suggest you have Cohen hangover, relax a lil.
A quiet time of year if there are no trades, as the big FA signings are pretty much done. I agree that this article is filler. Yet MLBTR has to put out content, so why not speculate on some of the possibilities.
I don’t see the same sort of revenue harvesting with the Tigers that the Pirates or the A’s have as a modus operandi; they look like they’re trying to put a good product on the field. 2022 had to be a year of crushing disappointment for the fans. It would be excellent to see the team and indeed the organization be more small-market competitive like the Guardians or the Rays.
Because it’s a rumors site about any and all transactions. It’s interesting to know who teams were going after even if they don’t get them. I also had Segura going go the Tigers so it’s nice knowing I was close, but no cigar.
Maybe it is just me, but isn’t it possible for you to skip stories you have no interest in?
How about this angle, LFG? If Segura falls off a cliff in Miami and the Ng-haters do their thing, it can at least be said that the Tigers were interested in him too. And from the other side, the fans in Detroit can say how fortunate they were that the Marlins paid for him instead of the Tigers.
To: Met’s fans
From: Everyone else
Sorry
I missed that this was superstar MLB trade rumors…odd
Because many Tigers fans keep asking what are they doing? To us, it doesn’t really seem like they are doing anything (at least in terms of position players). I appreciate him writing this article because it tells me they are trying to do something. He might not be the most impressive offensive player, but as mentioned, he is certainly impressive on defense.
The Tigers are in a tough spot.
They need to play/give significant at bats to some of their younger players
to determine whether they have “break out” young players at some of those positions.
Installing marginal veterans at too many positions delays the major league development and “breakout” of some of their young players fighting for big league jobs.
Using potentially starting, young major league players as “utility players” does not facilitate the major league breakout of young players.
2023 is a “lost year” for the Tigers to see what they have and to continue building the team via the Draft.
I don’t see the Tigers contending until ’24 or ’25.
They might as well draft as many position players who can hit as possible to
stock the ’24 and ’25 Tigers team.
The Tigers could jump start the process by getting some of their young starting pitching going and making a few blockbuster deals near the trade deadline(s). (Turnbull? Manning? or Skubal?).
“Well said”
Idk, about trading the young SP’s. It would be hard to see them go.
They have struggled signing quality international players for years.
I used to believe that developmental logic where veterans block budding players. I still do, but not like the Tigers have been doing. The problem with what the Tigers have been doing is giving playing time to prospects who don’t have very high ceilings and/or those who never really earned playing time (the likes of Daz Cameron, Zac Short, etc). And STILL, the Tigers don’t have any position players that deserve to be called up.
Player-types that I have in mind are those like Kerry Carpenter. When he hit his minor league leading 30th home run, the Tigers had to find him a spot.
It’s been a “lost year” for the Tigers every year since 2016.
Tigers literally have 10 starting pitching candidates. Torkelson madden and flores easily gets you Reynolds from Pittsburg. Then sign moose and belt.
That’s a contender in the central
Hi
iH
Apparently, very high…
They obviously aren’t doing anything this offseason. The offense was so bad last season I actually figured it’d look way different by now. Candelario is better than anything left lol…..unless they trade Soto and maybe another for Gleyber Torres. Trades for bounce back candidates
And Gleyber may be available according to NY press
The Tigers’ focus is on maximizing profits, not trying to field a competitive team.
When the Rangers were one of the worst teams in baseball, I wanted them to legitimately tank. They traded many guys, though they should have tried to flip Hunter Pence before he got injured and maybe a few others (Martin Perez, Matt Moore, etc.). The whole point is to lose as much as possible to help with the draft. Even with the lottery, only a few teams moved, and it wasn’t much more than a few spots. The second round and later ones are all aligned with record, so the best thing is to be “cheap” and just trade guys for prospects. Look what Tampa Bay, Oakland, Cleveland, and other teams have done with this strategy. That is the approach all teams should aspire to master. Fans need to adjust to expectations. Yes, it sucked that my favorite player was traded to the Yankees in 2021, but he helped a lot with the farm. Spending money would have harmed the rebuild. This Tampa Bay approach is what Texas has failed to do, and thus overpaying for Jon Gray and Marcus Semien big time was necessary. Also, the main goal of investing in stocks is A) making workers happy or B) making money? Guess what most investors want.
B and then A. You want to a balance of both. If not, there will be organizational dysfunction which leads to revenue decline. Shareholders get to vote to keep a board of directors and C-level guys in line.
