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[Detroit Tigers]

Keep up to date with the latest news on your Detroit Tigers.

 

[Detroit Tigers]

Analyst Believes Tigers Can Be Even Better In 2025

(Photo by Quinn Harris/Getty Images)

The 2024 Major League Baseball postseason saw a couple of teams make runs that were not predicted by many people.

One of those teams was the Detroit Tigers, who made it to the playoffs with an incredible second half of the regular season.

The Tigers made their first postseason appearance since 2014 after finishing with a record of 86-76 and coming in second in the American League Central.

They then continued to defy expectations by knocking off the Houston Astros in the wild-card round.

MLB analyst Cody Stavenhagen recently said he believes the Tigers can go beyond that in 2025.

“I think the floor is higher, and there’s a world where they can be even better than last season for sure,” Stavenhagen said, via Foul Territory.

The @Tigers will have a higher floor in 2025, says @CodyStavenhagen pic.twitter.com/Z0UEHDKBha

— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) February 3, 2025

Stavenhagen mentioned that the Tigers didn’t lose any of their players from their playoff roster, and they have made a few notable acquisitions this offseason.

Those include starting pitcher Jack Flaherty from the Los Angeles Dodgers, starting pitcher Alex Cobb from the Cleveland Guardians, second baseman Gleyber Torres from the New York Yankees, and relief pitcher Tommy Kahnle from the Yankees.

While the Tigers may have hit their ceiling in 2024, Stavenhagen believes they could reach even greater heights in 2025 if things go in the right direction.

The Tigers will look for their first division title since 2014 and their first World Series appearance since 2012, when they lost to the San Francisco Giants.

The post Analyst Believes Tigers Can Be Even Better In 2025 appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/analyst-believes-tigers-can-be-even-better-in-2025/

 

[Detroit Tigers]

Tigers Are Still Trying To Sign 1 Big-Name Free Agent

(Photo by Patrick McDermott/Getty Images)

The Detroit Tigers surprised many in 2024 as they made the postseason for the first time since 2014 after finishing with a record of 86-76 and coming in second in the American League Central.

While just making the postseason was likely enough for Tigers fans, the team went above and beyond by knocking out the Houston Astros, who had made seven straight American League Championship Series appearances, in the wild-card round.

This offseason, the Tigers have made some notable improvements to their roster by adding second baseman Gleyber Torres, starting pitcher Alex Cobb and starting pitcher Jack Flaherty.

MLB analyst Buster Olney recently revealed the Tigers are pursuing another big-name player.

“After signing Jack Flaherty and augmenting their rotation, the Tigers are one of the teams pursuing Alex Bregman,” Olney wrote on X.

After signing Jack Flaherty and augmenting their rotation, the Tigers are one of the teams pursuing Alex Bregman.

— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) February 3, 2025

The Tigers appear to be making acquisitions with a win-now approach, and adding Bregman could be the final piece to that puzzle.

The third baseman has played all nine seasons of his MLB career with the Astros.

In 2024, he played in 145 games and batted .260 with 26 home runs, 75 RBIs and a .768 OPS.

The Tigers entered the postseason with a wild-card spot in 2024 and likely have their eyes on an AL Central title in 2025.

Although three teams from the division made the playoffs in 2024, the Tigers will likely have their best chance in a long time to take home the title.

The post Tigers Are Still Trying To Sign 1 Big-Name Free Agent appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/tigers-are-still-trying-to-sign-1-big-name-free-agent/

 

[Detroit Tigers]

Former GM Reveals His Thoughts On Tigers Signing Jack Flaherty

(Photo by Chris Coduto/Getty Images)

The Detroit Tigers made the postseason for the first time in 10 seasons after finishing with a record of 86-76 and coming in second in the American League Central.

Not only did the Tigers surprise everybody by making the playoffs, but they knocked off the Houston Astros in the AL wild-card round.

Coming off that successful season, the Tigers have made some notable acquisitions, including second baseman Gleyber Torres, starting pitcher Alex Cobb and starting pitcher Jack Flaherty.

One former MLB general manager revealed his thoughts on the Tigers’ recent signing of Flaherty.

“I love this for Detroit. The Tigers making a win-now move is a great thing for the game,” Steve Phillips said, via MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM.

"I love this for Detroit!"

The @tigers have reportedly agreed to a reunion with Jack Flaherty. #RepDetroit | @jflare_

https://t.co/iXax8hx4iO pic.twitter.com/lckbHKbAmS

— MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM (@MLBNetworkRadio) February 3, 2025

Flaherty debuted in 2017 with the St. Louis Cardinals and has played for four teams over his eight-year MLB career.

In 2024 with the Tigers and Los Angeles Dodgers, Flaherty started 28 games and was 13-7 with a 3.17 ERA and 194 strikeouts in 162.0 innings pitched.

