Detroit Tigers: 3 hitters to explore trading for this offseason

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The Detroit Tigers are going to spice up their roster this offseason.

The Detroit Tigers hired a new president of baseball operations and may be looking at bringing in someone to lean on in the general manager’s chair. The Scott Harris era has begun, and the team will start to look different than it has in recent seasons.

Between a roster purge or players who are not deemed valuable moving forward and an offseason of “calculated risks,” as Harris called them, there’s no reason not to be excited about what is come. Even if it may not mean the Tigers are postseason bound in 2023, the team should be expecting to have a brighter future by the time Spring Training begins.

One of the things the Tigers are going to need to do is figure out how to address the needs of this roster. They may look to bring in some players who might help this team start turning the corner. Let’s dive into three players the Tigers could trade for to start turning the corner.

The Detroit Tigers should look into trading for Sean Murphy.

One of the areas the Detroit Tigers need to address is the catching situation. While they have Jake Rogers returning from a Tommy John Surgery, there’s no promise that he’s going to manage to be an everyday backstop.

Eric Haase has the bat, but I’m just not sold that he’s the best option for the Tigers moving forward. They should be looking at shaking things up and trying to trade for Sean Murphy from the Oakland Athletics.

Murphy is coming off of a 148-game season handling the Athletics pitching staff. He won a gold-glove award in 2021 and followed it up with improved offense in 2022. Murphy slashed .250/.332/.426 with 37 doubles and 18 home runs for 66 RBI on the season.

He’s still in his pre-arbitration years as of 2023, with free agency eligibility in 2026. The Tigers could hope to add a future backstop in Murphy. He has proven he can handle the workload behind the dish with 116 games behind the plate and 30 as the Athletics’ designated hitter.

Murphy is a solid option if the Tigers want to get a catcher who can excel on both sides of the ball. The bat has plenty to like, and the throwing is there to help him have a solid defense. The Tigers should have him on the shortlist this offseason.

New York Yankees third baseman Josh Donaldson (28) throws to first base to force out Houston Astros shortstop Jeremy Pena (not pictured) during the second inning in game one of the ALCS for the 2022 MLB Playoffs at Minute Maid Park. (Troy Taormina-USA TODAY Sports) /

Detroit Tigers should consider adding Josh Donaldson.

Now this one might seem a little out there, but if the Detroit Tigers want to add in a stopgap third baseman, they should consider Josh Donaldson. Now, the intrigue here may not be as high as some other players; it’s worth considering him.

Donaldson is 36 years old, and his career is winding down. But if the plan is not to let Ryan Kreidler do his thing, then finding a veteran stopgap to help manufacture some runs may not be the worst thing in the world.

The former MVP winner spent the 2022 season with the New York Yankees, where he slashed .222/.308/.374 with 28 doubles,15 home runs, and 62 RBI. If the Tigers are going to trot out Jeimer Candelario, I’d rather see Donaldson.

It’s not that he is going to come in and hit 30 home runs for the Tigers, but he would provide some pop and fill a gaping hole at third base. While there’s hope that Ryan Kreidler can settle in somewhere in the Tigers infield, filling that gap with Donaldson is certainly something to think about.

The Tigers may end up paying a bit for Donaldson, as he’s on a contract with a $23 million yearly price. He is signed through the $23 million season, so it would provide the Tigers with a proven player as the stopgap until they find a long-term solution beyond.

Donaldson is someone to consider with a thin free-agent pool at the third base position this winter. They need to find a solution somewhere, and Donaldson is someone to consider.

Chicago Cubs left fielder Ian Happ (8) bats against the Cincinnati Reds during the first inning at Wrigley Field. (Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports) /

Detroit Tigers need to consider trading for Ian Happ.

Lastly, the Detroit Tigers should consider going out and trading for a Plug’n’Play guy like Ian Happ. He’s been with the Chicago Cubs for the last six seasons, and it feels like this is the end of the road for the Cubs’ spark plug.

Happ would bring another player to the Tigers’ outfield mix, but he also has the ability to play second and third base if needed. The Cubs only used him in the outfield in 2022, but the Tigers could be willing to shift him around if they need to.

For the Tigers, trading for Happ would bring a switch-hitting player with versatile defense. It should be considered a victory for the Tigers to add depth like this. It’s only going to better the Tigers moving forward.

Happ will be arbitration-eligible this offseason, being a free agent in 2024. It would be a good testing period for the Tigers to see if he sticks and then extend him. If he does not, then the Tigers could let him walk and look for other options.

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It’s not that Happ is going to be some top-tier bat that drastically changes the outlook, but he’s a player who would bring value to the Tigers organization while allowing them to take one of those calculated risks that Harris has mentioned.

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The Detroit Tigers are going to spice up their roster this offseason.

The Detroit Tigers should look into trading for Sean Murphy.

Detroit Tigers should consider adding Josh Donaldson.

Detroit Tigers need to consider trading for Ian Happ.

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