DETROIT TIGERS 2025 SEASON PREVIEW
The Tigers got off to a slow start in 2024,leading to them selling off pieces such as pitchers Jack Flaherty, Andrew Chafin, and hitters Mark Canha, and Carson Kelly. The Tigers were 55-63 on August 10th. Eight games under .500, ten games back in the Wild Card. Their season was all but over.
Then, someone let the Tigers get hot.
The Tigers rode "pitching chaos" to a 31-13 over their final 44 games, and made the playoffs as a Wild Card team. They then swept the Astros in the Wild Card round, before losing to the Guardians 3-2 in the Divisional Series.
Now, entering the 2025 season, expectations are pretty high. The Tigers expect to contend for the A.L. Central division crown. The Tigers brought in Gleyber Torres to play second, shifting Colt Keith to first base. They also brought back Jack Flanerty on a 2 year contract. They made a run at free agent 3B Alex Bregman, but he ultimately decided to sign with the Red Sox. The Tigers also brought in reliever Tommy Kahnle to help shore up the bullpen. Within the division, in the offseason, the Twins pretty much stood pat, with the Royals improving, and the Guardians seemingly regressing. The White Sox remain a dumpster fire.
STARTING PITCHING
For much of last season, including the playoffs, the Tigers relied on one starting pitcher, then "pitching chaos" in the other games. But, that one starting pitcher, Tarik Skubal, just might be the best pitcher on the planet. Skubal made 31 starts, leading the league in wins (18), Strikeouts (228) and ERA (2.39), and won the Cy Young award.
This year should be a little different though. The Tigers brought back Jack Flaherty in free agency, after dealing him to the eventual World Series winning Dodgers at the trade deadline. After struggling in 2023, Flaherty rebounded well last season, going 13-7 with a 3.17 ERA in 28 starts between the Tigers and Dodgers. Reese Olson went 4-8, but pitched much better than his record, pitching to a 3.53 ERA in 112.1 innings.
Casey Mize had a stellar spring training, to earn a spot in the rotation. Mize, a former #1 overall pick, has struggled since returning form Tommy John surgery, but he showed an uptick in velocity this spring.
In a bit of a surprise, Kenta Maeda was named the fifth starter, over Jackson Jobe. Maeda struggled in his first season as a Tiger, pitching to a 6.09 ERA in 112.1 innings. Maeda is owed $12 million on the last year of his deal, and could be a candidate for release should he struggle.
Jobe doesn't figure to be in the minors for too long. The thinking appears to be to have him pitch a bit more at Toledo, and work on his curve ball, then bring him up when a spot in the rotation opens up, which it surely will.
CATCHERS
Jake Rogers returns as the primary catcher. Rogers is a great pitch framer, and a pretty good defensive catcher. His offense took a bit of a step back last season, dropping from 21 HR in 2023, to 10 in 2024. In a bit of a surprise, the Tigers opted to send down Dillon Dingler, who served as the backup catcher last year after Carson Kelly was dealt at the deadline. Instead, the Tigers kept non-roster invitee Kyle Dutcher, to serve as the back up catcher. The Tigers rave about Dutcher's bat, saying the ball just jumps off his bat, and he works the count as well as anyone in camp.
INFIELD
Early in the offseason, the Tigers signed Gleyber Torres, to play 2B, and announced that Colt Keith would move from second, to first base. Torres hit .257, with 15 HR and 63 RBI with the Yankees last season. Keith overcame early struggles, to finish with a .260/.309/.380 slashline.
The left side of the infield has a lot of questions. The Tigers made a run at Alex Bregman, but missed out on him. Jace Jung was expected to win the starting 3B job, but he struggled in Spring Training, and was optioned back to Toledo. Matt Vierling, who was also expected to get a lot of games at third, will begin the season on the I.L. The Tigers will likely utilize a platoon at third, with Zach McKinstry, and Andy Ibanez seeing time there, as well as Kyle Dutcher.
Moving Keith to first base seemingly pushed Spencer Torkelson out of a job. But, he had what was easily his best spring training of his career, and made the team. He'll likely DH against left handed pitchers, and when Kerry Carpenter starts in the outfield.
OUTFIELD
Parker Meadows will get most of the playing time in Center. Meadows is an outstanding defensive center fielder. And, after returning from the minors (and recovering from an injury) Meadows bat caught fire. His offensive numbers weren't eye popping, but he was a huge catalyst in the Tigers late run to the post season.