After a brief exit from the Tigers organization, he went to the Dodgers and left L.A. with a World Series title.

He now makes his way back to Detroit as the Tigers try to return to the postseason and make a deeper run in 2025.

The Tigers will look for their first World Series appearance since 2012 and their first title since winning it all back in 1984.

The post Former GM Reveals His Thoughts On Tigers Signing Jack Flaherty appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/former-gm-reveals-his-thoughts-on-tigers-signing-jack-flaherty/

 

[Detroit Tigers]

Tigers Veteran Reveals His Honest Thoughts Ahead Of 2025 Season

(Photo by Rey Del Rio/Getty Images)

The Detroit Tigers were one of the most surprising teams in the 2024 season as they made the playoffs for the first time since 2014.

After finishing with a record of 86-76 and second in the American League Central, the Tigers knocked off the Houston Astros in the wild-card round.

The Tigers had an amazing second half of the season to earn that wild-card spot.

Detroit outfielder Kerry Carpenter recently revealed his thoughts ahead of the 2025 season.

“It’s exciting going into this year. I think I’ll get some opportunities,” Carpenter said, via MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM.

"It's exciting going into this year!"

Kerry Carpenter is fired up for the @Tigers in 2025.

https://t.co/iXax8hx4iO pic.twitter.com/S7VHIPDydj

— MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM (@MLBNetworkRadio) January 28, 2025

Carpenter has played all three seasons of his MLB career with the team.

In 2024, he played in 87 games and batted .284 with 18 home runs, 57 RBIs and a .932 OPS.

At 27 years old, he is considered a veteran on this Tigers team due to their roster being one of the youngest in the game.

Before the 2024 campaign, the Tigers had seven straight losing seasons, but it appears like the team has figured something out as they look to build on their success.

The Tigers will look to win their first division title since 2014 and make their first World Series appearance since 2012.

Carpenter hopes to get more playing time as he believes he can put in more work to hit against left-handed pitching.

It will be interesting to see if this Tigers team can follow up a successful 2024 season with another in 2025.

The post Tigers Veteran Reveals His Honest Thoughts Ahead Of 2025 Season appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/tigers-veteran-reveals-his-honest-thoughts-ahead-of-2025-season/

 

[Detroit Tigers]

Alex Bregman At ‘Standstill’ With 1 Possible New Team

(Photo by Carmen Mandato/Getty Images)

The Detroit Tigers made the postseason for the first time since 2014 after finishing the regular season with a record of 86-76 and coming in second in the American League Central.

After completing a run in the second half of the season to make the playoffs, the Tigers backed up their play by defeating the Houston Astros in the wild-card round.

This offseason, the Tigers have made a couple of notable acquisitions, including infielder Gleyber Torres from the New York Yankees and starting pitcher Alex Cobb from the Cleveland Guardians.

The Tigers also reportedly are interested in free agent third baseman Alex Bregman from the Astros.

However, Bregman and the Tigers reportedly are at a “standstill” regarding a possible deal, according to MLB Trade Rumors.

Alex Bregman, Tigers Reportedly At "Standstill" https://t.co/WHSIiCEkkw pic.twitter.com/BD7PPgX80V

— MLB Trade Rumors (@mlbtraderumors) January 21, 2025

Bregman reportedly was offered a deal worth about $150 million by the Astros, but he declined and is seeking a deal worth $200 million.

The Tigers don’t appear willing to reach that number, which may have caused a halt to their talks.

Bregman has played all nine seasons of his MLB career with the Astros.

In 2024, he played in 145 games and batted .260 with 26 home runs, 75 RBIs and a .768 OPS.

Though the Tigers would likely greatly benefit from a player like Bregman on their roster, they appear to only be willing to pay a certain amount.

Bregman will be a name to keep an eye on with the 2025 season approaching.

The post Alex Bregman At ‘Standstill’ With 1 Possible New Team appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/alex-bregman-at-standstill-with-1-possible-new-team/

 

[Detroit Tigers]

Analyst Names MLB Team That Needs Alex Bregman The Most

(Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)

The Detroit Tigers broke their nine-year streak of missing the postseason after finishing with a record of 86-76 and finishing in second place in the American League Central.

Although the Tigers snuck into the postseason via a wild-card spot, they beat the reigning AL champion Houston Astros in the wild-card round.

The Tigers appear to be trending in the right direction after the 2024 season, and they have acquired two players this off-season to improve their roster.

After acquiring starting pitcher Alex Cobb and second baseman Gleyber Torres, MLB Insider Paul Hembekides revealed another player the Tigers need to sign.

“The Tigers need to sign Alex Bregman the most,” Hembekides said via his personal ‘X’ account.

Which team MOST needs Alex Bregman?
The case for Detroit & Boston

pic.twitter.com/1KIl6NWffy

— Paul Hembekides (Hembo) (@PaulHembo) January 10, 2025

Bregman is arguably the best free-agent batter left available, and Hembekides believes the Tigers would be the best fit for him in 2025.

