Detroit Tigers: 3 hitters to explore trading for this offseason

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.

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.