After a late-season collapse, the Detroit Tigers still managed to clinch the sixth seed and final American League wild-card spot, sneaking into the postseason as the league’s last qualifier.
Despite dropping two series against Cleveland to close the regular season, the Tigers bounced back to defeat the Guardians in the wild-card series. They’ve since advanced to the division series, which is tied 1-1 in a best-of-five matchup with the Seattle Mariners.
Throughout the postseason, manager A.J. Hinch has stuck with Javier Báez at shortstop, valuing his defense despite significant offensive struggles late in the season. Báez also logged time in center field this year, appearing in 53 games there — just 10 fewer than at shortstop. Since June, he hit below .210 in both July and September, with his low point coming in July at .180. His power numbers also declined, hitting just three home runs over the final three months after belting nine in the first four.
Looking ahead, Bleacher Report’s Zachary Rymer suggested that Oneil Cruz could be a realistic trade target for Detroit this offseason. The proposed deal would send Cruz to the Tigers in exchange for Josue Briceno, the organization’s No. 4 prospect.
This deal would give the Tigers another young piece, while adding the speed on the bases that the team desperately needs.
Briceno is a highly regarded young catcher/first baseman, but Cruz’s rare blend of sprint speed, bat speed and raw athleticism may be worth the price.
Still, Detroit could pursue other upgrades through free agency instead of trading prospects. The Tigers were previously linked to Alex Bregman last offseason and could revisit that route again this winter.