Hembekides mentions that Bregman would improve the Tigers’ runs scored and walk-to-strikeout ratio, which they finished around the middle of the pack during the 2024 season.

Bregman came into the league in 2016 with the Astros and has played all nine seasons of his career with the organization.

In 2024, Bregman played 145 games where he batted .260 with 26 home runs, 75 RIBs, and a .768 OPS.

The Gold Glove Award-winning infielder would not only add a productive bat to the Tigers’ lineup, but he would also lock down an infield position on defense.

After making the postseason in 2024, the Tigers are looking for more in 2025 as they try to appear in the playoffs for two consecutive years for the first time since the 2013 and 2014 seasons.

The post Analyst Names MLB Team That Needs Alex Bregman The Most appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/analyst-names-mlb-team-that-needs-alex-bregman-the-most/

 

[Detroit Tigers]

Former GM Names The Perfect Fit For Alex Bregman

(Photo by Tim Nwachukwu/Getty Images)

The Detroit Tigers broke their playoff drought with an AL wild-card spot in 2024.

Not only did the Tigers make the postseason, but they knocked off the recent American League juggernaut Houston Astros in the wild-card round.

The Tigers appear to have found something with their young roster, and they acquired starting pitcher Alex Cobb and infielder Gleyber Torres this offseason to improve their team for 2025.

While the Tigers have already made a couple of significant moves, they also reportedly have their eye on free agent Alex Bregman.

Former MLB general manager Steve Phillips revealed why the Tigers are the perfect fit for the third baseman.

“If you believe that you’re now ready to make a move to sign a guy like this, then sign him,” Phillips said, via MLB Network Radio on Sirius XM.

"Give him a bit more money to get him to Detroit!"@StevePhillipsGM says the @Tigers would be the perfect fit for Alex Bregman.

https://t.co/fGPbvbj8w4 pic.twitter.com/xilxR0leAc

— MLB Network Radio on SiriusXM (@MLBNetworkRadio) January 9, 2025

Phillips said he believes the Tigers need a leader in the clubhouse to rally the young players together and take the next step as a winning team.

The Tigers have plenty of talent, but with one of the youngest rosters in MLB in 2024, the team needs a leader to show them the way.

Bregman could be that guy for the Tigers as he has played for the Astros since 2016 and won two World Series titles in that span.

In 2024, Bregman played 145 games and batted .260 with 26 home runs, 75 RBIs and a .768 OPS.

While those numbers would be a plus for the Tigers, Bregman’s leadership could be even more significant.

The post Former GM Names The Perfect Fit For Alex Bregman appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/former-gm-names-the-perfect-fit-for-alex-bregman/

 

[Detroit Tigers]

Tigers Have Made A Contract Decision With Tarik Skubal

(Photo by Tim Warner/Getty Images)

The Detroit Tigers were one of Major League Baseball’s most surprising teams in 2024 as they made the playoffs for the first time since 2014.

Not only did the Tigers reach the postseason, they swept the Houston Astros in the wild-card round.

With a taste of postseason baseball, the Tigers made a couple of notable acquisitions this offseason, adding second basemen Gleyber Torres from the New York Yankees and pitcher Alex Cobb from the Cleveland Guardians.

The Tigers were led by their Cy Young Award-winning pitcher Tarik Skubal, and they have made a contract decision with him for the 2025 campaign.

“AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal and the Detroit Tigers are in agreement on a one-year, $10.15 million contract to avoid arbitration, sources tell ESPN. Skubal gets a big raise in his second time through the system. He’ll get one more try before reaching free agency after 2026,” ESPN insider Jeff Passan wrote on X.

AL Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal and the Detroit Tigers are in agreement on a one-year, $10.15 million contract to avoid arbitration, sources tell ESPN. Skubal gets a big raise in his second time through the system. He'll get one more try before reaching free agency after 2026.

— Jeff Passan (@JeffPassan) January 9, 2025

Skubal has played all five seasons of his MLB career with the Tigers.

In 2024, he started 31 games and was 18-4 with a 2.39 ERA and 228 strikeouts in 192.0 innings pitched.

He led the league in multiple categories, including WAR, wins, win/loss percentage, ERA and strikeouts.

The Tigers hope that Skubal can provide a similar performance in 2025 and help them get back to the postseason for a second consecutive year.

Although the Tigers haven’t won the American League Central since 2014, they could be a dark horse team to do so in 2025.

The post Tigers Have Made A Contract Decision With Tarik Skubal appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/tigers-have-made-a-contract-decision-with-tarik-skubal/

 

[Detroit Tigers]

Insider Reveals What He’s Hearing About Alex Bregman, Tigers

(Photo by Alex Slitz/Getty Images)

The Detroit Tigers surprised everybody in baseball last season after making the postseason for the first time since 2014 with a record of 86-76.

