Detroit Tigers 2024 offseason preview: What’s in store in 2025 after the Tigers’ surprising playoff run?

Let’s take a look at the Detroit Tigers’ 2024 season, the questions the team must answer this winter and the early outlook for 2025.

Read more: 2024 MLB offseason previews: What’s next for the White Sox, Angels, Marlins and the rest?

Result after the season

A magical run through August and September propelled this young Tigers team to a surprise wildcard berth. They slayed the American League’s ultimate playoff dragon by defeating the Astros in the wild-card round and battled the Guardians through five close games before losing in the ALDS.

The Tigers’ game plan of Tarik Skubal “and pitching chaos” took them through their first six postseason games and nearly to the ALCS, but the Guardians’ bats finally got to Skubal and the Detroit bullpen in Game 5. Skubal surrendered a grand slam – the first of his career – as Detroit fell 7-3 in the final episode.

Things that went well

The 2024 Tigers will forever be remembered as the group that ended a long rebuild by earning the franchise’s first postseason appearance since 2014. And they accomplished the feat in dramatic fashion, going 17-6 from September 1st until the day they clinched their spot in the playoffs. on September 27.

The leader of this club was Tarik Skubal, who is arguably the best starting pitcher in baseball. After posting dazzling results through 15 starts last year, he won the American League Triple Crown this season and led the league in wins, strikeouts and ERA. And while Reese Olson missed most of the second half due to a shoulder injury, he showed this season that he can be Skubal’s sidekick for years to come.

The successes on the offensive side have been less pronounced, but in Riley Greene and Kerry Carpenter, the Tigers have found two players who can be fixtures in the best lineup. Greene didn’t take a huge step forward in his third season, but showed improved strength and durability. Meanwhile, Carpenter missed 2.5 months due to a back injury, but when healthy was the team’s leading hitter (.932 OPS).

Things that went wrong

Spencer Torkelson’s struggles were a major reason the Tigers’ offense didn’t take a big step forward. The slugger was expected to build on a 31-home run season in 2023 and instead hit .201 with four home runs when he was elected to the minors on June 2. He returned to the bigs in mid-August and did better in the competition. stretch, which offers some hope for next season.

Javier Báez’s play reached a new low in 2024. The 31-year-old hit .184 with a .516 OPS in 80 games before undergoing season-ending hip surgery in late August. Báez has posted a modest .610 OPS through the first three seasons of a lucrative, six-year, $140 million contract with Detroit.

On the pitching side, Kenta Maeda let the team down. The 36-year-old signed a two-year, $24 million contract this offseason, expecting to be a mid-rotation starter. Instead, he produced the worst results of any pitcher who played a major role on the team. Manager AJ Hinch tried to help Maeda in the second half by having him follow up with an opener, but he still finished the season with a 6.09 ERA.

Off-season plans

The Tigers have a lot of young talent. Figuring out which of their prospects are ready to take the next step will be a challenge.

The outfield is in good condition. Greene will be the left fielder and Carpenter and Matt Vierling could share right field. Carpenter will also make regular appearances on DH. Parker Meadows struggled after making the Opening Day roster, but returned to the minors after a few months and played much better along the way. Next year he should be the center fielder and leadoff hitter. Wenceel Pérez would fit in well as a backup outfielder.

The infield has more questions than answers. Torkelson should be the Opening Day first baseman, as the organization isn’t likely to give up on someone drafted first overall in 2020. Colt Keith was inconsistent during his rookie season, but had enough positives to start 2025 as a second baseman. The third base job is wide open as Jace Jung didn’t make much noise during a late-season audition. Vierling could also play hot corner if needed.

General manager Jeff Greenberg will have to determine Báez’s future this offseason. It would be difficult to eat the last three years of Báez’s contract, but he cannot continue to play regularly for the Tigers at his current level. Prospect Trey Sweeney played shortstop, but did not do well offensively. Jake Rogers and Dillon Dingler will likely form the infectious duo, with Andy Ibáñez filling a valuable utility role.

The 2025 rotation will be led by Skubal and Olson. In a perfect world, they are soon joined by Jackson Jobe, widely regarded as baseball’s best player. Casey Mize is unlikely to achieve the stardom expected when he was selected first overall in 2018, but he will still hold a rotation spot. Keider Montero, Brant Hurter and Ty Madden will battle for the final rotation spots.

The relief corps lacks a dominant pitcher, but has plenty of effective weapons, including Jason Foley, Tyler Holton and Will Vest. Shelby Miller should also be back, as the organization would be wise to pick up his club option.

Overall, the front office needs to find the right balance between adding veterans who will help the team in 2025, without blocking the talented youngsters who will soon need promotions to the majors. Adding a starter and a reliever are the most obvious moves this winter. If the Tigers are willing to release Báez, they can also make a big impact on offense by adding a shortstop who can hit the heart of the lineup.

Prospects on the horizon

Detroit’s farm system has risen steadily in recent years and is now considered one of the best in baseball. Many of the organization’s top prospects are expected to arrive in 2026, but there are a number of key players ready to help the big league roster next year.

Jobe was a hot topic throughout 2024, with Tigers fans clamoring for him to make his debut. The Tigers likely took the right approach with the third overall pick in the 2021 draft, letting him spend most of his season in Double-A. But after a brief stint in Triple-A, Jobe was promoted to work out of the Tigers’ bullpen in the final week of the regular season, and he pitched four scoreless innings in September before giving up three runs in 1⅔ innings in the postseason ‘. Jobe will likely be part of the Tigers’ 2025 Opening Day rotation.

There are some elite position players in Detroit’s system who will still be playing in a few years. Max Clark, the third overall pick in the 2023 MLB Draft, is one of the best prospects in baseball at any position. He profiles as an excellent defender who has strong plate discipline and makes good things happen on the base paths. His strength should improve with age. Kevin McGonigle and Bryce Rainer could end up turning a double play in Detroit. McGonigle has been an on-base machine thus far, rarely striking out and aggressively running the bases. Rainer was the team’s first-round pick this year.

Goals for 2025

Detroit has made steady progress in recent seasons, highlighted by the team’s playoff berth this year. The height of this potential dynasty will likely be a few years away, as players like Clark, McGonigle and Rainer all make an impact in Detroit. But Hinch currently has enough talent at his disposal to challenge the top teams in the AL Central.

While Jobe could make a big impact in the rotation next year, the biggest key will be improving the offense. The Tigers will need to score more points to win the AL Central, and that means improvement from players like Meadows, Torkelson and Keith.

Fantasy focus

Skubal will be the first pitcher off the board in many 2025 fantasy drafts. After already being selected in Round 1, no other Tigers will be drafted until the middle rounds. At that point, Greene, Carpenter and Olson will be viable options. Jobe will be an exciting late-round sleeper who could boost the draft rankings in spring training.