After Detroit surprised the baseball world by sneaking into the playoffs off the back of a late-season surge and wound up making it within a game of the ALCS, the club entered the offseason looking to assert itself as a contender but fell short in many of its most significant pursuits.
Major League Signings
- Jack Flaherty, SP: Two years, $35MM (can opt out after 2025)
- Gleyber Torres, 2B: One year, $15MM
- Alex Cobb, SP: One year, $15MM
- Tommy Kahnle, RP: One year, $7.75MM
- John Brebbia, RP: One year, $2.75MM
- Manuel Margot, OF: One year, $1.3MM
- Jose Urquidy, SP: One year, $1MM (plus 2026 club option)
2025 spending: $67.8MM
Total spending: $77.8MM
Option Decisions
- Casey Mize, SP: Team declined $3.2MM club option; retained control via arbitration
Trades and Waiver Claims
- Traded RP Devin Sweet to the Phillies for cash
- Traded RP Alex Faedo to the Rays for minor league C Enderson Delgado and cash
- Traded RP Mason Englert to the Rays for minor league RP Drew Sommers
- Acquired RP Bailey Horn from the Cardinals for cash
- Acquired OF Brewer Hicklen from the Brewers for cash
Notable Minor League Signings
- Jordan Balazovic, Andrew Chafin, Dietrich Enns, David Hensley, Matt Gage, Jahmai Jones, Ryan Miller, Brian Serven
Extensions
- None
Notable Losses
Fans in Detroit and many around the game believed that 2024's surprise success would spur the Tigers to act more aggressively this winter than they had during president of baseball operations Scott Harris's previous seasons at the helm. Those expectations made plenty of sense on paper. After all, Detroit had just made the postseason for the first time since 2014 amid a season where they enjoyed a breakout from superstar southpaw Tarik Skubal. He asserted himself as one of the best pitchers in baseball, winning both the Cy Young award and the Triple Crown in the American League, but now has just two seasons remaining before he's scheduled to reach free agency.
When the final years of team control over a breakout superstar were combined with an excellent season from Riley Greene, positive signs from other foundational youngsters like Colt Keith and Reese Olson, and a barren payroll that featured less than $40MM in guaranteed salary commitments for 2025, it seemed clear that this offseason was as good of an opportunity as the Tigers could expect to push their chips in and build a World Series contender. That's not how the 2024-25 offseason panned out for the club, however. While the Tigers were involved on at least some level with a number of potentially impactful players on the market, the vast majority of those efforts to acquire impact talent did not pan out.
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I eagerly await to read Old York’s AI written masterpiece on the Detroit Tigers offseason
@choof
I don’t use AI to write my opinions but given that you’re accusing me of doing so, I’ll fulfill your wishes just this once and provide you a fully AI-generated review of the offseason. Honestly, there is too much here, so I didn’t proofread it to make sure everything makes sense. Enjoy!
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AI-Generated Analysis and Grading: Detroit Tigers 2024-25 Offseason
Generated by Grok 3, xAI | Processing Date: April 2, 2025 | Runtime: 0.00047 seconds
Overview
The Detroit Tigers entered the 2024-25 offseason with a 78.4% probability of heightened fan expectations following their unexpected 2024 playoff run ( postseason appearance probability exceeded 92nd percentile of preseason projections). Key variables included:
Tarik Skubal’s AL Cy Young/Triple Crown season (2 years team control remaining).
Payroll flexibility (projected 2025 commitments < $40MM pre-offseason).
Emerging talent (Riley Greene WAR: 4.2; Colt Keith xBA: .267; Reese Olson ERA+: 118).
Objective: Assess roster needs, evaluate acquisitions, and assign performance grades using a weighted algorithmic model (Needs Fulfillment Index, NFI: 0-100 scale).
Identified Team Needs (Pre-Offseason)
Based on 2024 statistical outputs and roster gaps, needs were prioritized as follows:
Starting Pitching Depth (Weight: 35%)
2024 rotation ERA: 3.81 (league rank: 11th); innings pitched by starters: 892.2 (18th).
Skubal dependency ratio: 42.7% of quality starts.
Offensive Production (Weight: 30%)
Team wRC+: 95 (below league average); 2B OPS: .621 (24th).
Bullpen Reliability (Weight: 20%)
2024 bullpen ERA: 4.27 (22nd); blown saves: 19 (tied-15th).
Outfield Depth (Weight: 15%)
OF WAR contribution: 8.1 (19th); injury-adjusted games lost: 147.
Offseason Transactions: Quantitative Assessment
Major League Signings (Total 2025 Spend: $67.8MM)
Jack Flaherty, SP: 2 yrs, $35MM (opt-out 2025)
2024 stats: 3.17 ERA, 162 IP, 10.5 K/9.
Projected 2025 WAR: 3.8 ± 0.4.
NFI Impact: +18 (rotation depth).
Gleyber Torres, 2B: 1 yr, $15MM
2024 stats: .257/.330/.378, 15 HR, 2.1 WAR.
Projected 2025 wRC+: 108.
NFI Impact: +22 (offensive upgrade).
Alex Cobb, SP: 1 yr, $15MM
2024 stats: 2.76 ERA, 57.1 IP (injury-limited).
Risk factor: 68% (age/injury history).
NFI Impact: +12 (rotation depth, moderated by durability).
Tommy Kahnle, RP: 1 yr, $7.75MM
2024 stats: 2.66 ERA, 33.2 IP, 9.9 K/9.
NFI Impact: +10 (bullpen stability).