This is true for stocks on publicly-traded company. However, MLB teams are owned by private investors, and these is often a majority owner. Consequently, you really don’t need to worry about a board. The employees can be replaced easily, I would assume, given how many want to work for a major league team. The players may have issues, but they are under contract to work for 6 seasons before hitting free agency. As long as enough fans show up to justify the costs, it makes sense to spend. A losing franchise does not simply spend 30 million on a free agent per year if it only increases revenue by 10-15 million. Sure, fans demand they spend more money for all 30 teams; however, it doesn’t make sense for a rebuilding team to do so strategically and financially.
You are right. The Tigers did two things wrong though. First, they filled the farm primarily with pitchers. Now, there are no position players that are even close to being ready for MLB service. Next, they handed over the responsibility of developing hitters to a staff, organization-wide, that was inept (at best) in hitter development. In every draft, you expect to find at least one surprise hitter down the road. That’s only happened once (Kerry Carpenter). And, the players you expect to hit (Spencer Torkelson) haven’t.
I’m so glad Harris understands this. That was his first order of business.
Tigers have always tried to win and they’ll spend. They just aren’t very good at either
How do Zach Short and Kody Clemens even have roster spots at this point?
Easy, Harris cut all the bench guys, Willi and Harold, Reyes and then Candelario. When you cut 4 players from the 26, and don’t replace them, Zack and Cody get more chances.
The first wrong stuff tigers did is not tender candelario now they tryna pay for others players way more !!
I like Candy, but Jean Segura is an upgrade.
A .217 hitter with 13 HRs, few walks, and subpar defense is not worth $7 mill.! He will be a free agent after 2023 either way.
Those of us in the know have picked the Tigers to come out of the Central this year. Once they clear themselves of that Cabrera contract, they can make the moves necessary to be contenders.
This is worth a full-blown story?
Anderson makes so much sense for the Tigers its probably why it hasn’t happened yet
Brady Anderson or Larry Andersen? Both make sense as ST invites…
Garrett
My bad! With 2529 career hits, Detroit can sell a “Quest for 3,000”
Anderson would be temporary filler for the Tigers. Harris wants young, long term players. Segura didn’t fit his mold either, which is likely why they didnt have the winning bid. Again, I would rather see Kreidler given ABs, to see what he’s capable of. Harold still hasn’t been snatched up by the division rivals. He would be a fine fall back or platoon, should Kreidler not be ready for full time.
All jokes aside, I like your take stymee. Just go youth movement on the issue; Kriedler or Wenceel might just be the ticket, or who knows? Maybe even Jung lights up in ST ‘early’.. I wouldn’t recommend Profar for regular 2B duty, but he could help the Tigers win games from LF and spot starts in the IF.
Profar would be a decent bench player, but if he was to take ABs from Baddoo or Carpenter in LF or Kreidler at 3B, that would be a problem. Unfortunately, I think he will get starter money. Hopefully not from Detroit. At least Anderson would not cost starter money.
With the shift being eliminated, I see Carpenter having a big year. Problem is, they do not have a RH hitting outfielder or a LH hitting infielder (except Clemens)
Sign AJ Pollock to play LF & Rios to play 3B. Miggy will play 2-3 games a week, enough at bats to move people around
Tired of hearing “oh, but we tried …”
While I have no doubt Scott Harris will make the Tigers competitive again in time, I wish his timeline was the same as my timeline.
Signed,
Frustrated Tiger Fans Everywhere
I find these type of stories humorous. Sounds like a story leaked by someone within the organization. To put out the perception the Tigers attempted to do something.
The Tigers are a terrible caricature of their sorry selves……
On the one hand, it is good to see that the Tigers at least try to improve their team a bit. Segura is a good player. But why would Harris try to sign another 2B? Schoop’s value is his 2B defense, so moving him around makes no sense at all.
Gruß,
BSHH
Candy was going to be a free agent after 2023, and the Tigers didn’t want to let him go then and get nothing in return….so they let him go now and got nothing in return.
Candelario’s value was/is an all time low. It’s hard for me to blame Harris for trying to shake things up. I think it’s fair to say, if you want the same roster as year’s past, expect the same results from year’s past.
And saved $7 mill. in the process. You forgot to mention that not-so-insignificant detail!
Harris wanted him to accept $6MM and he ended taking $7MM from the Nats. Was it really worth it over a disagreement of $1MM to lose everything invested in the player? Not just any player, but the best player on the team the previous two years. Its not like Candelario and his agent had a lot to work with in arbitration.
Candelario ended up getting $5MM and that was too much. He could have a bounce back year in 2023, but I have my doubts. The Tigers did well to let him go.
Of course they still need to replace him.
Marlins now know who they’ll be trading Segura to at the trade deadline this year.
One of these days. I swear. Some day!
The Tigers are going to develop a minor leaguer into a bona fide, major league super star. An every day player. Someone who makes the all star team every year. Who is always in the MVP mix.
Not by trade. Someone they drafted, signed and developed.
Last one? Gibby? Certainly Trammel and Whitaker.