After being written off in the middle of the season, the Tigers not only made the playoffs but knocked off the Houston Astros in the wild-card round.

The Tigers headed into the offseason with hopes of improving their young roster in an attempt to make another postseason appearance.

With two notable signings already — right-handed starting pitcher Alex Cobb and infielder Gleyber Torres — the Tigers could have their eye on another star free agent.

“I think the Tigers would love to have Alex Bregman, but up to a certain point,” insider Cody Stavenhagen said, via Foul Territory.

The @tigers are in on Alex Bregman, but nothing is imminent, says @CodyStavenhagen pic.twitter.com/QA3BDVseVv

— Foul Territory (@FoulTerritoryTV) January 2, 2025

Stavenhagen revealed that Bregman going to the Tigers is not imminent, with other teams also interested in the third baseman, including the Boston Red Sox and Toronto Blue Jays.

The Tigers want to get Bregman, but they may not be willing to spend top dollar to make a deal happen.

Bregman is one of the top remaining free-agent hitters, and many eyes will be on him until he signs.

In 2024 with the Astros, Bregman played 145 games and batted .260 with 26 home runs, 75 RBIs and a .768 OPS.

The Tigers will be a team to keep an eye on as Bregman weighs his options.

The post Insider Reveals What He’s Hearing About Alex Bregman, Tigers appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/insider-reveals-what-hes-hearing-about-alex-bregman-tigers/

 

[Detroit Tigers]

Former Player Believes Gleyber Torres Will Be ‘Perfect Fit’ For Tigers

(Photo by Elsa/Getty Images)

The Detroit Tigers were one of the more surprising teams in Major League Baseball in 2024 with a record of 86-76.

Not only did the Tigers make the playoffs for the first time since 2014, but they knocked off the American League powerhouse Houston Astros in the wild-card round.

After finally having some postseason success after that long drought, the Tigers are making moves this offseason to improve their roster for 2025.

After signing starting pitcher Alex Cobb, Detroit added second baseman Gleyber Torres.

Former MLB player Al Leiter revealed his thoughts on Torres joining the Tigers.

“Gleyber, tremendous talent, right? … I think this is perfect. … This is an up-and-coming team,” Leiter said, via MLB Network.

"Gleyber [Torres] is a tremendous talent, I think this is perfect. This is an up-and-coming team."

– @AlLeiter22 on the INF signing with Detroit pic.twitter.com/EMPrYdmKlq

— MLB Network (@MLBNetwork) January 2, 2025

The Tigers signed Torres to a one-year deal worth $15 million as he comes over to the team from the New York Yankees.

Torres made his major league debut in 2018 and played all seven seasons of his MLB career with the Yankees.

In 2024, he played 154 games, batting .257 with 15 home runs, 63 RBIs and a .709 OPS.

Leiter said the Tigers have a young roster and recently proved they have what it takes to compete with the best of the best in MLB.

The Tigers will be a team to watch in 2025 as they try to win their first American League Central title since 2014.

The post Former Player Believes Gleyber Torres Will Be ‘Perfect Fit’ For Tigers appeared first on The Cold Wire.

Source: https://www.thecoldwire.com/former-player-believes-gleyber-torres-will-be-perfect-fit-for-tigers/

 

[Detroit Tigers]

Tigers Sign José Urquidy

The Tigers have signed free agent right-hander José Urquidy to a one-year, $1MM contract for 2025, the team announced. The deal comes with a $4MM team option for 2026. That team option also includes escalators that could increase Urquidy’s salary by up to $3MM. He will earn an additional $150K for reaching each of four and seven starts; $300K for reaching each of 10, 13, 16, and 19 starts; and $500K for reaching each of 22, 25, and 28 starts.

To free up space for Urquidy on the 40-man roster, the Tigers placed fellow right-hander Sawyer Gipson-Long on the 60-day injured list while he continues to recover from left hip labral repair and Tommy John surgery. The team has also placed Urquidy on the 60-day IL; he is recovering from Tommy John surgery of his own.

Urquidy spent the first six years of his MLB career with the Astros. While he looked like a solid mid-rotation starter in 2021 and ’22 (3.81 ERA, 4.22 SIERA in 49 games), the righty had a rough year in 2023. He struggled out of the gate in April before landing on the IL with shoulder troubles. His struggles continued upon his return in August, and he soon lost his spot in the starting rotation.

Unfortunately, Urquidy’s troubles only got worse in 2024. He opened the season on the injured list and eventually required UCL surgery in June. After clearing waivers in November, he elected free agency.