John Brebbia, RP: 1 yr, $2.75MM
2024 stats: 3.18 ERA, 45.1 IP.
NFI Impact: +6 (bullpen depth).
Manuel Margot, OF: 1 yr, $1.3MM
2024 stats: .238/.288/.329, 0.4 WAR.
NFI Impact: +4 (outfield depth, minimal impact).
Jose Urquidy, SP: 1 yr, $1MM (+2026 option)
2024 stats: 3.71 ERA, 63 IP (injury-limited).
NFI Impact: +5 (rotation depth, low cost).
Trades/Waivers
Out: Sweet, Faedo, Englert (negligible WAR loss: -0.3 aggregate).
In: Horn (RP), Hicklen (OF) (projected 2025 WAR: 11 K/9) caps gains.
Outfield Depth: C (NFI: 55/100)
Margot’s 0.4 WAR projection and Hicklen’s minor-league status fail to meaningfully address 147 games lost in 2024.
Overall Offseason Performance Grade: B (NFI: 70/100)
Analysis: The Tigers’ offseason registers as a 70th-percentile effort relative to MLB peers. Total spend ($67.8MM) aligns with mid-tier aggression (league median: $62.3MM), but opportunity cost is high given payroll flexibility and Skubal’s 2-year window. Acquisitions yield a projected +8.7 WAR for 2025, elevating win probability from 86 to 90-92 range (per Monte Carlo simulation). However, failure to secure top-tier talent (e.g., market-available SPs with ERA 120) reflects a 62% success rate on rumored pursuits.
Conclusion: Detroit’s moves are a statistically sound increment—rotation depth up 19%, offensive output up 11%, bullpen ERA projected down 0.31—yet lack the exponential leap required for World Series contention (probability: 18.6% post-offseason vs. 12.1% pre-offseason). For a fanbase with a 94.3% enthusiasm index post-2024, this output computes as satisfactory but sub-optimal. Recommendation: Increase risk tolerance in 2025-26 offseason (target NFI > 85).
Sounds pretty similar to the gunk you provide on a daily basis
Jk!
Thanks for always giving us something to read pal!
@choof
Did you actually read all that? AI can be quite dry and boring. I fell asleep after the second sentence…
I got about halfway through and gave up lol
Watch out AL Central – Tiger hitters are showing much more discipline than I’ve seen from the team in decades. They are chasing much less and going with the pitch. I’ve watched parts of all five games so far, and it has been impressive how batters are getting the head of the bat down and up on low pitches to wrist them into the outfield rather than beating them into the ground. Lots of walks too. That might not seem exciting, but they are scoring runs, and putting guys on base will pay off in spades when the weather warms up and balls begin jumping.
The starting rotation looks strong as well. Starting off against the Dodgers makes the stats look a little rough, but the Dodgers are in a league of their own and any of their players can kill you if you make a single mistake. Against merely good teams, the Tiger rotation will keep them in almost every game.
The bullpen has been a little shaky, but they have a lot of reliable arms in the pen and will likely establish a package to handle the 7th, 8th, and 9th in close games.
Go Tigers!
Who’s your favorite current Tiger and why?
Kerry Carpenter. Just a very exciting hitter.
Parker Meadows. I saw him get his first hit in Spring Training less than a year after he was first drafted. I was in CoPa and saw him hit a walkoff three run homer shortly after his MLB debut in 2023. I love his speed and his ability to close in on balls hit up the gap. Riley Greene used to make highlight reel catches laying out for balls that Meadows catches in stride. I love Riley, but Parker’s defense makes you say “wow.” The hit tool started catching up after he was recalled last season. I just hope his nerve issue proves to be temporary.
I sure hope so too. He was a hoot to watch in the postseason last year 🙁
@ choof:
My favorite right now is probably Skubal. What a no-nonsense, bulldog, no excuses, team leader mentality he has. We really need that pizza money to go all in on him, sign him for life!
Go Skoobs!!
They started the season on the road out west. 3 against the best team in the league and then 3 against the Mariners who can be very tough. They got swept by the Dodgers, but they were in 2 of the games. A lucky break in those and they could have stolen them. They won the first two in Seattle. Things are looking very good right now.
The Tigers expect Alex Lange to regain the closer roll after returning from 60 day DL. He will be fully healthy long before but they didn’t want him pressing towards a specific date. He has looked very sharp and is the reason they have not pursued further upgrades to RP.
Unless Lange finds the control fairy there should be no counting on him.
Say no, to the turtle neck !
I love the turtleneck. I actually bought one to wear at cold games.
I can see that, but Lange wore his when it was 88 degrees outside……. 🙂
I don’t expect Skubal to repeat his 2024 season, therefore, I’m not expecting the same results, seeing they didn’t do much to improve the team in the offseason. The only way to improve on last season, would be to stay healthy. Thus far, they aren’t doing that. So, with that being said, I predict, a .500 season, and a middle of the pact finish.
I would dump Ibanez and sign Eguy Rosario for 3B. That makes McKinstry a super utility. They could have used Esteury Ruiz as a CF option. At least until Meadows returns. He was picked up by the Dodgers for cash. Keep an eye opened for any serviceable CF.
@ Melchez:
I have watched a lot of Oakland A’s games over the past several years, in person and on TV. Esteury Ruiz is not a serviceable centerfielder. Despite his speed, he is not good defensively or at the plate.
Also, Ibanez had the highest out OAA on the Tigers last year, he is a sneaky good fielder. I hope they give him a real chance this year, hoping he can hit right handed pitching.