Every Tigers player who is out of minor-league options heading into 2025

As the 2024-25 MLB offseason gets underway, the Detroit Tigers have already made some minor transactions. The club declined Casey Mize's 2025 option (although he remains with the organization), outrighted Bryan Sammons and Bligh Madris off the 40-man roster and had them hit free agency (Madris re-signed with Detroit), and also traded Devin Sweet to the Phillies.

Shelby Miller is the Tigers' only unrestricted free agent. This is a young and controllable club that seems to be right on the cusp of a multi-year stretch of postseason contention. If their second-half performance in the 2024 season is any indication, this could be a nice couple of years for Tigers fans.

Heading into the 2025 season, the Tigers have a surprisingly low amount of players on their 40-man roster that are out of minor league options, which helps their roster stability ... but might hurt their flexibility.

Every Tigers player who is out of options heading into 2025

Eddys Leonard

Leonard, 24, is the only player on this list that hasn't made his big league debut yet. As of this moment, it's tough to see how he could change that coming out of spring training in 2025. The career minor leaguer appeared in 82 games between three levels in 2024, but didn't exactly post numbers that jump off the page.

The versatile infielder hit 11 home runs with 30 RBI, nine stolen bases in 12 attempts, and posted a .253 batting average alongside a .756 OPS. These are perfectly acceptable numbers for the minor leagues, but nothing screams "major leaguer" about Leonard's stat line.

If there's anything that'll get him a look at the big league level, it's his versatility. Leonard has extensive experience all over the infield and has also spent his fair share of time in the outfield. The Tigers love themselves some defensive flexibility, so the final bench spot could come down to Leonard ... or the next player on our list.

Zach McKinstry

It remains to be seen whether McKinstry even makes it to next season on the Tigers. He's a rather obvious non-tender candidate, but stranger things have happened. The utilityman appeared in 118 games for Detroit in 2024, hitting four home runs with 23 RBI, 16 steals in as many attempts, and a 74 OPS+ that put him 26 percent below league-average at the dish.

While the regular-season numbers aren't great, McKinstry did go 3-for-7 in five playoff games, one of those hits being a home run in the ALDS against the Guardians. That home run is likely not enough for him to keep his job, but it could very well be the final memory Tigers fans have of him.

Similarly to Leonard, McKinstry fills a utility-type bench role and can bounce around everywhere. Just this past season, he made 12 or more appearances at five different positions including second base, third base, shortstop and the outfield corners. He can't be optioned anymore, so the Tigers will probably non-tender him this winter.

Ricky Vanasco

Vanasco, 26, is the only other player on the Tigers' 40-man roster out of options. The right-hander has turned into a minor league journeyman of sorts since joining the Rangers as a 15th-round draft pick back in 2017. He spent time in the Rangers and Dodgers organizations before finally making his big league debut in 2024.

Vanasco earned two big league appearances with the Dodgers before making his way to the Tigers at the trade deadline in 2024. His tenure in Detroit consisted of two scoreless appearances where he didn't surrender a run, hit or walk ... and he didn't strike out any batters. That could very well be the only time he spends on their big-league roster.

What keeps landing Vanasco jobs is his ability to strike a ton of batters out. He didn't show that off at the game's highest level for the Tigers, but his 21 strikeouts in 17 innings (11.1 K/9) are no joke. It's more a matter of him getting his control under, well ... control as he continues to develop.

At this point in his professional career, Vanasco is no longer to be considered a true "prospect." He just turned 26 and has done little more than strike out a ton of minor league batters while also walking a boatload. Since the Tigers are obviously serious about their current contention window, there may not be room on the roster for a player like Vanasco. When it comes down to it, Vanasco is more of a DFA candidate than one who'll be fighting for playing time in spring training of 2025.