The Tigers keep circling the same issue, and it starts with a defense that simply hasn’t been close to good enough.
Over the last two seasons, Detroit’s infield has been one of the weakest groups in the game. The Tigers rank 26th with -31 Fielding Run Value, a number that puts them third-worst in the American League, ahead of only the Los Angeles Angels (-38) and the Tampa Bay Rays (-31). Other measures tell a similarly grim story: Detroit sits 25th in the league with -43 Outs Above Average, while in Defensive Runs Saved the club is 14th with +31, the same mark Pete Crow-Armstrong has posted as a center fielder over that same two-year stretch.
That lack of defensive reliability has only made life harder for a pitching staff that has also lost its swing-and-miss edge. Detroit finished 2026 with a 21.8 K%, its lowest rate since the 19.8% the team recorded in 2021.
Most of the trouble has come from the infield corners and second base. Gleyber Torres closed out 2026 with -5 FRV over the last two seasons at second.
Colt Keith sits at -1 FRV, Hao-Yu Lee at -3 FRV and -12 OAA in 2026, and Javier Baez posted -2 OAA as a shortstop in 2026. Spencer Torkelson has been even rougher at first base, where his -12 OAA made him a disaster and the worst at the position when balls were hit to his right side.
There have been a few brighter spots. Zach McKinstry led the Tigers with +8 OAA and was the only current infielder with a significant role to provide positive defensive value. Kevin McGonigle, the Rookie of the Year, also showed encouraging signs in the field, finishing with +0 OAA in 676 innings at shortstop, a little better than the -1 he posted in 644 innings at third base, though his range still has limitations.
But the bigger problem is that the glove work has not been strong enough to offset what the lineup is giving back. McGonigle just put together a historic season with 7.1 bWAR at 21, but Baez has been a disaster, with his career OPS falling from .722 over his first 10 seasons to .619, or a 72 OPS+, over the last three. Torkelson and Lee have improved their offensive production over the last two years, but not enough to fully justify the roles they hold.
That leaves Detroit with a straightforward offseason question: what is the plan?
The Tigers have options on the market, and the front office needs to start acting on them. That could mean bringing in a veteran who stabilizes the group while others rotate through, or going after an outside addition who can take direct ownership of the problem. Either way, Detroit has reached the point where it has to find a real answer.
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 🡒]