The Detroit Tigers want to sign a position player before Opening Day in the 2025 season to improve the offense, but the only impactful position player remaining on the free-agent market is third baseman Alex Bregman.
The Tigers have been linked to Bregman for months.
But Scott Harris, the Tigers’ president of baseball operations, isn’t making any promises.
“We’re always looking to make our team better,” Harris said Friday. “There’s still a lot of free agents out there. There’s still a lot of trade conversations. I don’t know that we’re definitely going to be able to add, but we’re looking to add.”
THE LATEST:Alex Bregman watch: Tigers still in mix despite signing Jack Flaherty
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There are five days until pitchers and catchers report and 10 days until position players report to spring training in Lakeland, Florida. The Tigers play their first spring training game Feb. 22 against the Philadelphia Phillies at Joker Marchant Stadium.
The Tigers have added nearly $60 million to the 2025 payroll by signing right-hander Jack Flaherty (two years, $35 million), right-hander Alex Cobb (one year, $15 million), second baseman Gleyber Torres (one year, $15 million) and right-handed reliever Tommy Kahnle (one year, $7.75 million).
THE IMPACT:Tigers’ playoff odds would jump double digits by signing Alex Bregman
Signing Bregman would add another $25-30 million to the 2025 payroll, thus propelling the Tigers into the top half of payroll rank among the 30 MLB teams.
Right now, the Tigers rank 18th in 2025 payroll.
“We’re a better team now, and generally, players want to join better teams,” said Harris, when asked how Flaherty’s short-term contract structure impacts additional moves. “I think we’re a more appealing destination because of the pitching staff we were able to build this winter.
“As far as finances, I can’t really get into what additional flexibility this provides.”
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If the Tigers don’t get Bregman, then the Tigers will enter the 2025 season with Jace Jung and Matt Vierling as the primary options at third base. In that case, Jung seems likely to be the everyday third baseman against right-handed pitchers.
If the Tigers get Bregman, then Bregman is the everyday third baseman in all situations. The Tigers don’t want to sign Bregman for $200 million, which is what he has been seeking since the beginning of the 2024-25 offseason.
Jack Flaherty: Win for Scott Harris
Flaherty wanted to return to the Tigers.
But the Tigers weren’t Flaherty’s first choice, as he initially wanted to re-sign with the World Series-champion Los Angeles Dodgers — his hometown team — on a long-term contract worth at least $100 million. Teams weren’t interested in signing Flaherty to a long-term contract, and the Dodgers didn’t show any interest in bringing him back, so Flaherty became motivated to sign a short-term contract with the Tigers.
Harris viewed the Flaherty reunion as a win for the Tigers’ organization.
“He had no connection to Detroit before last year,” Harris said, “but he really enjoyed his time here and he wanted to come back. I think that’s a huge compliment to everyone who worked really hard behind the scenes to make his experience a good one last year.
“It’s not just front office and A.J. (Hinch, manager). There are a lot of coaches, strength staff, trainers, facility designers, chefs, security guards. Everybody working behind the scenes to make this place a place that players want to come play, they should all view this as a big compliment.”
A DEEPER DIVE:Tigers sign Jack Flaherty: Grade, analysis on 2-year, $35 million contract
One of Harris’ goals for his tenure with the Tigers was acquiring, developing and retaining young players, as part of the three-pillar plan he outlined for the first time in September 2022 at his introductory press conference.
Flaherty is an example of that.
Within the past 14 months, Harris signed Flaherty to a one-year, $14 million contract (in December 2023), traded Flaherty to the Dodgers for two prospects (in July 2024) and signed Flaherty to a two-year, $35 million contract (in February 2025).
“This is what we wanted to be able to do here,” Harris said. “It takes a lot of work that you guys don’t see behind the scenes to be able to do it. …
“We want to continue to be able to do that. We don’t have it all figured out right now, but we are definitely headed in the right direction and really proud of what this episode illustrates about our organization.”
Mason Englert designated for assignment
Right-handed reliever Mason Englert, whom the Tigers acquired in the 2022 Rule 5 draft, was designated for assignment to create room for Flaherty on the 40-man roster.
The Tigers can retain Englert in Triple-A Toledo if he clears waivers.
“I would love to keep him,” Harris said. “I don’t know that we’re going to be able to (because of interest from other teams). He’s already demonstrated he can be a valuable contributor to a pitching staff. If we can find a way to keep him, I would love to.”
Englert, 25, registered a 5.40 ERA with five walks and 16 strikeouts across 21⅔ innings in 12 games for the Tigers in the 2024 season. He also had a 3.24 ERA with 14 walks and 60 strikeouts across 41⅔ innings in 28 games in Triple-A Toledo.
His fastball averaged 92.3 mph and his changeup generated a 37.7% whiff rate.
“He’s able to move his shapes all around the zone,” Harris said. “He is very confident on the mound and he is very comfortable in any situation. If we can find a way to keep him, I would love to keep him.”
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
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