Urquidy will not be ready to return to action until midseason at the earliest, so he will not factor into the ongoing rotation battle in Tigers camp. Tarik Skubal, Jack Flaherty, and Reese Olson are locks for the Opening Day rotation, and top prospect Jackson Jobe has the inside track on the number four spot, according to Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press. However, with Alex Cobb expected to miss the beginning of the season, one spot at the back end is still up for grabs. Casey Mize, Kenta Maeda, and Keider Montero are the primary candidates to win that job.

Meanwhile, Urquidy will continue his rehab in the Tigers organization. Once he is ready to get back on the field, he can provide depth as a back-end starter or long reliever. In a best-case scenario, Urquidy returns and looks like his old self, which would make his club option for 2026 a bargain. Meanwhile, the worst possible outcome for the Tigers is that they pay him $1MM to rehab in 2025 and cut their losses at the end of the year if he struggles or fails to get back on the mound.

Ari Alexander of KPRC 2 was the first to report the agreement between Urquidy and the Tigers. Chris McCosky of the Detroit News confirmed that it was a major league deal.

Source: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/03/tigers-to-sign-jose-urquidy.html

 

[Detroit Tigers]

Ty Madden Diagnosed With Rotator Cuff Strain

The Tigers released medical updates on various players in camp, with Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press among those to pass them along. One of the more notable items on the list is that right-hander Ty Madden has a rotator cuff strain in his throwing shoulder. It’s unclear how long the Tigers expect him to be out but it seems fair to expect him to miss at least a few weeks.

Madden, now 25, made his major league debut last year. He tossed 23 innings over six appearances. Only one of those was technically a start, with manager A.J. Hinch deploying his “pitching chaos” strategy, but each was a bulky outing between 2 1/3 and 5 innings. Madden allowed 4.30 earned runs per nine in that time.

He also had a 6.98 ERA over 22 minor league starts, though that’s likely a misleading number. His 28.3% strikeout rate was solid and his 9.8% walk rate only a tad higher than average. He allowed 18 home runs but also had a .371 batting average on balls in play and 58.9% strand rate. His 4.79 FIP was more than two runs lower than his ERA.

Going into 2025, Madden wasn’t likely to break camp in the rotation. Even with Alex Cobb likely to start the season on the injured list due to hip inflammation, the Tigers project to have Tarik Skubal, Jack Flaherty and Reese Olson in three spots. Candidates for the final two spots include Casey Mize, Kenta Maeda, Jackson Jobe, Brant Hurter, Keider Montero, Matt Manning and Madden. The Tigers should be fine in terms of cobbling a rotation together while Madden is out, but they will have one fewer depth option for the time being.

Another item of note in the injury report is that catcher Brian Serven has been diagnosed with a left oblique strain. Again, no specific timetable was provided for his injury but it seems fair to expect him to miss some time. Serven is in camp on a minor league deal and isn’t the most essential part of the organization. However, the Tigers only have two catchers on their 40-man roster in Jake Rogers and Dillon Dingler. Assuming Serven could still be recovering in a few weeks, they could start the season with less non-roster depth. Tomás Nido is also in camp but perhaps the Tigers will bring in another veteran on a minor league deal, either now or when guys get squeezed out by camp cuts in the coming weeks.

The injury report also notes that Wenceel Pérez has been dealing with some low back tightness. That doesn’t seem to be an especially worrisome issue, but it’s something to keep an eye on, given the other hits to the outfield depth in Detroit. Matt Vierling has a rotator cuff strain and will start the season on IL while Parker Meadows has been battling a nerve issue in his right arm with an uncertain timeline.

Pérez is a logical guy to fill in while Vierling and perhaps Meadows miss some time, though that obviously wouldn’t happen if Pérez is himself injured. Per the injury report, both Meadows and Vierling have begun some light baseball activities, so perhaps the outfield concern won’t last too long into the season.

Source: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/03/ty-madden-diagnosed-with-rotator-cuff-strain.html

 

[Detroit Tigers]

MLBTR Podcast: Jose Quintana, Luis Gil’s Injury, The Nats’ TV Situation, Salary Floor Talk, And More!

The latest episode of the MLB Trade Rumors Podcast is now live on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts! Make sure you subscribe as well! You can also use the player at this link to listen, if you don’t use Spotify or Apple for podcasts.

This week, host Darragh McDonald is joined by Anthony Franco of MLB Trade Rumors to discuss…

• The Brewers having an agreement with Jose Quintana (1:20)
• Luis Gil of the Yankees to be shut down for at least six weeks (5:15)

Plus, we answer your questions, including…

• With MASN now solved and stadium naming rights and jersey patches on the way do you see the Nationals making the leap into big spenders sooner than later? (12:30)
• Do you see the MLBPA pushing for a salary floor? (22:05)
• Will the White Sox trade Luis Robert Jr. before the start of the regular season? (25:20)
• While neither is particularly likely, is it more probable that the Pirates extend Paul Skenes or the Reds extend Elly De La Cruz? (27:40)
• What is your opinion of the White Sox upper management and will they lose 100 games this year? (30:45)
• The Mets are loaded with infield prospects. Do they trade Jeff McNeil to make room? (37:30)
• With the Tigers’ outfield injuries, do they go get a right-handed bat? And who is available? (42:00)
• With the Mariners bringing back most of their position players, what are the chances they get better production from them in 2025? (44:30)
• Does David Bote have a legitimate shot to make the Dodgers’ roster? (50:35)
• Why doesn’t MLB expand to 36 teams instead of just 32? (51:35)

Check out our past episodes!

