The Tigers have finally built a catching room most teams would envy, and that puts Scott Harris in a pretty strong spot heading into the offseason.
For years, Detroit kept searching for the next true franchise catcher after Pudge Rodriguez was traded to the Yankees in 2008. Alex Avila flashed enough to make people think he might be that answer, but the production never stayed steady.
Brandon Inge made an All-Star team a year after Pudge was dealt, though he was splitting time between catcher and third base. James McCann was supposed to be the next one, too, but that never really took hold.
Now Dillon Dingler is looking like a long-term piece, and the Tigers have an All-Star catcher again. That matters, because catcher is one of the hardest jobs in baseball to solve.
The position demands a player who can handle the physical grind, manage a pitching staff, and still hold up at the plate. Detroit has more than one option who fits that mold.
Dingler and rookie Eduardo Valencia have both hit well this season, and that gives the Tigers a legitimate one-two punch behind the plate. Dingler is an All-Star, and Valencia has been outstanding in limited work, batting .320 with six homers and 18 RBI in just 33 appearances with Detroit. That kind of production from a catching duo is rare.
And the depth doesn’t end there.
The organization has nine catchers who have been playing well this season: Dillon Dingler, Eduardo Valencia, Josue Briceno, Luke Shliger, Thayron Liranzo, Edian Espinal, Michael Oliveto, Manuel Bolivar, and Steven Madero.
That kind of depth gives Detroit a real offseason lever to pull. Catchers are always in demand around the league, and the Tigers have several players who could draw interest. Since the big-league catcher situation is already in good shape, moving some of that surplus could help solve other problems on the roster.
Pitching is the obvious need, especially in the bullpen. A trade built around one or two of these catching prospects could bring back relief help or even a middle-of-the-rotation starter, and that would go a long way toward strengthening the 2027 club.
The one caution is that Josue Briceño and Thayron Liranzo are the names Detroit probably wants to protect. But beyond that, the Tigers have room to deal.
You can only play one catcher at a time, and usually only carry two. That makes this the perfect time to use the surplus to address a staff that still needs help.
There’s no shortage of catching talent in the system, and the Tigers should treat that as an opportunity.
In Other News...
Tigers Bring Back A Familiar Voice As Big Decisions Loom
The Tigers are adding a familiar voice to their front office as they head into a stretch of major organizational choices, reportedly bringing back Jay Sartori as vice president for baseball operations. Sartori is no stranger to Detroit, having previously helped build out the clubs analytics and technology infrastructure during an earlier stint with the organization, and he is expected to work alongside the current baseball operations group.
What remains to be sorted out is how his role will actually fit into the chain of command once the move becomes official. The team has not announced the hire, and there is still some uncertainty about Sartoris exact responsibilities and how he will be aligned with the other executives already in place, which makes this a noteworthy addition even before the details are clarified. [Read more 🡒]
Tigers Rain Delay Just Raised The Tension On A Brutal Finale
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For a club still trying to keep its season alive, every delay only stretches out the tension around a must-hold game. Detroit faces elimination from playoff contention with a loss, so the wait before first pitch has turned an already brutal ending into even more of a pressure cooker. [Read more 🡒]
Max Clark Is Forcing Tigers Fans To Rethink His Timeline
Max Clarks first big-league look has gone better than almost anyone around the Tigers could have reasonably expected. Since his debut on July 31, the rookie has hit .278 with three home runs, 22 RBIs and a strong OPS, all while settling in with a poise that has stood out as much as the production. The early returns have made him look less like a player getting his feet wet and more like someone already answering the speed and depth of major league pitching.
For Detroit, the bigger question now is what happens when the league starts adjusting back. Clark has benefited from easing into the sport in lower-pressure spots in the order, but a strong finish could change the conversation fast and push him toward a larger role sooner than expected. If he keeps handling the leagues counters the way he has handled everything else so far, the Tigers may have to rethink not just his ceiling, but the timeline attached to it. [Read more 🡒]