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The list of Tigers’ offseason targets 2021-22 is as long as their needs. They have a lot of money to spend and manager A.J. Hinch has made it clear that they have no intention of just sitting around and wait until they figure things out.
Signing Eduardo Rodriguez proved that they won’t hesitate to spend a big buck to improve their team. They have solid young pieces and only need a couple of veterans to get over the hump and go back to the World Series contender they were not so long ago.
Tigers offseason targets 2021-22
This year’s free agency class features plenty of top-notch talents but not many teams have as much financial flexibility as the Tigers. With that in mind, let’s take a look at the top five players they should look to sign right away.
5. Brad Hand
Against all odds, the ever-struggling Detroit Tigers’ bullpen was actually pretty decent towards the end of the season. But that doesn’t mean that they shouldn’t address one of their biggest historical concerns by adding a top-notch reliever such as Brad Hand.
For his career, Hand has posted an ERA of 3.66 and a WHIP of 1.231. He was dealt to the Toronto Blue Jays midseason and is expected to fetch the final lucrative deal of his career. Not many teams will want to overpay for a 31-year-old reliever, so the Tigers could swoop right in.
4. Marcus Semien
Marcus Semien is perhaps the most underrated player in all of baseball. He’s coming off slashing .276/.340/.532 with 115 runs scored, 102 runs batted in, 15 stolen bases, and a whopping 45 home runs. The Tigers need help in the infield and he can play multiple positions.
The Tigers aren’t likely to turn their attention to Semien right away as they’ll try to make a run at Carlos Correa first. But if they don’t get a deal done, they might as well get a cheaper player that could be even more of an offensive factor.
3. Justin Verlander
Justin Verlander enjoyed the best years of his incredible career in a Detroit Tigers uniform. He said that he wants to throw until his late 40s and has looked pretty sharp in recent bullpen sessions, according to scouts. So, why not bring him back home?
The Tigers already have a promising rotation with Casey Mize, Matt Manning, and Spencer Turnbull; so adding one of the best pitchers of his generation to mentor them would be a massive boost. Verlander is going to be sought-after, though, so they’ll have to pay up.
2. Corey Seager
Among the Tigers’ offseason needs, nothing stands out as much as a shortstop. Luckily for them, this year’s free agency class will feature the likes of Carlos Correa, Trevor Story, and former World Series MVP Corey Seager, who’s expected to make a big buck next season.
Seager and the Dodgers could still work out on a deal but they couldn’t agree on an extension last season, so that seems unlikely at this point. He’s one of the best offensive shortstops in the league and is also a plus-defender but they’ll face a lot of competition for his services.
1. Carlos Correa
The Detroit Tigers have reportedly made Carlos Correa their number 1 priority for the offseason. As we already mention, they desperately need a shortstop and an offensive leader. Also, their infield defense was subpar last year, so Correa checks all the boxes.
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Correa built a strong rapport with former Astros manager A.J. Hinch, which is why most insiders predict that he’ll look forward to returning with him, this time in Michigan. He’s the best available shortstop in free agency, so they’ll have to spend a lot of money, though.
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