3 inexpensive veterans Tigers could still sign to help 2026 roster

The Detroit Tigers don't seem like they're going to be big spenders this offseason. The club made its push to shore up the bullpen with the deals to bring back Kyle Finnegan and add Kenley Jansen, and it can't be understated what an improvement they are.

However, while fans dream of Alex Bregman, Cody Bellinger, or Kyle Tucker being added to the mix, we can't count on that happening. Sure, the Tigers could jump in on Bregman if the bottom falls out of his market, but this time around it looks like they won't be making a long-term big-money offer to him. The same seems to apply to the other top names.

Maybe Detroit is saving its pennies in order to throw as much money as possible at Tarik Skubal next winter. Maybe the Tigers are simply biding their time until the next group of top prospects, led by Kevin McGonigle, Max Clark, and Max Anderson, is ready to arrive. If those two points are true, there are still low-cost maneuvers they can make to better position themselves to win in 2026.

3 cheap veterans the Tigers could still target in free agency

Third baseman Yoan Moncada

Once upon a time, Yoan Moncada was regarded as baseball's next great phenom. For a short time, highlighted by a 5.2-fWAR performance in 2019, he realized that sky-high potential. However, the last few seasons have been injury-plagued affairs, and that won't help his market despite some interest bubbling up recently.

Still, if the Tigers want to keep the hot corner warm until Max Anderson is ready, Moncada makes some sense. The switch-hitter would ensure balance in the lineup, and his keen eye at the plate (11.1% walk rate in 2025, 9.9% for his career), would help Detroit's middle-of-the-pack unit (8.4% team walk rate, 14th in the league in 2025). With 12 homers and a .234/.336/.448 line in 84 games, he showed he still has some pop to go with that patience. Moncada signed for one year, $5 million last winter. It's hard to imagine him getting much more this offseason.

Swingman Nick Martinez

Many would have liked a more substantial addition to the starting rotation than KBO import Drew Anderson, while others still look at the bullpen and see an unfinished product. Why not kill two birds with one stone and get a player who can scratch either need? Nick Martinez could fit that bill.

Truth be told, Detroit has several players who can fill that role. Troy Melton could (should?) be a strong candidate to push Anderson out of the rotation; Keider Montero, Ty Madden, and Sawyer Gipson-Long all could serve as swingmen as well. Then, there are long relief options like Beau Brieske, Tyler Holton, and Bailey Horn. But none of them are as accomplished in the role as the versatile Martinez.

The former Cincinnati Red might fit better exclusively as a reliever, only moving to the rotation in an extreme emergency. That's because of the success he's had coming out of the bullpen. In 2025, he posted a 2.61 ERA as a reliever, and for his career, he owns a 2.87 mark when coming out of the 'pen. He surprisingly was given (and accepted) the qualifying offer last winter, but he'll make a lot less this time around.

Outfielder Austin Hays

The Tigers are heavily left-handed in the outfield with Riley Greene, Kerry Carpenter, and Parker Meadows all hitting from that side. While they have Jahmai Jones to serve as a lefty-masher, having another, more experienced option isn't a bad idea.

That's exactly how Austin Hays has made a career. Hays posted a .949 OPS against southpaws in 2025 and has an .819 mark for his career. That's enough to perk your ears up, but there's another benefit to signing Hays.

While nowhere near as good against same-handed pitching, he's not entirely useless, slashing .253/.301/.416 against righties for his career. That means, should someone get hurt in the corners, he could step in every day and not be a liability. Several contenders linked to Bellinger have also been connected to Hays as an inexpensive Plan B, and it makes sense why. Hays has an elite skill as a matchup bat, but he can also perform like a league-average hitter at worst if forced into an expanded role. He'll be cheap too, so what's not to like?