Two Possible Detroit Tigers Targets Signing Soon?

As the Hot Stove heats up, the rumors start to sizzle. Contender November has covered several players that the Detroit Tigers could sign in free agency, and two of whom are rumored to be signing deals prior to December 1st. ESPN’s Jeff Passan reported that Corey Seager and Marcus Semien could find new homes sooner rather than later. As Passan notes below, the league is expected to go into lockout on December first until a new Collective Bargaining Agreement is reached.

Both Seager and Semien fit the bill for what the Detroit Tigers are looking for as they begin to contend after a number of rebuilding years. A game-changing player up the middle who can anchor the lineup for years to come.

Both players enjoyed major success in 2021. Semien had career highs in home runs and runs batted in with 45 and 102 respectively for the Blue Jays. He’s not expected to match that kind of power surge going forward, but he will be a solid contributor nonetheless. Seager played in 95 games for the Dodgers hitting .306 with 16 homers and 57 RBIs. Seager is also a left-handed hitter.

If General Manager Al Avila and the Detroit front office have either of these players at the top of their chalkboard, they may have to overpay now to lock in a deal. The other risk in missing out on either of these two players is that the remaining big-name free agent shortstops (Javier Baez, Carlos Correa, Trevor Story) will have an even higher bidding war from the teams who also missed out on Seager or Semien.

With teams like the Yankees, Mets, Cubs, Rangers, and others with deep pockets gear up to make their move, the Tigers may have to pounce first.

Who would you like to see the Detroit Tigers sign out of the big five shortstops? Any? All?