• Atlanta’s Pitching Depth, Iglesias, Jobe, Castillo, And More! – listen here
• Alex Bregman, The Padres Add Players, And No Extension For Vlad Jr. – listen here
• Pete Alonso’s Deal, And Potential Landing Spots For Bregman and Arenado – listen here

The podcast intro and outro song “So Long” is provided courtesy of the band Showoff. Check out their Facebook page here!

Source: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025...-tv-situation-salary-floor-talk-and-more.html

 

[Detroit Tigers]

Parker Meadows Sidelined By Nerve Issue In Right Arm

Tigers center fielder Parker Meadows has halted baseball activities due to a nerve problem in his upper right arm, manager A.J. Hinch told reporters (including MLive.com’s Evan Woodbery). It is unclear at this point if Meadows will be ready for the start of the season, due to what Hinch noted as the fluid nature of the injury.

“My understanding is that we’re in a wait-and-see situation,” Hinch said. “We have to get that nerve firing again for [Meadows] to resume baseball activities. It could be short-term, or it could linger a little. No one has a firm timeline, but we feel like we’re on a good path now that we have a diagnosis and a treatment plan.”

After hitting .232/.331/.368 over 145 plate appearances during his 2023 rookie season, Meadows took another step forward by batting .244/.310/.433 in 298 PA last year, with the increase in slugging percentage fueling his jump from a 95 wRC+ in 2023 to a 111 wRC+ in 2024. The improvement didn’t come in smooth fashion, however, as Meadows hit so poorly over the first six weeks that the Tigers demoted him to Triple-A in early May, and didn’t recall him until early July. Upon returning to the Show, Meadows almost immediately picked up a hamstring injury that put him on the injured list for another month.

Meadows was activated from the 10-day IL on August 3, and proceeded to hit a strong .296/.340/.500 with six homers over his final 201 PA of the season while playing pretty much every day in center field. Between this production at the plate and his excellent glovework, Meadows was one of the key drivers of the late-season surge that saw the Tigers go from deadline sellers to a wild card berth. Meadows then kept it going in October, batting .269/.345/.462 in 29 PA during Detroit’s playoff run.

If Meadows can continue this type of offense in addition to his strong defense and baserunning, the former second-round pick projects as a cornerstone piece for a Tigers team that has emerged from its rebuild. The plan was for Meadows to again be the everyday center fielder, though this nerve problem throws a possible wrench in the works.

Riley Greene or Wenceel Perez are the likeliest candidates to handle center field if Meadows does need to miss time, but the larger issue is that the Tigers may suddenly have a shortage of outfield depth. News broke yesterday that utilityman Matt Vierling will start the season on the IL while recovering from a rotator cuff strain, leaving the Tigers without a player projected to get playing time at either third base or right field (or a mixture of both positions). If Meadows’ nerve problem sets him back enough that he’ll also need to hit the injured list, utilitymen Zach McKinstry or Andy Ibanez will get more playing time in some capacity, and Detroit could also utilize Kerry Carpenter in right field whenever a right-handed pitcher is on the mound.

Source: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/03/parker-meadows-sidelined-by-nerve-issue-in-right-arm.html

 

[Detroit Tigers]

10 Out Of Options Players To Watch This Spring

One of the most interesting elements of spring training every year, at least for those of us who feast on roster construction minutiae, is the collection of players who are out of minor league options. MLBTR just released a full list of such players earlier today.

In many instances, a player being out of minor league options is inconsequential. Justin Steele, Isaac Paredes and Evan Phillips are among the players who fit that description but are in no risk of losing their MLB roster spot. They're all key players on big league rosters who'd never be in danger of being sent down to the minors anyhow.

However, there are typically a handful of players every spring who are on the roster bubble with their current club but who could be a better fit on a team with less competition in their current position. Most of these players have already had big league opportunities with their current club but whether due to injury or poor performance (or both) have yet to firmly seize hold of a roster spot. As players exhaust their minor league options, they'll tend to face increased competition from younger players progressing through the minor league ranks and/or external additions made via trade or free agency. An out-of-options player who doesn't fit his current roster can still go on to find a more solid role and some success elsewhere. Joey Bart was in just this spot last year and after being squeezed out in San Francisco has emerged as Pittsburgh's starting catcher. The Yankees didn't have a spot for Ben Rortvedt, but he's the Rays' clear No. 2 catcher now.

