3 Detroit Tigers red flags heading into the 2025 season

Jack Flaherty, Gleyber Torres, Tommy Khanle, and Alex Cobb have been the major additions for the Detroit Tigers this offseason. These moves came off the heels of a trip to the ALDS in 2024 despite only being a team that looked playoff-ready for a month or two at the end of the season.

Despite these moves, there is still work to be done on this roster, and Tigers fans shouldn't be without their concerns now that spring training is underway. What do we need to look out for that could adversely impact the team in 2025?

Firstly, the Tigers failed to address the lack of power hitters in their lineup. Last year, Riley Greene led the team with only 24 home runs and was one of just three players with more than 15 all year. There were rumors of the Tigers searching for Pete Alonso or Christain Walker, but nothing came of that. More recently, and perhaps more reasonably, reporters have suggested the Tigers reach out to JD Martinez's camp about a potential Motown return. Martinez isn't all he used to be, but he still hit 16 home runs in 120 games for the New York Mets last season. Not only would Martinez help the power numbers. but he would add another righty to a lefty-heavy lineup.

Secondly, the Tigers still lack superstar power. Very rarely do you see a team make a deep postseason run without a true superstar in their lineup. Greene has been projected to take a big step forward again this year, and Colt Keith showed great promise his rookie season, but a superstar is still missing. Everyone should know where this is headed by now. Detroit and national media have talked ad nauseam about Alex Bregman and the Tigers being the perfect match. That is partially because of Bregman's hesitance to sign any sort of deal, and partially because it is extremely true. Bregman has ties to AJ Hinch and would provide a right-handed superstar power-hitting third baseman in a lineup that lacks ALL of those components.

How can Tigers still improve 2025 roster with spring training underway?

Finally, the Tigers need to show signs of continuous improvement and consistency this season if they want to continue to succeed. They looked like a viable playoff team for about six weeks at the end of last season, but the rest of the campaign had many wanting more. Greene and Kerry Carpenter continuing their success, Keith avoiding a sophomore slump, and Spencer Torkelson finding his 2023 form again are all key to success in 2025. Also, if a change of scenery can take Torres to the next level, the team would be in a great spot. The arrival of Jackson Jobe to the majors at some point should also provide a spark for the team.

The Tigers undoubtedly improved this offseason, but it was hardly an A+ showing. Some red flags are present, but they are not unfixable problems. Hoping for another signing or two as well as continuous improvement from the young roster would put the Tigers in a pretty good spot to finish atop a relatively weak division in 2025.