3 possible moves remaining this offseason for the Detroit Tigers

1. The Detroit Tigers trade LHP Eduardo Rodriguez

As previously stated, the club as it stands has more than enough starters with big league experience to get them through. Injuries are a given during any spring training, but on paper as it stands, the Tigers will feature Eduardo Rodriguez, Spencer Turnbull, Matt Boyd, Matt Manning, and Michael Lorenzen in their rotation, with Tarik Skubal and Casey Mize both expected arrive in 2023 at some point, too.

Beyond that, they have Joey Wentz, Beau Brieske, Alex Faedo, Rony Garcia, Tyler Alexander, and Garrett Hill--all of whom have big league starting pitcher experience, and some of whom have thrived in the role. It's assumed multiple arms end up in the bullpen to start the year assuming health, but all of these names could start on any given day, which leaves the Tigers in a position where they can trade from their depth.

Eduardo Rodriguez was one of the shiny free agent signings then-GM Al Avila brought in following the 2021 season. Rodriguez pitched well when he was on the mound, but an injury that morphed into an unpaid leave for some time--leaving a taste of frustration and confusion in fans' mouths.

Rodriguez is scheduled to earn $14 million in 2023 according to Spotrac, which he should outperform as long as he's able to stay healthy and exceed his 17 starts in 2022, which would make him attractive to contenders looking for depth following the free agent frenzy.

The only downside is although Rodriguez was signed to a five-year contract, he does have a player opt-out following the upcoming year, which would diminish his value in trade. In exchange, the Tigers could seek prospect capital or bullpen help. We've written on this subject more extensively at the site here.

2. The Detroit Tigers re-sign LHP Andrew Chafin

Chafin was initially signed to a two-year deal last offseason but he'd ultimately opt out of his final year to test the free agent market following another rock-solid year: 64 games, 57.1 innings, 67 strikeouts, and a 2.83 ERA.

It was smart for Chafin to opt out of his contract when comparing his season and some of the free agent deals that have gone to relievers recently, but midway through January, things are quiet relating to his market. There are more competitive fits on paper for Chafin, but The Sherriff hardly follows any type of conventional thinking. A large factor for Chafin signing in Detroit in the first place was the proximity to his home in Ohio; a box that can still be checked for the Tigers and him.

Harris had mentioned they intended to keep in contact with Chafin's camp following the word of his opt-out, but it remains unclear how they envision the bullpen construction in 2023. Alex Lange, Will Vest, Jason Foley, and Jose Cisnero will all occupy parts of the back end to some capacity; with former starters likely seating the front: some combination of Rony Garcia, Beau Brieske, Tyler Alexander, Joey Wentz, Alex Faedo, and new Rule 5 man Mason Englert.

Chafin would supply a veteran presence and more predictability while also giving them a legitimate lefty specialist. While Alexander is a left-handed pitcher, too, he's likely to remain in his usual mop-up role. It's also worth mentioning that the Tigers did sign lefty Chasen Shreve to a minor league contract in response to Soto's departure and Harris foreshadowed the acquisition by stating they were working on getting a lefty they liked. How much they like Shreve, 32, may play a factor in bringing back Chafin.

3. The Detroit Tigers trade RHP Matt Manning

As we discussed with Rodriguez, the Tigers' depth at starting pitcher makes an arm expendable in the right scenario. With injuries to Mize and Skubal, Manning is most likely their most valuable starter right now, supplying a 3.43 ERA in 12 starts in 2022 with an ERA+ of 111, and pitching particularly well down the stretch before being shut down due to fatigue in his forearm. All reports regarding Manning this offseason point to a full recovery, though, and he's expected to be ready for spring training.

For Manning, the target would be bullpen or offense. The team is likely set in the outfield; with Austin Meadows, Riley Greene, Matt Vierling, Kerry Carpenter, and Eric Haase able to carry the load sufficiently. On the infield, though, the club could still acquire a second baseman or a third baseman. This scenario would allow Maton to be the super utility infielder and give Malloy, Lipcius, and Kreidler some time in Toledo.

Manning is a former top-50 prospect and given his remaining control (four years) and what pitchers have been able to fetch on the open market, the Tigers can be stingy with their ask in trade. The Marlins have positioned themselves similarly and have made it known they are willing to trade their starting pitching, too, which may complicate the market slightly.