The Tigers are staring at a hole at second base with Gleyber Torres likely heading elsewhere, and that kind of opening always sends rumor season into overdrive. Naturally, Jazz Chisholm’s name has surfaced. He’s the biggest bat on the market at the position and has been labeled a top-five player there, with Mark Feinsand of MLB.com even naming Detroit as a possible landing spot earlier this week.
On paper, it’s easy to see why the fit gets discussed. In practice, though, it feels like a mismatch.
Chisholm’s personality has played well in some places and not as well in others. In Miami, his energetic style fit a young Marlins team that did not have much star power around him. The club stayed mostly out of the spotlight, even during its 2023 postseason run as a heavy underdog, and former manager Don Mattingly also stressed that Chisholm needed to sharpen up and mature.
The Yankees version has looked different. Chisholm has at times come off as too fiery, or even checked out, and a June home game turned into a minor flashpoint when he was casually playing with a lollipop in his mouth. Once his manager found out, it sparked outrage.
That kind of baggage matters in Detroit, because the Tigers have made a point of putting clubhouse culture and loyalty near the top of their priorities. Even Max Clark and his chain-wearing style went through an initiation by fire before he showed the fan base he had the right character. With that in mind, Chisholm is not exactly the cleanest culture fit.
Then there’s the money.
His 2026 production is described as fairly ordinary, with a 1.7 bWAR, but his asking price is anything but. Chisholm is expected to chase an 8-10 year deal at $35 million per year, a number that seems unlikely. Even if he settles for less, he still figures to land at least $20 million per season on a deal of four years or more unless he accepts a one-year prove-it contract in the mid-$20 millions.
That creates another problem for Detroit: the Tigers already have a deep group of internal possibilities, including Hao-Yu Lee, Colt Keith, Max Anderson, and even Kevin McGonigle in certain scenarios. Adding Chisholm could make an already crowded infield feel tighter unless he rebounds all the way back to being a top-tier second baseman for the full life of the contract.
Even a short-term arrangement wouldn’t necessarily solve everything. Chisholm brings athletic traits, including basestealing and good range at second, but Detroit already has young players trying to improve in those same areas. There is also a real chance this turns into another Torres situation, where the player starts with a prominent role but winds up on the bench by season’s end in favor of a younger option with more long-term value.
So while signing Chisholm would show real intent from the front office and would certainly add competition, the fit still does not look ideal. The safer play for the Tigers may be to stick with their current group and look to the trade market if they need a better answer.
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Former Orioles Lefty Finds A New Chance After Brutal Setback
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For a club that has spent plenty of time sorting through pitching depth, the move is as much about patience as it is about upside. Raquet now has some security while he recovers, and the Tigers are planning around a 2028 return if everything progresses as expected. For a player coming off such a brutal setback, it is at least a clear path forward. [Read more 🡒]