Detroit Tigers Holiday Wish List

It’s the most wonderful time of the year! That being said with baseball in a dormant state, I wanted to give you my holiday wish list for the Detroit Tigers heading into 2022.

We’ve already seen the team make some major moves like bringing in Javier Baez and Eduardo Rodriguez. In the spirit of the “Twelve days of Christmas,” here are some things on my list this year. Making it the “Nine Days of Baseball Season,” everyone sing along with me! If there were a picture of Al Avila dressed as Santa Claus, I’d post it. Does that exist? Can it? That would make him SantAvila.

*clears throat, blows into harmonica*

On the last day of baseball season, my GM gave to me – A 2022 World Series Championship!

Is it too much to think that this scrappy, improving team with a ton of talent coming up and a renewed spirit can pull off a miracle? I don’t think so. The division is winnable, and although many will feel they are not there yet, they also aren’t done making moves. If Miguel Cabrera can return to some form of his past self, and Akil Baddoo can build off of his great rookie season, other teams better watch out, and better not cry.

On the second day of baseball season, my GM gave to me – Two Bullpen Arms!

The Detroit Tigers aren’t done bringing in new players to compete in 2022. The bullpen for the Tigers in 2021 wasn’t great. If the team is going to shock the world on their way to a World Series championship, then they are going to need shutdown arms in the ‘pen. Gregory Soto, Jose Cisnero, Michael Fulmer, Kyle Funkhouser, Tyler Alexander, and Joe Jimenez are who the Tigers are mainly working with now. There are some nice arms there, but they need a few more experienced bullpen pieces. Brad Hand and former Tigers first round draft pick Andrew Miller are available via free agency, but there are also some arms they could possibly acquire via trade.

On the third day of baseball season, my GM gave to me – Three Hitters with at least 25 Home Runs!

Power would go a long way for this team going forward. Robbie Grossman led the team with 23 homers last season, and only two other players (Eric Haase, Jonathan Schoop) had more than 20. Baez had 31 big flies for the Cubs and the Mets last season, so he will surely bring some much needed pop to the starting nine for the Tigers. If the team can blast some more home runs, it will go a long way – literally.

On the fourth day of baseball season, my GM gave to me – Four Starters who throw at least 150 innings!

The Detroit Tigers are a young team. Last year only Casey Mize reached the 150 inning plateau. Tarik Skubal came very close with 149+ innings pitched, but to go deep into the season and postseason the team needs consistent arms who can go in there and compete for more than five or six innings at a time. Eduardo Rodriguez threw just under 158 innings, so if he stays healthy you can lock him in, but I’d like to see some others ramp up their workload. Mize and Skubal can do it, who will be the fourth?

On the fifth day of baseball season, my GM gave to me – Five Golden Gloves!

This one made too much sense! Defense wins championships.

On the sixth day of baseball season, my GM gave to me – Six Series Wins in July!

The Tigers have eight series in July bookending the All Star game. They face the likes of the Guardians, Royals, White Sox, and the Twins, among others. By July, this team will have more of an identity, and winning six of the eight series mostly matching up against division rivals will go a long way in the standings and in the clubhouse. Tigers fans should circle July on their calendar right now.

On the seventh day of baseball season my GM gave to me – Seven Years More of Spencer Torkelson and Riley Greene!

Lock up these two young prospects for years to come and show the fanbase and those two gentleman they are the cornerstones of this franchise for years to come. Wander Franco had some big league experience when he recently signed his massive extension, but it showed Rays fans the team is serious. The Tigers could do the same, and it wouldn’t be as costly as Franco. The amount of jerseys that would be sell the first day Torkelson and Greene get extended would make it worth it right then and there.

On the eighth day of baseball season my GM gave to me -Eight Walk Off Wins!

The record for walk off wins in a single season is 13 by the 2009 Mariners. Every magical season has walk off wins, and a walk off win, either by a home run or a bases loaded walk is always exciting. My personal favorite walk off Tigers win is an obvious one.

On the ninth day of baseball season my GM gave to me – Nine All Stars!

Okay this one is shooting for the moon, but it’s possible! All Detroit Tigers fans have to do is vote, vote, vote! A real competitive team for the first few months of the season may be all the motivation the fans need to have the likes of Akil Baddoo and Tucker Barnhart in the starting lineup come July.

Happy Holidays Tigers fans! Let us know in the comments what your holiday wish for the ball club is!