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Detroit Tigers’ Lance Parrish tried to be switch-hitting third baseman
Detroit Tigers legend Lance Parrish joined the “Days of Roar” podcast, sharing the story of his brief stint as a switch-hitting third baseman.
It’s hot stove season, which means offseason rumors for the Detroit Tigers (and MLB’s 29 other teams, too).
The biggest offseason story for the Tigers so far, and one that will likely remain the team’s biggest story for the entire offseason, is what they plan to do with back-to-back American League Cy Young winner Tarik Skubal.
The lefty ace is entering his final year under team control with the Tigers, with whom Skubal says he wants to be with “for a very long time.” The Tigers have exclusive negotiating rights with Skubal until the end of the 2026 season and could come to a long-term agreement, though it would likely require the biggest contract ever handed to a pitcher to get the deal done.
The Tigers could also choose to keep Skubal through 2026 without an extension or trade him some time before the end of the season, though Tigers owner Christopher Ilitch has a lot of sway in his team’s ultimate decision.
Though he is the biggest offseason story, Skubal won’t be the Tigers’ only offseason story.
There’s the question of whether the team can sign free agent third baseman Alex Bregman. There are questions about the starting rotation and the bullpen, and perhaps even a need to upgrade a corner outfield spot.
Here are the up-to-date Tigers offseason rumors we’re tracking from the MLB Winter Meetings in Orlando, Monday-Thursday.
Per Will Sammon of The Athletic, the Los Angeles Dodgers have signed free agent closer Edwin Díaz. According to ESPN’s Jeff Passan, the contract runs for three years and will pay Díaz $69 million, well short of the $100 million he was reportedly looking for.
Díaz was considered by many to be the top reliever on the free agent market, as he pitched to a 1.63 ERA over 66⅓ innings with the New York Mets in 2025, earning his third All-Star appearance. Detroit was not reportedly linked to Díaz, but the Tigers are in the market for relievers, and his signing takes the biggest one off the board.
Our Tigers insider Evan Petzold reports that the Tigers are interested in free agent shortstop Ha-Seong Kim.
Kim split his time in 2025 between the Tampa Bay Rays (24 games) and the Atlanta Braves (24) as he recovered from offseason shoulder surgery, though he should be healthy for the 2026 season. Kim’s best season came in 2023 with the Padres when he slashed .260/.351/.398 while winning a gold glove at shortstop.
Kim would join an already-crowded infield in Detroit, but he could theoretically be an upgrade over Javier Báez at shortstop, with Báez still potentially able to provide utility value at second base or center field should Kim be added to the roster.
The Tigers “checked in” on free agent reliever Kenley Jansen per Ari Alexander of Boston’s 7News.
The 16-year veteran is MLB’s active leader in career saves with 476 and had a resurgent year for the Los Angeles Angels in 2025, pitching to a 2.59 ERA over 59 relief innings and notching 29 saves.
Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris had a very simple answer for folks wondering why the Tigers won’t just say “We’re not trading Tarik Skubal”: “I don’t believe in untouchables on any level, so like anyone in our organization,” Harris told our Tigers insider, Evan Petzold on Monday. “It’s not a commentary on Tarik specifically. It’s sort of a blanket team-building approach.”
Of course, that doesn’t mean the Tigers ARE trading their two-time Cy Young winning ace, either, just that Harris is “listening” if teams approach him with a deal.
Our Tigers insider Evan Petzold reported in a story published Monday the Tigers’ interest in Bregman “has been lukewarm so far,” but might heat up throughout the Winter Meetings.
According to Petzold, a Bregman deal became less likely when second baseman Gleyber Torres accepted a qualifying offer with the Tigers, filling up an infield position. The Tigers are more likely to prioritize bolstering their starting and relief pitching instead of going for a big-name position player.
CJ Abrams and MacKenzie Gore made available for trade: Dec. 8
The Washington Nationals have been shopping pitcher MacKenzie Gore and CJ Abrams, two of their young, cost-controlled stars, in trade discussions with other teams.
Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY reported the Nationals have been “receiving heavy interest” in the two players, though its unclear if the Tigers are among the teams showing interest in either player. Detroit would likely be more interested in Gore than Abrams with an already-crowded infield. Gore led Washington starters in ERA (4.17) and strikeout rate (10.4 per nine innings).
Ketel Marte on Tigers’ radar: Dec. 7
Nightengale reported the Tigers are one of many teams that have “checked in” on Arizona Diamondbacks star second baseman Ketel Marte. The 32-year old finished third in the National League MVP vote in 2024, but has also been the subject of much trade speculation this offseason.
Though the Tigers have second base filled with Torres and Colt Keith both on the roster, Marte could represent an upgrade over both while also providing some positional flexibility: He has made over 15% of his career starts at center field.
Brad Keller receiving interest as a starter: Dec. 5
With the Tigers potentially searching for a starter, Petzold reported a creative approach Detroit could take: signing free agent reliever Brad Keller and turning him into a starter.
Keller pitched 69⅔ innings for the Chicago Cubs last season, all in relief. Keller has experience as a starter, however, starting 114 games in six seasons with the Kansas City Royals from 2018-23. Keller has been used exclusively as a reliever over his past two seasons with the Boston Red Sox (2024) and Cubs (2025), however.
Michael King and Pete Fairbanks could be Tigers pitching targets: Dec. 2
According to Petzold, the Tigers have shown interest in free agent pitchers Michael King and Pete Fairbanks.
King is arguably one of the most attractive free agent starters left on the market as he put up a 2.95 ERA over 173⅓ innings in 2024 for San Diego, though he was limited by injuries in his shoulder and knee in 2025.
Fairbanks has been effective over the past three seasons as the closer for the Tampa Bay Rays, recording 75 saves and a 2.98 ERA over 151 innings from 2023-25.
Kyle Finnegan and Tigers showing mutual interest: Nov. 29
The Tigers and reliever Kyle Finnegan are interested in a reunion in 2026, according to Petzold.
A midseason acquisition in 2025, Finnegan was by some metrics the team’s best reliever down the stretch. The 34-year old expressed his interest in returning to Detroit immediately after the Tigers’ season-ending Game 5 loss to the Seattle Mariners in the American League Division Series.
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You can reach Christian at cromo@freepress.com.