The Tigers don’t exactly look ready to make a splash in free agency, and that’s where the trade market starts to matter. With the 2026-27 class described as a bleak one, Scott Harris and Chris Ilitch have every reason to keep spending tight, which means Detroit’s biggest additions may have to come from outside the open market. If the front office does move, it probably won’t be for a big-ticket free agent - maybe just a reliever or two, if that.
One name that could fit better in a trade scenario is Dodgers outfielder Teoscar Hernández. Los Angeles could have a reason to listen this offseason, especially with No. 1 prospect Josue De Paula expected to get more work in left field in 2027. Hernández was also a player of interest last year, and the Royals got as far as emerging as a destination before the Dodgers decided to keep him.
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 contract he signed after a resurgent 2024 on a prove-it deal, and that could leave the Dodgers open to moving him at a lower price than they might have expected before.
For Detroit, the fit is at least worth considering. The outfield is already crowded, but there’s also a case that Brett Callahan needs more time to develop and that Kerry Carpenter has already overstayed his welcome on the roster. Since Harris is known for not blocking prospects, Hernández could serve as a one-year bridge while still giving the Tigers a legitimate power bat with 25-plus homer upside.
He’s also produced against the Tigers’ ballpark. In 20 career games at Comerica Park, Hernández has hit .325 with an .890 OPS, along with three home runs and 11 RBI.
The drawbacks are clear enough. Hernández is older, his power dipped from 25 homers in 2025 to 16 in 2026, and he brings strikeouts and shaky defense with him. But when that profile is stacked against Carpenter - who is often hurt, doesn’t defend well, and still doesn’t seem fully trusted in a full-time role - the comparison becomes easy to make.
The Dodgers should be looking for a younger roster next season, and Hernández may not be part of their long-term picture. For the Tigers, a trade like this could mean finding a usable bat without taking on a long commitment, while also giving fans something tangible to point to if the team decides to do business this winter.
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 🡒]