Detroit Tigers: How the looming work stoppage could alter their offseason

The Detroit Tigers may need to wait on any free-agent prizes this winter

GM Al Avila mentioned that he didn’t expect the organization’s approach to the offseason to change at all with the current CBA nearing retirement, but in a world where high-impact free agents are waiting things out longer, a work stoppage could compound the delay.

With issues such as salary floors and salary caps getting thrown around, organizations will likely want some clarity as it pertains to their financial picture before beginning to add payroll, especially for those longer-term contracts.

For the Detroit Tigers, most have been engineering the Carlos Correa train, who is set to become the top free-agent shortstop prize this winter. Jon Heyman of MLB Network recently picked the Detroit Tigers as the destination for Correa; listing the Houston Astros and New York Yankees as other possibilities.

The likelihood of Correa signing before the new calendar year was slim to begin with, but an extended stoppage may push things out further. Correa is represented by William Morris Endeavor as of 2019 and has sought out advice from Alex Rodriguez regarding his future, as reported in this MLB Trade Rumors article.