The Detroit Tigers may not need to swing for the fences to fix the left side of their infield.
With 2026 winding down and the club headed for the postseason’s sidelines after dealing fan favorite and back-to-back AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal to the Los Angeles Dodgers, the front office has already shown it was willing to take a hard pivot. That move made a playoff push feel like a long shot, but it also set the stage for 2027, when rookie sensation Kevin McGonigle figures to be a major part of the picture.
The question now is who fits alongside him.
Bleacher Report’s Joel Reuter suggested Friday that Detroit should consider Philadelphia Phillies third baseman Alec Bohm, a player Reuter described as a possible fit without a massive price tag.
"The versatility of Kevin McGonigle means they could put him at the hot corner and continue to give regular playing time to an underperforming Javier Báez, but why? Alec Bohm is not going to break the bank," Reuter wrote. "
"He offers some upside as a change-of-scenery player in his prime. Another Gleyber Torres reunion would solidify the infield and allow Zach McKinstry and Hao-Yu Lee to stay in utility roles," he added.
Bohm wouldn’t require the Tigers to spend like they’re chasing a marquee free agent, but the numbers from his 2026 season aren’t exactly eye-catching. In 140 games, the 30-year-old has posted a -0.3 bWAR and an 86 OPS+.
There is at least one offensive note worth filing away: this is the third time Bohm has reached 15 home runs in a season.
Defense is the bigger issue. Concerns about Bohm’s glove have followed him throughout his career, and that could be enough to make Detroit hesitate.
Even so, the Tigers could do a lot worse than Bohm if the alternative is overpaying for a star who is already drifting toward the back end of his prime.
In Other News...
Tigers Fans Are Watching The End Of A Comerica Park Era
The Tigers are in the middle of their final scheduled home stand of the 2026 season, and it comes with a little extra weight for anyone who has spent the last quarter-century associating downtown baseball with Comerica Park. The stadium has been home since 2000, and in that span it has become part of the teams identity as well as a familiar backdrop for some of the biggest moments in recent Tigers history.
After the season, the ballpark is expected to move into a new corporate era following Fifth Third Bancorps acquisition of Comerica, even though the building itself will stay put and keep the same place in the city skyline. The next name has not been announced publicly yet, which leaves these last games with one more layer of significance for fans who know they are watching the end of an era, even if the park itself is not going anywhere. [Read more 🡒]
Tigers Already Have A Few 2027 Holes They Can't Ignore
Even with the Tigers still sorting out the present, it is hard not to glance ahead to 2027 and see a roster that could use some real patchwork. Second base looks unsettled, the starting rotation needs more certainty and the bullpen is already pointing toward a future without much of its current late-inning backbone. Detroit can try to fill those spots internally with younger players, but this is the kind of long-view planning that also invites a veteran shopping list.
Luis Arraez, David Bednar and Tyler Mahle are the sorts of names that fit that discussion, because each would address a different need if the Tigers decide to supplement their core instead of waiting for prospects to answer every question. The organization does have some young pieces in the pipeline who could help, but the balance between patience and urgency is getting harder to ignore. Kenley Jansens likely departure only sharpens the issue, leaving Detroit with more to solve than it can probably afford to leave for later. [Read more 🡒]
Tigers Fans Already Have One Worry About The Skubal Trade Return
The Tarik Skubal trade brought an immediate jolt to the Tigers roster pipeline, with Detroit landing outfielder Zyhir Hope and pitchers River Ryan and Brady Smith from the Dodgers. Hope, in particular, is the name that jumps out in the return package. He is viewed as one of the better prospects now in the organization, thanks to his blend of power and speed, and he gives the Tigers a young position player with real upside to dream on.
Still, the early buzz around Hope has come with a note of caution. Analyst Keith Law recently watched him and came away with concerns about how he looked physically, saying Hope appeared out of shape and slower than in earlier evaluations. For a club that just paid a steep price in a franchise arm, the question now is whether Hopes long-term ceiling is matched by the kind of day-to-day condition Detroit will need if he is going to become a real piece of the future. [Read more 🡒]