The Detroit Tigers are heading into a huge offseason, with needs to address all across the roster. And while Tarik Skubal is the main focus of many this winter, the Tigers have other areas of the roster to address.
One of those areas of the roster that needs some work is the outfield. While Riley Greene was an All-Star, and others were productive, there's still room for improvement and stability. At the start of the offseason, the Tigers have already made one such move.
According to Jon Heyman of The New York Post, the Tigers are re-signing former Philadelphia Phillies outfielder Matt Vierling to a one-year, $3.255 million deal.
Tigers re-sign Matt Vierling to one-year, $3.255 million deal
"Matt Vierling, Tigers agree at $3.255M," Heyman reports. The former Phillies outfielder is under club control through 2027, but this move from the Tigers officially brings the 29-year-old outfielder back for another season.
Vierling came over to the Tigers in the 2023 trade with the Phillies involving Gregory Soto. He's played 309 games for the Tigers in the three seasons since being acquired from the Phillies, and he's been a solid contributor.
Vierling has a.257 batting average in three seasons with Detroit, with a.718 OPS across 1,197 plate appearances.
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The bulk of his production with Detroit came in 2024, when he had 3.0 bWAR, 133 hits, 80 runs scored, 28 doubles, five triples, 16 home runs, 57 RBIs, and a.725 OPS.
But in 2025, after missing the majority of the season due to injury, Vierling finished with a.239 batting average and a.617 OPS in just 31 games.
The veteran outfielder showed some promise in 2024, but an injury-riddled 2025 season made his impact on the Tigers minimal.
But the Tigers saw enough in Vierling and are bringing him back for another year on a one-year, $3.255 million contract, avoiding arbitration.
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