3 mistakes the Detroit Tigers need to avoid making this offseason

The Detroit Tigers have a busy offseason ahead, with mistakes to avoid.

The Detroit Tigers have a long road ahead of them with the recent changes in the organization. After the team has officially entered the Scott Harris era and the changing of the guard is happening within the front office, there will be changes to the Tigers roster.

As the Detroit Tigers dive deeper into the offseason, things will change with this organization. Scott Harris said that the team is going to take calculated risks. The impending roster purge is going to start coming, but some decisions could wind up being mistakes down the road.

While the offseason continues to move along for the Detroit Tigers, there are some mistakes that the team needs to avoid making. Let’s look at three possible mistakes the Tigers could make this offseason and how the Tigers can avoid making these mistakes.

Detroit Tigers should explore all options with infielder Javier Báez.

While A.J. Hinch has already shared his thoughts about the future of Tigers shortstops, with the hope that Javier Báez remains around, he labeled it a good outcome for the organization. Chris McCosky wrote a piece($$) about this for The Detroit News, but let’s talk about this situation.

Hinch notes that Báez staying is good, but is it? It would be a mistake for the Tigers not to entertain any offers for the shortstop. While a hefty five years are left on the six-year deal he signed, a team may bite for the right price.

Harris needs to pull the trigger if that opportunity presents itself. Báez turned on the performance near the end of the 2022 season, which was great, but things need to improve. The swings and misses on sliders time and time again were infuriating.

Hinch’s comments suggest it’s a good outcome to keep Báez, but entertaining any offers is a better outcome. If the Tigers can move him and let Harris field the team he wants moving forward, it’s a victory, not a mistake.

While this is not the most measurable mistake to monitor, the Tigers faithful have to be hoping that Báez gets shopped.

With “calculated risks” being the plan this offseason, Báez being on the trade market should be one of them. If the Tigers go into the 2023 season with Báez, so be it. But if they can execute a trade that betters the future direction of the Tigers, that’s a win too.