Death, taxes, and Chris Illitch being cheap. Scott Harris are Co. are playing Moneyball when they don’t have to. As such, after a surprise playoff push, Illitch is begging the history books to call the 2024 Tigers a lucky, fluke team. An easy way to avoid this revisionist history is to capitalize on the youth movement and spend money on veterans to take this team to the next level. Cream of the crop free agents like Alex Bregman, Corbin Burnes, or Christian Walker would be awesome, but as suggested, unlikely. Therefore, given the likely tight budget, here are my realistic, quasi-cheap free agency predictions/targets to help make the Tigers roar (I wrote this a couple days ago and forgot to upload it… seems like a lot of people in the community have had similar ideas here).

The 1B Dilema - LaMonte Wade Jr.

I, like many, thought Spencer Torkelson was him. Per sources, he is not. Harris and Co. are making it seem like this next season is the last dance for Mr. Torkelson. My preferred approach would be to move off Tork and sign Christian Walker to a 2-year deal while Josue Briceno and/or Thayron Liranzo develop, but that will likely be too expensive for the Tigers. Insert LaMonte Wade Jr. The Athletic somewhat linked him to us as new Giants GM Buster Posey wants real everyday position players instead of platoon options (the route I would prefer too). As a lefty, Wade could face RHP and platoon with Tork. In true Moneyball fashion, the man gets on base as evidenced by his .380 OBP last year (99th percentile in BB% percentage… how’s that for controlling the strike zone). He offers some positional versatility as he can play corner outfield positions as well which bodes well for the TIgers if injuries may occur. As he has one year remaining on his contract till UFA, he should be cheap, and I think a trade of two mid/low level prospects could get the job done. Something like a Lael Lockhart (Big LHP in AAA with good K numbers but is 26) and Gage Workman (batted .280 with 89 RBI in AA this year) should be enough.

A Starting Pitcher - Walker Buehler

This has been floated around and is a favorite target for many in the community. I somewhat agree. This is also a #persources scoop that there is interest here. I would love to sign an established #2 behind Skubal in our rotation similar to the Jack Flaherty deal from last year. A 1-2 punch of Skubal + Corbin Burnes/Blake Snell/Jack Flaherty would be so amazing for our "pitching chaos" playoff strategy. Having 2 dominant starters going per playoff series with Reese Olson (and maybe Jackson Jobe if he develops) in bulk for mid-series games would be a recipe for winning in my eyes. However, I find it extremely unlikely that we would sign a starter for more than a 2-year deal which eliminates the big dog pitchers - insert Walker Buehler. He’s got a career 3.27 ERA and is a bounce back candidate after a poor regular season last year. Buying the upside on former Cy Young caliber stuff would go along the same vein as the Flaherty deal from last year, and no one is better at reviving #stuff than Chris Fetter. Coming off a World Series ring and getting the series clinching save, the Tigers might have to overpay - book him at 1 year $22 million.

A Swing and Miss Reliever - Jose Leclerc

The Tigers bullpen was obviously a big positive success story last year. Why not make it better and add MORE. Scott Harris has shown he will spend money on veteran relievers on short term deals as evidenced by Andrew Chafin, so there is precedent here. I love most of the guys we have, but instead of having a bunch of relievers that induce ground balls and make the ball go in-play, it would be nice to have a high leverage individual that can produce tons of strikeouts… a Wallside Windows pitching change presents Jose Leclerc. With a 5-pitch mix, career 11.8 K/9, and 96th percentile for Whiff % last year, I’m convinced. Give him a little extra funds to come to the cold weather in Michigan from Texas: 1 year $8 million.

The 3B Question - Alec Bohm

Saved the best for last... Jace Jung has had a solid minor league upbringing, and may be a good player at the MLB level… I’ll take the proven big league All-Star player any day at 3rd base. Bohm has playoff experience and can be a star in Detroit… something that may be limited in a bigger market like Philadelphia with stars like Bryce Harper overshadowing him. Harris and Illitch are too cheap to sign Bregman, even with the Hinch connection, and it has been reported that they do not want to prioritize him this off-season - something that Houston and Philadelphia are. Jake Burger has been floated as a trade option at 3rd base, but Bohm is better than that, and with the Dave Dombrowski connection as multi-time trade partners, Bohm might just be more realistic.

Bohm controls the strike zone by rarely striking out and not whiffing a lot and is evidently a high average player. He’s got solid range, improved on D last year, and is in his prime. The big outfield of Comerica Park is a natural fit for his offensive profile as he is a doubles machine. It pairs well that Harris wanted a right handed infield bat this offseason.

Not entirely sure what a package would look like here. Dombrowski probably wants win-now players and bullpen help. Jace Jung as a quasi top prospect and 3rd basemen could be the starting point of this deal. Next, add in Ty Madden, a mid-level pitching prospect that has a floor as fastball-slider reliever and could be a back end starter. Finally, I would throw in Alex Lange and Akil Baddoo as MLB ready depth pieces that the Phillies may need if injuries occur (or if Lange finds his mojo again).

All in all, that nets to about $40 million in expenditures for the offseason- we would still be below average on payroll. The depth chart gets to:

SP:

Skubal

Buehler
Olson
Mize
OTHER
RP: PITCHING CHAOS including Leclerc

C: Rogers / Dingler

1B: Wade / Tork

2B: Keith / Ibanez

SS: Sweeney / Baez

3B: Bohm

LF: Greene

CF: Meadows

RF: Carp

Utility: Vierling

Not a championship level team, but given the spending constraints, I think this makes us more dangerous in the postseason, and gives us a chance to get farther in 2025. BLESS YOU BOYS - GO TIGERS.