The Tigers’ offseason conversation may come back to one simple question: where does the power come from, and who can steady the lineup?
Detroit did some things well in 2026, especially when left-handed hitters faced left-handed pitching. The club’s lefty bats finished fourth in Major League Baseball in on-base percentage in those matchups, posting a .336 mark, and that production was driven more by patience than damage. The Tigers also led the American League with a 10.5% walk rate, and they finished sixth in wRC+ at 103, just barely on the right side of league average.
But those numbers need a closer look. Detroit had the 16th-most plate appearances in left-on-left situations during the regular season, with 611 trips to the plate split among nine hitters. That works out to an average of 68 plate appearances apiece, though only four hitters topped 67, and five others didn’t even get to 27.
The dependable group was small. Max Clark led the way with a .453 on-base percentage against left-handed pitchers, followed by Riley Greene at .364 and Kevin McGonigle at .324. The rest of the group - Kerry Carpenter, Zach McKinstry, Colt Keith, and Parker Meadows - combined for a -87 wRC+ average in 139 plate appearances.
Most of those players were more regularly used against right-handed pitching, and their limited role against lefties reflected the drop-off in production. That split left the Tigers leaning on a narrow core for reliability in those matchups.
There is also a strong sense that Gleyber Torres’ time in Detroit is over after the season ended. Torres was part of the right-handed group the Tigers used to try to add power, along with Dillon Dingler, Spencer Torkelson, Javier Baez, Hao-Yu Lee, Eduardo Valencia, and Matt Vierling. Alongside the left-handed presence of McGonigle and Greene, plus Clark’s arrival, that collection represented Detroit’s best offensive version.
Jahmai Jones was also used as a pinch hitter or designated hitter against left-handed pitching, but his inconsistency eventually cost him a roster spot. He later improved in the second half after joining the Red Sox.
Among Detroit’s hitters against lefties, Valencia paced the group with a 185 wRC+, and Torres followed at 127. Even so, the Tigers’ main power bats did not deliver enough. Dingler slashed just .329 in slugging percentage with a 27.4 K%, while Torkelson managed a .370 slugging percentage and a 30.7 K%.
That combination of uncertainty and a likely Torres departure makes the lineup more fragile, which is why the Tigers will need a real answer this winter. One name that fits the need is Chicago Cubs right fielder Seiya Suzuki.
Suzuki just put together the most complete season of his career, hitting 26 home runs with 86 RBIs, a 134 wRC+, and 4.6 fWAR, the best of his career since he debuted in 2022. His underlying numbers backed it up too: he finished in the 88th percentile in Batting, the 89th in Chase%, and the 93rd in BB%, a strong sign of both contact skill and plate discipline.
He also brought more to the table defensively. Suzuki finished in the 85th percentile in Fielding, the first time he had been above the 32nd percentile, and he improved both his range and his throws to the bases.
For a team that needs right-handed power and a steady right fielder, Suzuki checks a lot of boxes. He also gives Detroit exactly the kind of production it lacked against left-handed pitching, leading the club in 2026 with eight home runs and a .309/.429/.537 slash line, along with a 165 wRC+.
In Other News...
Tigers Have A New First Base Debate Fans Didn't See Coming
Beau Ankeney has put himself on the map in a hurry, and that matters for a Tigers organization always looking for more young bats to follow. The 23-year-old first baseman, drafted by Detroit in 2025, shook off a slow start and turned his 2026 season into a breakout, producing loud offensive numbers in the minors while moving from Single-A to High-A.
The power is the part that gets attention first, with 24 home runs helping push his prospect stock upward inside the organization. For a club that has spent plenty of time searching for long-term answers on the right side of the infield, Ankeneys rise has created a new conversation around first base, even if the real decision on his future still has some runway left. [Read more 🡒]
Tigers May Finally Face A Trade Call Scott Harris Usually Avoids
The Marlins being open to offers for Otto Lopez and Xavier Edwards adds another layer to a market the Tigers could actually navigate from a position of strength. Detroit has built up infield depth and has the prospect capital to chase help if it wants to, which is why this kind of name starts to matter when a club is looking for ways to fit its roster together without creating holes elsewhere.
Under Scott Harris, the Tigers have generally steered clear of moving top prospects, so any serious swing at a player like Edwards would say plenty about how far this front office is willing to bend for the right fit. There is no trade on the table yet and no decision announced, but this is the sort of redundancy-driven conversation that can force a team to weigh long-term caution against the chance to improve the roster now. [Read more 🡒]
Tigers Have Another Chance To Fix An Outfield Miss
The Tigers have spent plenty of time looking for useful outfield depth, and Alek Thomas could surface as another name worth monitoring. The former Diamondbacks outfielder was traded to the Dodgers in May, then recently elected free agency, which has reopened the door for a club like Detroit to take a close look at a minor league deal. For a team that has shown a willingness to churn the edges of the roster, a glove-first outfielder with major league experience is at least the kind of profile that fits the conversation.
Thomas is still known for his defense, and that matters for a Tigers organization that tends to value versatility and run prevention when it is filling out the margins of the roster. The appeal is not hard to see: low-risk depth, a potential defensive upgrade, and a player who could fit into Detroits broader approach if the bat can follow even a little. Whether the Tigers actually move on him is still unclear, but he is the sort of under-the-radar option that could make sense if they want another layer of insurance in the outfield. [Read more 🡒]