The Tigers don’t figure to be major players in a free-agent market that looks thin from top to bottom, so if Scott Harris and Chris Ilitch are going to make a splash, trade season may be the likelier path. That makes Teoscar Hernández a name worth watching if the Dodgers decide to move him.
Los Angeles could have a reason to shop him. Its No. 1 prospect, Josue De Paula, is expected to get more time in left field in 2027, which would make Hernández easier to part with. There was already interest a year ago, when the Royals surfaced as a possible fit before the Dodgers chose to keep him.
The contract is manageable enough to keep the phone lines busy. Hernández is due $17.34 million in 2027, and the deal also includes a $15 million club option for 2028. He hasn’t fully delivered on the three-year agreement Los Angeles handed him after his rebound 2024 on a prove-it deal, and that could push the Dodgers toward selling at a lower price than they’d like.
For Detroit, the appeal is obvious even with an outfield that already feels crowded. The club could use more time to develop Brett Callahan, and there’s also a case that Kerry Carpenter has outstayed his welcome on the roster. Harris has never loved blocking prospects, but Hernández’s expiring deal could give the Tigers a short-term bridge and a bat with 25-plus homer upside.
He’s also been productive at Comerica Park. In 20 career games there, Hernández has hit .325 with an .890 OPS, along with three home runs and 11 RBI.
There are real drawbacks, too. He’s older, his power slipped in 2026 from 25 homers in 2025 to 16 in 2026, and he brings plenty of strikeouts and shaky defense. Still, if the comparison is Hernández or Carpenter - a player who has also battled injuries, doesn’t defend well, and hasn’t earned full-time trust from the Tigers - the argument becomes pretty straightforward.
And from Detroit’s side, the Dodgers’ roster direction matters. Los Angeles should be looking to get younger next season, which only increases the chance Hernández becomes available. The Tigers have lower-ranked prospects they could move, and a deal for Hernández would at least give fans something tangible to latch onto.
In Other News...
Tigers Quietly Made A Depth Move That Puts Focus On Who's Next
The Tigers kept busy with a low-key round of minor league business, bringing back veteran catcher Carlos Prez along with several relief arms on new minor league contracts. Prez had served as the Triple-A depth option behind the plate and was swinging the bat well before an ankle injury ended his season, making his return a sensible move for a club that values catching depth and familiarity in the system.
Detroit also re-signed relievers Moises Rodriguez, Marco Jimenez and Wandisson Charles, each of whom has flashed potential at different minor league levels. Moves like these rarely draw much attention, but they matter in an organization that is always trying to stock enough arms for the long grind, and they also raise the usual question around this time of year: which of these pitchers can force their way into the picture next? [Read more 🡒]
Scott Harris Faces A Quiet Tigers Roster Squeeze This Winter
The winter roster crunch is already showing up on the Tigers calendar, and it starts with the Rule 5 draft. Several prospects could need a 40-man roster spot to stay out of reach, which forces Detroit to weigh long-term development against the risk of losing useful depth for nothing. It is the kind of decision that does not always grab headlines, but it can shape the back end of a roster and expose how a front office values its own pipeline.
Scott Harris and the Tigers also have to navigate a layer of uncertainty beyond their own board, since the Collective Bargaining Agreement expiration could affect whether the draft even happens. In the meantime, Detroits roster strategy remains tied to the broader flexibility created under owner Chris Ilitch, giving the club some room to maneuver if it wants to protect the right players without boxing itself in. Even so, this is the sort of quiet squeeze that can force hard choices sooner than expected. [Read more 🡒]
Tigers Have A Buy-Low Rotation Target Fans Should Notice
Foster Griffin is the kind of free-agent arm the Tigers have reason to keep on the radar if theyre looking for value rather than headline-grabbing money. The left-hander just finished a postseason run with the Guardians that quietly checked a lot of boxes, turning in a 3.48 ERA over 10 innings with 15 strikeouts and no walks while giving Cleveland another useful option out of the bullpen.
What makes Griffin especially interesting from Detroits perspective is the winding path that brought him back here. After Tommy John surgery in 2021, he spent time in Japan with the Yomiuri Giants before returning to MLB with the Nationals in 2026 and later being traded to Cleveland, a journey that suggests both resilience and adaptability. For a Tigers club that could still benefit from adding pitching depth without overextending itself, Griffin fits the profile of a buy-low target worth a closer look. [Read more 🡒]