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.
Astros legend!
Malloy replacement
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!
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…
He is a better batter than Lenyn Sosa. Sox never gave him a good chance.