Let's run through 10 names to keep an eye on this spring. Not all of these players will lose their roster spots, and even some who do might not wind up making an impact elsewhere. But each of the names listed here has some reason to hold a bit more intrigue than many of their out-of-options brethren (players listed alphabetically)...

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Source: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/02/10-out-of-options-players-mlb-spring-training.html

 

[Detroit Tigers]

Matt Vierling Ruled Out For Opening Day Due To Rotator Cuff Strain

The Tigers announced this morning that third baseman/outfielder Matt Vierling has been diagnosed with a strained rotator cuff in his right shoulder. He will be shut down for a period of rest before being re-evaluated for baseball activities. Manager A.J. Hinch informed reporters, including Evan Woodbery of the MLive Media Group, that Vierling will not be ready by Opening Day and will start the season on the injured list.

Vierling, 28, has been a solid player for the Tigers over the past two years. He hit .259/.320/.406 for a 104 wRC+ over the 2023 and 2024 seasons. He mostly played the outfield but also took significant playing time at third base and dabbled at second and first.

Going into 2025, the club projects to have prospect Jace Jung as the regular at third base. Vierling could have been an option to cover there if Jung struggled but was likely to be the regular right fielder, with Riley Greene in left field and Parker Meadows in center.

For as long as Vierling is out of action, the Tigers will have to adjust their plans. Ideally, Jung would take the third base job and run with it, but he has just 34 major league games under his belt thus far. Without Vierling, the top fallback options will be utility infielders like Andy Ibáñez and Zach McKinstry. Perhaps Javier Báez could be another option if Trey Sweeney is handling shortstop, or vice versa.

There are more question marks in the outfield. Meadows is also battling some inflammation in his upper right arm. He is currently being evaluated and the club should provide further updates in the coming days.

At this point, Greene a lock for one outfield spot. Meadows would have another if his issue is minor and he can be ready by Opening Day. Kerry Carpenter could be in the mix for some outfield playing time but he could also act as the designated hitter with regularity. Wenceel Pérez and Justyn-Henry Malloy are on the 40-man roster and have options. They previously projected to start the season in Triple-A but have a better path to big league playing time with Vierling out of action. Ibáñez and McKinstry could also play the outfield in a pinch. Akil Baddoo started camp as a non-roster depth option but required hamate surgery last week and will himself be out of action for a few weeks.

If Vierling is able to get healthy and return fairly early in the season, then this could all be a small blip in the larger context of the full season. Though if the issue ultimately proves significant, that would naturally lead to a larger level of concern. That’s especially true of Meadows also needs to miss some time. If the Tigers decide to add some position player depth, guys like Jose Iglesias, Alex Verdugo, David Peralta and others remain unsigned in free agency.

Source: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025...-season-on-il-due-to-rotator-cuff-strain.html

 

[Detroit Tigers]

MLBTR Podcast: Atlanta’s Pitching Depth, Iglesias, Jobe, Castillo, And More!

The latest episode of the MLB Trade Rumors Podcast is now live on Spotify, Apple Podcasts, and wherever you get your podcasts! Make sure you subscribe as well! You can also use the player at this link to listen, if you don’t use Spotify or Apple for podcasts.

This week, host Darragh McDonald is joined by Steve Adams of MLB Trade Rumors for a mailbag episode. We spent the entire show answering questions from listeners, including…

• Can the Braves seriously go into the season with this rotation depth? (1:50)
• Could the Braves add to the bullpen before the season starts? (9:25)
• Why is David Robertson not signed? (13:00)
• Could the Mets and Jose Iglesias reunite on a one-year, $5MM deal with a vesting option? (17:10)
• Should the Cubs have signed Jose Iglesias instead of Justin Turner? (24:35)
• Could there be a battle forming for the final rotation spots for the Tigers between Casey Mize, Kenta Maeda and Jackson Jobe? (30:35)
• Are the Mariners waiting for a pitching injury on another team to trade Luis Castillo? (38:05)
• When a team like the Dodgers does significant deferrals, what year’s payroll does the money go on? (43:50)

Check out our past episodes!

• Alex Bregman, The Padres Add Players, And No Extension For Vlad Jr. – listen here
• Pete Alonso’s Deal, And Potential Landing Spots For Bregman and Arenado – listen here
• Jack Flaherty Back To Detroit, Max Scherzer, And What’s Next For The Padres – listen here

The podcast intro and outro song “So Long” is provided courtesy of the band Showoff. Check out their Facebook page here!

Source: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025...ng-depth-iglesias-jobe-castillo-and-more.html

 

[Detroit Tigers]

Tigers, Thomas Szapucki Agree To Minor League Deal

The Tigers and left-hander Thomas Szapucki have agreed to a minor league contract, per Evan Woodbery of MLive.com. He’ll head straight to minor league camp and look to build back up after a pair of injury-ruined seasons.

