5 former Tigers still without a job heading into 2025

The Tigers are entering somewhat uncharted territory this offseason, two months in, where they're actually giving fans reasons to be optimistic about a big free agent signing. Alex Bregman is at the top of everyone's mind, and it looks like the Tigers might really have a shot.

However, there are still a few former Tigers floating around on the free agent market. A few are legends, a few might actually have a shot at returning to Detroit, and some should be fully left in the past.

5 former Tigers still without a job heading into 2025

Max Scherzer

Of the Max Scherzer-Justin Verlander duo, Scherzer is arguably the most sought-after this offseason. They'll always be at least loosely associated with one another because of their shared time as Tigers, they're close in age, they have similar recent injury histories, and their paths even crossed again with a short-lived shared stint on the Mets.

Scherzer's time with the Rangers in 2024 was limited to 43 1/3 innings with multiple injuries, and many of the nine starts he managed to make were rocky. However, Scherzer still seems like he has gas in the tank and might not find it difficult to find a starter-deficient team who's willing to take a chance on him closer to Opening Day.

Justin Verlander

Verlander pitched a little bit more than Scherzer last season — 90 1/3 innings — but his 5.48 ERA is good shorthand for a difficult season (he was also left off of the Wild Card roster, and had to watch sadly from the dugout as his old club progressed to the ALDS).

Whispers about a potential return to Detroit have cropped up every so often, with MLB.com the most recent to stoke those flames. It doesn't seem entirely impossible, given that Verlander didn't really want to leave the Tigers in the first place and his market hasn't really materialized yet, but it's still a bit of a stretch.

Jack Flaherty

The Tigers gave Flaherty a "prove it" deal last season, and he turned it into a great bounce back year that ultimately ended in a World Series victory. Although he made it clear he'd like to go back to the Dodgers if they'd have him, that rotation is already incredibly crowded, so it looks like Flaherty will end up in a new uniform in 2025.

The front office has said they're done buying starters, but Mark Feinsand of MLB.com noted in a new column that the Tigers were "in the mix" for him. The second half of his season wasn't as good as the first, but he'd certainly be a welcome re-addition to a rotation that desperately needs more help.

Michael Lorenzen

Lorenzen had a nice redemption arc in 2024 following a disastrous post-deadline stint with the Phillies in 2023, which made the Tigers' decision to trade him for a single prospect look like a genius decision. He split time between the Rangers and Royals this season and was actually pretty brilliant over six starts in Kansas City, though he got them into some trouble during the Royals-Yankees ALDS.

This offseason, Lorenzen is trying something different: trying to re-work as a two-way player in order to circumvent starter caps. It's an interesting strategy to try to sell himself, and he hasn't found any takers yet.

Spencer Turnbull

Turnbull's departure from the Tigers felt like a "good riddance" moment, but he made it even harder on himself and the club by haggling over his service time in 2023. He pitched just 31 innings but was credited for a full season, presumably so the Tigers could just avoid any sticky legalities.

He still hasn't found any takers either, but it's not surprising that teams haven't been chomping at the bit to take on a pitcher who's clearly difficult to deal with and continued to be hurt for the majority of 2024.