Travis Fryman was an All Star 3B’man w. the Tigers, in the early 90’s.
He mentioned Superstar as a qualification. Hank Greenberg. He’s the list.
Al Kaline didn’t spend a moment in the minors, so he’s disqualified.
Ty Cobb was purchased. DQ’d.
If Charlie Bennett hadn’t cut off his legs…no, wait, Detroit Wolverines. N/A.
Just Hankus Pankus.
Tram and Sweet Lou were never quite labeled as Superstars. Pretty sad list.
All those guys are greats. But I’m asking about the last one. Verlander was, but he was a pitcher.
Name me the last Tiger every day player who was great! We have to go back to Trammel, Whitaker and Gibson.
Even as Gibson will never be HOF, has there been anybody as good as him since? Trammel and Whitaker were pre-Gibby.
Greene may be. Torkelson could. But I suspect each are years away.
Where is the Tiger’s Aaron Judge, Harper, Betts, Boegarts, Soto?
I want a great Tiger…again. Wah…. wah….I want my Maypo.
It’s only been 90 years since they called up Greenberg. Don’t be so impatient for the next one.
Not even getting the Fryman, HoJo, Nokes talent anymore.
Travis Fryman was no Kirk Gibson. Nice player, but if that’s the best of the last 35 years, yikes!
Hope I’m wrong. But imo, drafting Jobe over Mayer and even Lawlar feels like it’s going to devastating for years and years. It felt so obvious; and yet, so characteristically Detroit..
I couldn’t agree more. Tigers passed on a potential superstar SS to take another HS RH-SP. When they already had Mize, Manning and Skubal in the fold?
You’ll deny saying this in a couple years….always the same story with guys who don’t know a baseball from a grapefruit.
I won’t have to deny it. Because, I posted it.
Verlander?
Great! HOF’er. I’m tlaking every day, position player. Name one.
No one can, cuz there hasn’t been one sine the Tram/Whitaker era.
It seemed like Curtis Granderson was potentially that guy in 2007.
But he wasn’t. They traded him for some good guys, but if he were REALLY good, they never would have made that trade.
Grandy was a 3 time all star & a very good player. They did receive Scherzer in return for him.
They have produced middle infielders in the past, just traded them away; Suarez, Adames and possibly Paredes
Please. Yes, major leaguers, but hardly stars. Miggy is a HOF’er, but the Tigers got him in a trade. I want a home grown, every day, position player super star like a Boegarts or Betts or Harper or Judge or Soto.
It seems like a team could come up with one more often than once every half century.
If and when Jean Segura fails the Marlins’ medical exam due to a sweet tooth or infected selfie tattoo from 8th Grade, we now know there is a fallback to his lone suitor.
Hence the reason for this otherwise mysterious story.
I like how his agent had to desperately call every bottom-feeding US (and probably overseas) team to find someone, anyone, other than the Tigers with which he could sign. Too big a fall from World Series to that, so congrats to his agent for rallying into a nice payday.
How many 2-1 games can you win? Virtually unanimous that they should have drafted Lawler.
The Tigers need to pick up the phone and call the Cardinals. They missed on the starting pitcher they wanted, there was talk they wanted another right handed outfielder I believe. Fill some of the Cards needs (I.e. some combo of SP like Rodriguez, RP like Soto and/or Lange who strikes people out, perhaps flip the Meadows brothers there) and scoop some combo of good young hitters like Gorman, Yepez, Burleson, Winn to fill their own needs. Let’s face it, while I think many of the incumbent hitters will come back this year, we are not competing this year for even a wild card with Mize and Skubal out and no significant additions, so reload with young talent for next year when we will be closer to being ready. We have things they are looking for and they have things we need. We have pitching and more coming and someone on the team now can become the next Soto or Lange. Pitching is at a premium so strike while the iron is hot.
You are right. Avila did not get it done. That being said, I think it’s too soon to start trading ML pieces for prospects. Harris (I think) is waaaaaay better than AA. He may be this era’s Theo Epstein. Ya never know.
I expect the Tigers to be better than the Royals this year and they will compete better vs. the Tribe (I’m an old timer), ChiSox and Twinkies. I see a 75-87 like season.
.500 in ’24 and in the hunt until Sept. By ’25 they will be right there.
We sat through 5 years of a “rebuild” to sign cast-off FAs to block them once they’re ready? Hello? Of course Kreidler should play SS instead of 3rd with Baez moving over to the hot corner or 2nd with Schoop moving to 3rd. Let’s see what happens with Coolbaugh replaced by somebody, anybody, who knows something about hitting. I see no reason this team can’t compete other than having a cheating fraud for a manager. And I get the feeling this is the year he gets sent back to Houston and we get a guy who knows the game and could play the game.