Once a well-regarded pitching prospect within the Mets’ system, Szapucki made his big league debut with New York in 2021, tossing 3 2/3 innings. He was tagged for six runs in that rough first effort, but he’d pitched well when healthy in the minors and put himself on the map for a larger MLB look in 2022. He indeed got that larger look, albeit only to an extent. Szapucki was clobbered for nine runs in just 1 1/3 innings, and the Mets traded him to the Giants alongside J.D. Davis in the deal bringing Darin Ruf back to Queens.

Szapucki took off in San Francisco, albeit in a relatively small sample. He tossed 13 2/3 innings for the Giants, recording a pristine 1.98 ERA with a big 29.6% strikeout rate and tidy 7.4% walk rate. Add in the 3.11 ERA in 25 minor league outings (16 of them starts), and a then-26-year-old Szapucki looked like he might have a real path to meaningful innings in San Francisco.

As is so often the case with pitching prospects, injuries intervened. Szapucki began experiencing arm discomfort in spring of 2023. He opened the year on the injured list, and by mid-May he’d undergone surgery to alleviate thoracic outlet syndrome. He didn’t pitch a single inning in 2023. His 2024 season was limited to just one inning, as shoulder troubles derailed a comeback bid with the Giants, who’d non-tendered him but quickly re-signed him to a minor league contract.

Over the past two seasons, Szapucki has pitched just one professional inning. His big league track record is skewed heavily by that pair of brutal starts with the Mets, but his most recent MLB work was that excellent stretch of 10 relief outings with the 2022 Giants. The 2015 fifth-rounder brings a career 2.87 minor league ERA to the Tigers — including a 3.47 mark with a 28.8% strikeout rate in 114 Triple-A innings.

Source: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/02/tigers-sign-thomas-szapucki-lefty-minors.html

 

[Detroit Tigers]

AL Notes: Meadows, Pérez, Mateo, Estévez

The Tigers are facing a few injuries in their outfield mix, with each of Matt Vierling, Parker Meadows and Wenceel Pérez battling health issues. Vierling has already been ruled out for Opening Day due to a rotator cuff strain and Meadows might not make it for the opener either.

Meadows has been experiencing a nerve issue in his upper right arm. He tells Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press that the issue is with the musculocutaneous nerve specifically, which isn’t progressing much. Meadows still hasn’t been cleared to throw, which obviously means he can’t play, though he has been doing some other activities that don’t involve throwing.

“He’s not full go,” manager A.J. Hinch said today. “He’s just making incremental steps, whatever that means. And he’s not ready for games. He’s not close to games right now, but that can change as soon as soon as we shake this nerve up, wake it up. Things are better than they were, but still not full go.” Meadows still thinks he can be ready by Opening Day but that will obviously be dependent on things improving in the next week or two.

Pérez has some back tightness and was supposed to return to the lineup today but that has not come to pass and he might be held out of tomorrow’s game as well. With Vierling and Meadows hurt, Pérez would have been a logical candidate to jump into the outfield but his back issues make that a bit iffy. Hinch downplayed the concern, saying that the club is just being “uber cautious”, but it’s yet another question mark for the club.

Riley Greene will be in one outfield spot and could perhaps be joined by Meadows and/or Pérez. If not, Kerry Carpenter could take some time out there, letting Spencer Torkelson get some time as the designated hitter. Justyn-Henry Malloy is also on the 40-man and the Tigers also have utility players Andy Ibáñez and Zach McKinstry as potential contributors.

Some other notes from around the American League…

• Orioles utility player Jorge Mateo is recovering from last year’s elbow surgery. A month ago, general manager Mike Elias stated that Mateo was unlikely to be ready by Opening Day, but the player himself is now feeling a bit more optimistic. “I think we’re going to make it,” he said this week to Jacob Calvin Meyer of The Baltimore Sun. That could be a key development for the O’s since shortstop Gunnar Henderson is battling an intercostal strain and it’s unclear if he’ll be ready for Opening Day himself. Even if Henderson is good to go, having Mateo on the roster next to him would give the club a bit more cover at the position.
• Royals right-hander Carlos Estévez signed a two-year, $22MM deal with the Royals about six weeks ago but still hasn’t made his spring training debut with his new club. The reliever has been battling some back tightness which has put him a bit behind schedule. Manager Matt Quatraro today provided a positive update to Anne Rogers of MLB.com, saying that Estévez threw live batting practice yesterday, which went “really well.” That puts him in line to make his Cactus League debut on Friday. With about two weeks until Opening Day, Estévez should be able to avoid the injured list if he doesn’t hit any setbacks between now and then.

Source: https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/03/al-notes-meadows-perez-mateo-estevez.html