3:15pm: Julks does indeed get an invite to big league camp, per Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press, and will make $875K if he cracks the roster.
11:51am: The Tigers have agreed to a minor league contract with free agent outfielder Corey Julks, per the team’s transaction log at MLB.com. He’ll presumably be in big league camp as a non-roster player.
Julks, 30 next month, has seen big league time in three consecutive seasons — albeit just 13 plate appearances with the White Sox this past season. He’s played roughly the equivalent of one full major league season, appearing in 165 games and tallying 565 plate appearances as a big leaguer. In that time, he’s slashed .234/.288/.337 with nine homers, 23 doubles, 20 steals (in 25 tries), a 7% walk rate and a 24.4% strikeout rate. Julks became a free agent after the White Sox passed him through outright waivers following the 2025 season.
It’s middling big league production, but Julks has a long history of producing at the Triple-A level, where he’s spent parts of four seasons and slashed .279/.365/.486. Julks belted 31 homers and swiped 22 bags with the Astros’ Triple-A affiliate back in 2022, and by measure of wRC+, he’s been at least 18% better than average at the plate in all four of his Triple-A campaigns.
Julks doesn’t have a significant platoon split in his fairly limited MLB time — he’s been below average against both lefties and righties — but he’s a right-handed bat who’s pummeled lefties in recent minor league seasons. He slashed .301/.377/.484 against southpaws this past season and hit them at a .297/.381/.424 clip the year prior.
Defensively, Julks has experience at all three outfield spots but has primarily played the corners. He was credited with above-average sprint speed and arm strength in 2023-24 but below-average range in the outfield. He’s also played 415 innings at third base and another 28 at second base in the minors, but he’s primarily a corner outfielder who at best can make an emergency cameo at another spot on the diamond.
Welcome to Toledo!
Heck yeah. This guy rules.
Org depth. Not a bad signing but I am sure there will be Tigers fans who roll their eyes and complain about the lack of a bigger signing.
Anyway you look at it, it’s a disappointing off season. At least we know what to expect going forward. Cheap additions, and pray on the farm.
They are going to pay Skubal $32 million.
If they don’t trade him when he wins arbitration, for magic beans
I didn’t mind some of the proposed Dodgers deals but if they trade him to LA I would puke in my mouth.
I highly doubt he is traded before the trade deadline…and that’s only if the Tigers are out of it…which they won’t be.
I think the Tigers should offer Skubal…after the season ends… and only if he’s a top 3 for another Cy Young…$200 million for 4 years with an opt out after year 2 and a no trade clause.
$50 million per year. He has to take it before he decides to file for FA. If he doesn’t. The Tigers are done. The offer is off the table.
I dont mind that contract at all but you know Boras will make the ask outrageous. If he actually wants to stay and means it when he says he does, then he’s got to know they can’t build an effective team around him if he gets the mega deal for 10 years. Time to take a JRam deal if you want to stay Tarik (which would likely be the biggest deal for a pitcher anyway)!
Astros legend!
Malloy replacement
Tigersin2050 – Not sure he’s even THAT good….
I remember he was like Cam Smith, one of the most productive players before the All-Star break. Coming back, he just faded. Best of luck Corey and enjoy Detroit and your small market team!
Detroit is not a small market
I never mind a depth signing but what a disappointing offseason. Haven’t done anything to upgrade the offense from last season. How many games last year did the Tigers lose 1-0, 2-1, or 3-0? So many winnable games lost due to being one legitimate impact bat away from generating some runs. Here we go again..
You are 100 pct correct. You can only middle around and match platoon player for platoon player for so long before a team like KC passes you up (which they have this offseason) and puts this little two year run of massive overachievement into the dirt.
Remember, the Ilitch family ownership is the only ownership this club has had since the fall of ‘92 and are the only owners in this team’s history to possess a sub .500 record and it is not even close. The commitment to mediocrity (especially since forcing a legit HoF GM out ten years ago) is nauseating.
I mean I except McGonigle, Lee, and Anderson up at some point this year. Possibly Clark. I would consider all of those substantial upgrades on the surface. No sense signing any big names to those positions if you have any confidence…
POTENTIAL is there, sure. Thy said the same thing about Malloy, Jung and Manning, too…and many have soured on Meadows already. You just can’t COUNT on newbies to deliver, so LET’S GET SOME PROVEN MAJOR LEAGUERS INSTEAD!! END THE DUMPSTER DIVE!!
He is a better batter than Lenyn Sosa. Sox never gave him a good chance.
Harris never ceases to amaze me…..this guys a genius. Pulling out all the stops
The scrap heap keeps getting bigger and bigger in Detroit!! To think Scott Harris could’ve easily gotten Peraulta and Robert for next to nothing. SMH
Harris seems to consume his time by tinkering with no risk moves. Yet the elephant in the room, Skubal, remains in limbo. The guy can’t make big decisions.
There’s no limbo. Skubal will be pitching for Detroit.
While I am absolutely livid at how little the Tigers did to improve their roster, I gladly concede that Harris assembles good minor-league depth. Unfortunately, this depth will likely not be enough to offset the lack of impact free agents at all…
Gruß,
BSHH
White Sox Legend!
It’s going to either be a great season, if everyone plays up, or another disappointing year! They have Skubal for 1 more season but aren’t going to surround him with proven talent. We’ll know by June what we can expect
I still think they will trade him after the arb hearing. Throw your best offer at him; if he declines trade him now and sign Gallen. If they got a Sheehan type arm plus Gallen they’d still be likely to win the Central and not cripple the team moving firward with a $400-450 million dollar contract for one guy.
Scott Harris and the staff have done it again. This is a really really good signing! Lets go Tigers!!
Yes, the team needs minor league additions.
Yes, the team also needs major league additions.
I have said before I would like to see the Tigers inquire on Louis Robert Jr (and Buxton) to improve the lineup and the OF.
Now the Mets have just picked up Robert for a couple of blah prospects. Did the Tigers ask about Robert?