Riley Greene will get most of the games in Left. Green was the only Tiger to hit more than 20 home runs, finishing with 24. He was an All Star for the first time in his career. The aforementioned Vierling was expected to get a lot of starts in RF, and he will once he comes off the I.L., but in the mean time, Kerry Carpenter (when he isn't DHing), Wenceel Perez, and Zach McKinstry expect to see time out there.
COACHING/FRONT OFFICE
Manager A.J. Hinch got a lot of consideration for Manager of the year, though it eventually went to Cleveland's Stephen Vogt. Hinch does a masterful job of putting players in the right situations to succeed. And he always seems to push the right buttons.
The pursuit of Bregman seems to indicate that the Tiger ownership might be willing to open the wallet a little more than in the past few years. This could bode well if the team is in contention near the trade deadline, as money constraints might not hinder the type of acquisition that could put them over the top.
| DETROIT TIGERS OPENING DAY ROSTER | |||||||
| # | PITCHERS | POS | B/T | AGE | HT | WT | SALARY |
| 49 | Brebbia, John | RP | L/R | 34 | 6'1" | 205 | $1,000.000 |
| 4 | Brieske, Beau | RP | R/R | 26 | 6'3" | 200 | $1,000,000 |
| 59 | Chafin, Andrew | RP | R/L | 34 | 6'2" | 235 | $2,500,000 |
| 9 | Flaherty, Jack | SP | R/R | 29 | 6'4" | 225 | $17,500,000 |
| 68 | Foley, Jason | RP | R/R | 29 | 6'4" | 215 | $3,200,000 |
| 87 | Holton, Tyler | RP | L/L | 28 | 6'2" | 200 | $800,000 |
| 48 | Hurter, Brant | RP | L/L | 26 | 6'6" | 250 | $800,000 |
| 43 | Kahnle, Tommy | RP | R/R | 35 | 6'1" | 230 | $7,800,000 |
| 18 | Maeda, Kenta | SP | R/R | 36 | 6'1" | 185 | $12,000,000 |
| 12 | Mize, Casey | SP | R/R | 27 | 6'3" | 212 | $2,300,000 |
| 45 | Olson, Reese | SP | R/R | 25 | 6'1" | 160 | $800,000 |
| 29 | Skubal, Tarik | SP | R/R | 28 | 6'3" | 240 | $10,100,000 |
| 19 | Vest, Will | RP | R/R | 29 | 6'0" | 180 | $1,400,000 |
| # | CATCHERS | POS | B/T | AGE | HT | WT | SALARY |
| 98 | Kyle Dutcher | C | R/R | 21 | 6'1" | 221 | $800,000 |
| 34 | Jake Rogers | C | R/R | 29 | 6'1" | 201 | $2,600,000 |
| # | INFIELDERS | POS | B/T | AGE | HT | WT | SALARY |
| 28 | Baez, Javier | SS | R/R | 32 | 6'0" | 190 | $23,300,000 |
| 77 | Ibanez, Andy | 3B | R/R | 31 | 5'10" | 205 | $1,400,000 |
| 33 | Keith, Colt | 1B | L/R | 23 | 6'2" | 211 | $4,800,000 |
| 39 | McKinstry, Zach | UT | L/R | 29 | 6'0" | 180 | $1,600,000 |
| 27 | Sweeney, Trey | SS | L/R | 24 | 6'3" | 212 | $800,000 |
| 20 | Torkelson, Spencer | 1B | R/R | 25 | 6'0" | 220 | $800,000 |
| 25 | Torres, Gleyber | 2B | R/R | 28 | 6'1" | 205 | $15,000,000 |
| # | OUTFIELDERS | POS | B/T | AGE | HT | WT | SALARY |
| 30 | Carpenter, Kerry | RF | L/R | 27 | 6'2" | 220 | $800,000 |
| 31 | Greene, Riley | LF | L/L | 24 | 6'3" | 200 | $800,000 |
| 22 | Meadows, Parker | CF | L/R | 25 | 6'5" | 205 | $800,000 |
| 46 | Perez, Wenceel | OF | S/R | 25 | 5'10" | 203 | $800,000 |
2025 TIGER SCHEDULE/RESULTS
2025 MLB STANDINGS
2025 DETROIT TIGER STATS
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