How close are the Detroit Tigers to contending for a playoff spot in 2022?

2022 or 2023 for a Detroit Tigers playoff berth?

Now wash away all the “best shape in your life” and spring time footage for a moment. In order for the Detroit Tigers to make the playoffs, they have to play against their division rivals. 30-46 against the AL Central is clearly not going to cut it and as I mentioned earlier with the Twins and White Sox making moves, the Guardians are still very talented and the Royals have one of the better prospects in baseball with Bobby Witt Jr making his way up this season.

They will need to spring for a starter and another veteran for the bullpen and if there is an injury to the outfield as it stands now with Derek Hill, Akil Baddoo, Robbie Grossman, Victor Reyes, there is no real depth outside of Greene, who should make the team out of spring training.

If the Tigers stay pat, they could roll Beau Brieske as a starter out of camp and use Alexander as a sixth starter/bullpen type. Pardon the “hot take” sound of it, but keep in mind this. Brieske pans out, it is one less starter to spend on with Turnbull coming back in 2023.

Detroit may look at what they have now and allow the team to grow with their current roster. Should they? No, I think they should add another starter, a bullpen arm and an outfielder who could play multiple positions. A guy like Andrew McCutchen, Michael Conforto, who can play both corner spots or Eddie Rosario. Another fan favorite is Joc Pederson, he is still out there.

So are you fine with the team as it stands and are fully confident they will be in the post-season hunt in 2022, building and seeing what they have in their system and then go for bigger names in 2023?

Either way, Detroit should make that clear before the start of spring training games at the end of the week.