The Tigers may not have a second-base answer locked in yet, but one name on MLB.com’s radar would certainly change the conversation.
In a Sept. 6 outlook, the site listed Yankees infielder Jazz Chisholm Jr. as one of three potential free-agent fits for Detroit at second base. Brandon Lowe and Luis Arraez were the other names mentioned. The report did not say the Tigers had reached out to Chisholm or that he was officially on their offseason wish list, but it did give a clear picture of the kind of established bat Detroit could chase if it wants to upgrade the spot.
That question is coming into sharper focus after another rough result. Detroit dropped to 65-78 with Sunday’s 3-2 loss to the Cleveland Guardians, a setback that makes 2027 look a lot more relevant than any kind of late-season run.
Chisholm brings the kind of upside that makes him such an intriguing option. The 28-year-old hasn’t quite matched his 2025 numbers in a contract year, but he’s still flashing the power-speed blend that can tilt an infield decision.
Through Sept. 6, he was hitting .230/.310/.403 with 19 home runs, 55 RBIs and 40 stolen bases. He also logged 133 games at second base, according to his official MLB profile.
That followed a big 2025 season in which Chisholm put up a .242/.332/.481 line with 31 homers, 80 RBIs and 31 steals. He made his second All-Star team, won his first Silver Slugger Award and became the fourth player in Yankees history to post a 30-homer, 30-steal season.
Detroit already has in-house options for second base, including Hao-Yu Lee, Colt Keith and Kevin McGonigle. But adding Chisholm would be a different kind of move - not just a plug-in fix, but a decision that could reshape part of the young infield around a proven threat.
His defensive flexibility only adds to the appeal. Chisholm has spent time at second base, third base and center field in his major league career, giving manager A.J. Hinch multiple ways to fit his bat and speed into the lineup.
The Tigers’ current second-base situation is still fluid. Gleyber Torres returned to Detroit in 2026 after taking a one-year, $22.025 million qualifying offer, and the official contract announcement made clear that the deal pushed his trip back to free agency by a year without tying the club down long term.
Detroit could bring Torres back, hand the job to Lee, or go after a bigger name such as Chisholm. The payroll picture suggests the club has room to consider all of it.
MLB.com reported the Tigers were carrying about $85 million in commitments for 2027 after starting this year with a $200 million payroll. That doesn’t mean they suddenly have $115 million to spend freely, since arbitration raises, club options, benefits and other costs still have to be factored in. Even so, the current books leave president of baseball operations Scott Harris with plenty of room to maneuver.
FanGraphs’ payroll tracker listed Torres as a pending free agent while showing guaranteed 2027 salaries for players including Javier Báez, Framber Valdez, Kyle Finnegan, Keith and McGonigle.
For now, Chisholm is only a possible fit, not a confirmed target. But if Detroit decides it wants a bigger offensive swing instead of leaning entirely on its young core, he’s the kind of player worth watching closely.
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