The GM Meetings are barely underway in Las Vegas, but the Tigers already have a trade conversation worth watching: which of their possible chips actually carry real value?
Detroit’s offseason focus is supposed to be the bullpen, though an outfield bat and another starter would fit too. And with the trade market expected to do more of the heavy lifting than free agency, Scott Harris has a handful of names he could dangle if he wants to get creative. The question is simple enough: who would other teams really care about?
Spencer Torkelson sits at the top of that list. Harris has said Torkelson still has a place on the roster, even after the move into a first-base platoon with Colt Keith late in the season, but Harris has also made it clear that nobody is untouchable.
He “couldn’t do his job if he didn’t listen.” Torkelson has already been connected to the Pirates and Mets, and his appeal is obvious enough: first overall pick pedigree, a 21 homer-per-season pace, and two remaining years of arbitration eligibility.
The drawbacks are just as familiar - the strikeouts, the defense, and the stretches that leave Tigers fans tearing their hair out.
Max Anderson is a different kind of trade piece, and maybe a sneakier one. He isn’t even on the 40-man roster yet, which could make him attractive to a team looking for a major league-ready infielder without immediately having to create room for him.
He just won a minor league Gold Glove, even with long-running questions about his defense. Harris has said Anderson will get major league run in 2027, but if the right player is available - Otto Lopez or Xavier Edwards, maybe - Detroit could be tempted.
He’s also the only notable member of the Tigers’ 2023 draft class who hasn’t debuted in the majors yet.
Colt Keith is another name that could draw interest, even if he’s been something of a puzzle for Detroit. The Tigers signed him to a six-year, $28.42 contract before the 2024 season, but through three years in the majors he’s hit .258 with a .719 OPS and 101 OPS+, which is only a shade above league average.
That’s not the kind of line that screams untouchable. But the contract is friendly, with $4.33 million due in 2027 and $5.33 million in both 2028 and 2029, plus club options that climb from $10 million for the three seasons after that.
Detroit has also used him more like a utility infielder than a core piece, and that kind of inexpensive upside can still appeal to a team willing to bet on a rebound.
Kerry Carpenter is the kind of player fans tend to value more than rival front offices do. Detroit remembers the postseason heroics, and the “Kerry Bonds” label has stuck for a reason.
But he spent exactly half of the 2026 season on the IL, his defense in the outfield has never been a strength, and AJ Hinch has never fully trusted him against left-handed pitching. If the Tigers moved him, he’d probably be the extra piece in a deal rather than the centerpiece.
He can help when he’s healthy, but not every club is going to buy into that profile.
Parker Meadows may be the toughest sell of the bunch. Tigers fans may be overrating his market the most, and the biggest issue is simple: he’s rarely on the field.
He played in just 189 games over four seasons, an average of a little more than 47 per year, and the absences have been tied more to health than to roster decisions. His list of injuries includes a hamstring strain, arm inflammation, a quad strain and the fractured arm he suffered this season.
It’s still unclear whether he’ll be ready for Opening Day next year. Even with strong defense in center, that kind of availability is hard to market, and the return would likely be modest at best - perhaps a semi-decent bullpen arm who still needs some rehabilitation.
In Other News...
Tigers Just Added A Bullpen Answer Fans Will Immediately Debate
The Tigers have added a veteran late-inning arm in Emilio Pagn, agreeing to a one-year deal worth $11.5 million after he declined a $10 million player option to make the move to Detroit. It is the kind of bullpen addition that instantly invites a split reaction, because Pagn brings the experience of a former closer and the sort of profile teams either trust in tight games or spend all winter arguing over.
Pagns track record is built on swing-and-miss stuff, but it comes with the usual caveats that follow him from stop to stop: strikeouts, walks and the occasional mistake that leaves the yard. His pitch mix and usage have long made him a fascinating case study for evaluators, and now the Tigers are betting that his strengths will play in their bullpen mix. The only real question is how quickly he settles into a role that could matter plenty in the American League race. [Read more 🡒]
Tigers Make A Late-Night Bullpen Move Fans Will Debate
The Tigers kept working the bullpen market late into the night, moving to add veteran right-hander Emilio Pagan on a one-year deal reportedly worth $11.5 million, pending a physical. It is the kind of move that fits the way Detroit has talked about building this roster, with president Scott Harris stressing the need for more pitching depth and, in particular, relievers who can miss bats.
Pagan brings 10 years of big league experience and has handled closing duties before, which gives the Tigers another seasoned arm to sort into a late-game mix that still feels very much in flux. He most recently pitched for the Reds, and his decision to turn down a player option there opened the door for Detroit to make a run at him, even if the fit is sure to spark plenty of debate about how the bullpen should be constructed from here. [Read more 🡒]
Brad Ausmus Just Landed A High-Pressure Job Tigers Fans Know Well
Brad Ausmus is back in a dugout role with plenty of scrutiny attached, this time as the new manager of the Houston Astros. For Tigers fans, his name still carries plenty of familiarity from his time in Detroit, where he spent years in the managers chair before moving on to other coaching stops around the league. Houston is leaning on a veteran voice with both playing and managerial experience, and the move comes as the organization continues reshaping itself from the top down.
The timing makes the assignment even more interesting, with the Astros also bringing in Randy Flores as general manager and moving on from Joe Espada as manager. Ausmus inherits a job that demands steadiness, authority and quick buy-in, especially in a market that expects to contend. For Detroit observers who remember how closely his tenure was watched here, it is another reminder that some baseball jobs come with a spotlight that never really dims. [Read more 🡒]