The Detroit Tigers have bigger problems than one bat, but the outfield looks like a spot that could use a real upgrade this offseason.
Pitching sits at the top of the to-do list. The rotation is depleted, the bullpen needs a closer, and another high-leverage arm would help too. Still, there’s a case for adding another hitter to ease the load on Dillon Dingler and Kevin McGonigle, especially with Gleyber Torres potentially on the way out.
The more obvious opening is in the outfield, where Riley Greene and Kerry Carpenter are projected to be part of the mix next season. Even so, those two were the only Tigers to finish with more than seven homers. That leaves room for help, both in depth and in production.
One name that fits is Ian Happ, who is scheduled to hit unrestricted free agency after the World Series. The four-time Gold Glove winner would give Detroit something it could use: a veteran presence for a young lineup, steady slug, and dependable defense.
Happ, 32, has been a major piece for the Chicago Cubs since his debut in 2017. He has spent most of his time in left field, but he has also logged more than 1,600 innings in center and has seen action at second base, third base, and even a little at first. That kind of flexibility matters, especially with Max Clark expected to play a major role and Carpenter dealing with injuries and a sub-.700 OPS.
The bat is part of the appeal too. Over the last four seasons, Happ has hit at least 20 home runs each year and driven in at least 68 runs every season. He has also shown strong plate discipline, drawing at least 80 walks in that span.
With McGonigle, Clark, Carpenter, and Eduardo Valencia all part of the youth movement, Detroit could use someone who has been around winning baseball and knows how to handle a big-league lineup. The Tigers’ main push this offseason should be for elite pitching, but adding a player like Happ would give them another proven weapon on the position-player side.
In Other News...
Framber Valdez May Hold The Key To Detroits 2027 Rotation
Framber Valdez was still the kind of starter the Tigers needed in 2026, even if the results did not line up neatly with the workload. He led Detroit in innings pitched and strikeouts, but the overall line was uneven enough to leave the club searching for answers after the season, especially with his ERA and WHIP both landing at career-high marks.
One of those answers came from a mechanical tweak, as the Tigers shifted Valdez to the middle of the pitching rubber and saw signs of a better fit down the stretch. The hope now is that the adjustment carries into 2027, with Detroit believing it may help him get back closer to the version of Valdez the rotation was built around in the first place. [Read more 🡒]
Tigers Suddenly Face Bigger Questions Than Kevin McGonigles Latest Honor
Kevin McGonigles latest recognition gives the Tigers at least one bright note to point to, but it lands in the middle of a very different kind of club conversation. Detroit has spent recent days making a series of staff changes, including moving on from multiple members of the coaching operation, and the tone around the organization has shifted from celebration to reorganization.
The bigger picture only got more complicated when MLB presented its latest collective bargaining proposals to the players union, a set of ideas that would reshape the rhythm of the regular season and could alter how teams build and manage their rosters. For the Tigers, the timing is what stands out: a prized young player drawing national praise while the organization works through internal turnover and a broader sport-wide negotiation that could have real effects well beyond this week. [Read more 🡒]
Tarik Skubal Just Added To A Tigers Fear Fans Already Had
Tarik Skubals name keeps hanging over every conversation about the Tigers future, and the latest comments only added to the unease around it. After the Dodgers advanced to the NLCS, the left-hander spoke positively about being part of that environment and the kind of team culture that comes with it, a reminder of how much appeal a contender can have when a pitcher is weighing what comes next.
Skubal did not spell out any future plans, but he made it clear he is still eager to keep pitching and keep taking the mound whenever the next chance arrives. For Detroit fans, the concern is obvious: even without any official decision on a new deal, there is already speculation about where he could be headed down the line, and the longer this stretches out, the harder it is to ignore. [Read more 🡒]