The Detroit Tigers don’t need a long wish list to sharpen the roster this winter. They need the right kind of targets, and the World Series still has a few players in it who could fit what Detroit is trying to build.
President of Baseball Operations Scott Harris has made it clear he wants the Tigers’ internal group to drive the franchise forward. At the same time, he’s shown he’s willing to spend when the fit is right, most notably by landing Framber Valdez on a three-year, $115 million deal. With free agency drawing closer and a potential lockout looming in December, Detroit has to be ready to move fast if the right names hit the market.
One first baseman who should be on the radar is Brewers standout Jake Bauers, though he feels like the longest shot of the group. Milwaukee may never even let him get there. But if he somehow does, he makes a lot of sense for Detroit.
That’s because the Tigers’ own first-base picture is still cloudy around Spencer Torkelson. He’s under contract, but he hasn’t become the kind of middle-of-the-order force the club hoped for when it took him first overall.
Torkelson brings power and plays close to every day, but the swing-and-miss and the empty at-bats in big spots are still part of the package. Bauers, meanwhile, would bring a similar power output with a better batting average.
He finished with 26 home runs, the same total as Torkelson, but hit .266 and did it in only 144 games.
Harris said in his end-of-season press conference that Torkelson will help lead the Tigers back to the playoffs in 2027, which makes a pursuit of Bauers less likely. Still, if Detroit were shopping for a cleaner answer at first base, Bauers would be the cleanest fit.
The bullpen is the more urgent fix. Detroit’s season featured too many walk-offs and too many late-inning leads slipping away, and that kind of instability can’t carry over into 2027.
The Tigers did have some reliable arms, but there’s room for a veteran who can steady the back end. That’s where JoJo Romero comes in.
Romero has posted a 3.51 ERA since debuting in 2020, and he looks like the kind of reliever the Tigers could slot into a meaningful role right away. With Kenley Jansen’s club option likely to be declined, Detroit should have room to make a move. Harris has already shown he’s comfortable adding pitching through free agency, so this would be a familiar lane for the front office.
Spotrac.com pegs Romero’s market value at four years and $26.7 million, or $6.7 million per season. For a Tigers team trying to supplement its homegrown core, that’s a price point that works. If Romero is available, Detroit would have a hard time passing.
Middle-infield depth is another issue, and Harris has already acknowledged it. Shortstop Taylor Walls fits that need if Tampa Bay declines his $3.1 million club option for 2027. He won’t impress with the bat - his career line sits at .200 with a .589 OPS - but his glove and legs make him valuable.
Walls stole 21 bases in 2026 and posted 3.0 WAR defensively at shortstop, along with 0.5 WAR at the plate. That kind of versatility matters, especially for a team that needs more speed and more cover across the infield.
In the right setup, he could handle shortstop while Kevin McGonigle plays third and Hao-Yu Lee takes second. Walls can also move around to third or second if A.J.
Hinch wants to shuffle the alignment.
The Tigers won’t have to wait long to know whether that option is even on the table. Club options have to be decided within five days after the World Series, so Detroit should get clarity on Walls soon enough to shape the rest of its offseason plan.
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