Detroit Tigers rumors: Carlos Correa is a main target

As the season winds down and the off-season begins, so does the hot stove as reported by Jon Heyman, the Detroit Tigers are targeting Carlos Correa.

Jon Heyman of MLB Network reported today that the Detroit Tigers, among a few other teams, are interested in Houston Astros shortstop Carlos Correa.

It would make sense. Correra played for manager A.J Hinch while he was in Houston and would not only be filling a void at short but perhaps one of the young faces of the Detroit Tigers franchise.

Are Detroit Tigers fans divided when it comes to signing Carlos Correa?

The main school of thought when it comes to Correa is the contract and length. With that thought, comes three questions that are posed.

1.  Can the Tigers afford the contract Correa will demand with big market teams seeking his services?
2.  Should the Tigers spread around the money and address other things on the team?
3. Is prospect infielder Ryan Kriedler the answer instead?

The Detroit Tigers were near the bottom category of defensive runs save (DRS) among shortstops with -17 as Hinch went to Harold Castro, Willi Castro, Zach Short, and Niko Goodrum all saw time there in 2021.

The Astros, on the other hand as a collective, were second to the Rays with 18 as Correa had 20 defensive runs saved. He has a bWAR of 7.0 while the four names above have a combined WAR of -1.4.

The threat of the Yankees driving up the price will be in play but even New York has to worry about the luxury tax.  As far as addressing other needs on the team like starting pitching, the Tigers could go about via the trade route.

As far as Ryan Krieldler is concerned, while his ascent to one of the best prospects in the Tigers system is fantastic for a system that has not to produce a lot of infield talent in the last decade from the minors, it just seems to be unfair and unrealistic to anoint him Opening Day when he has never played on this level. There are no guarantees he will be a finished product and the hope is, he is a regular in the lineup.

Expect more rumors to be started after the MLB post-season is over but welcome to the “Carlos Correa to Detroit” season.