Baseball’s offseason officially started on Wednesday with the conclusion of the 2023 World Series, which saw the Texas Rangers win the series for the first time ever. First up: MLB free agency starts five days after the Series. However, the MLB market often takes a good month or two to develop, with the majority of trades occurring in December and January, in contrast to the start of free agency in the NBA, NFL, and NHL.
We therefore have some time.
As we pause to catch our breath, the beginning of free agency begs the question: In their second offseason under general manager Jeff Greenberg and president of baseball operations Scott Harris, where are the Detroit Tigers right now? Due to the completion of Miguel Cabrera’s massive contract, and the
DREAM A BIT: The Detroit Tigers may be closer to making the playoffs than most people realize.The success of the soon-to-arrive prospects from the minors, such as hitters Jace Jung (the Tigers’ top pick in 2022), Colt Keith (a 2020 fifth-round pick out of high school), and Justyn-Henry Malloy (the prize of Harris’ first trade with the Tigers), has reignited some hope, but not nearly as much as the probable 78-84 record in 2023, which was fueled by an offensive core of Kerry Carpenter, Riley Greene, Jake Rogers, and AL Silver Slugger finalist Spencer Torkelson.
Of course, there are still problems, particularly at second and third base (as depending on three rookies who have seldom played above Double-A) and in the rotation (where it becomes a little thin after Tarik Skubal, Reese Olson, and the specter of Casey Mize’s elbow).
In light of this, here are some of the best free agents available this offseason, along with a couple who are more likely to fit into the Tigers’ system.
The best player in MLB: Mitch Garver, who blasted 31 home runs in just 93 games in 2019, is four seasons removed. For a catcher who is approaching thirty years old, four seasons are a lifetime, especially with his injury history limiting him to just 232 games since that 2019 season. Gary Sanchez, who will turn 31 in December and is coming off a season in which he hit 19 home runs in 260 plate appearances with the San Diego Padres, is about the only other backstop who is likely to garner a multi-year contract.
