Detroit Tigers: 4 players to target in free agency

The Detroit Tigers have a busy off-season ahead of them.

While the off-season is underway, there is still plenty of things to do with this Detroit Tigers organization. The team also needs work to bring in a couple of pieces to help piece together a contender ahead of the 2023 season.

It's going to require digging into the free agent market. While the Detroit Tigers may go into the trade market to fill some needs, there will still be holes that need to be filled on the free-agent market.

The Detroit Tigers made leaps in 2022, looking like a much better ballclub than they have in recent years, but as the 2023 season rolls around, it will be interesting to see what this Tigers team shapes up as.

With the roster churning and changing, there will be some new faces come springtime. With that in mind, there's still plenty of work to be done by Scott Harris, and his front office as the winter continues on.

When it comes to the free agent market, spending big may not be in the cards in 2023, but the Tigers should be targeting these four free agents as ways to improve the team in time for spring workouts. Let's dive in.

The Detroit Tigers should utilize Rob Metzler to target Ryan Yarbrough.

Earlier this off-season, the Detroit Tigers hired Rob Metzler away from the Tampa Bay Rays organization. He may have been in charge of amateur scouting and international operations, but he has to know the scoop on Ryan Yarbrough.

The Rays designated the 30-year-old southpaw for assignment in mid-November. Yarbrough has been with the Rays for the last five seasons. He's been used as both a starter and a reliever during that time and could be a beneficial addition to the pitching staff.

His numbers in the past few seasons are not as good as when he broke into the league, but the Tigers should consider giving him a change of scenery and helping him try and latch on in a new home.

Yarbrough is coming off a 2022 season where he played in just 20 games, starting nine and relieving in 11 appearances. He pitched to a 4.50 ERA and a 1.38 WHIP over 88 innings of work. He punched out 61 opposing hitters.

While the hope would be that he can get back on track for the Tigers organization, it's got to be worth exploring a deal with the southpaw. He would provide potential starting depth or be a solid piggyback option out of the bullpen.

If the Tigers choose to move a reliever, bringing in Yarbrough, who has proven he can start or relieve in the big leagues, would help them bolster down the pitching staff. He's not going to be a top-tier addition but could bring benefit to the pitching staff.

Detroit Tigers need to consider calling back Michael Fulmer.

This summer, the Detroit Tigers opted to move Michael Fulmer to the Minnesota Twins in exchange for Sawyer Gipson-Long. It may have been considered to be a minute move, but Fulmer was headed to free agency this offseason, so the bargaining power may not have been as good as it was in past years. That said, the Tigers opted to move him at the trade deadline.

However, Fulmer was one of the better options in the team's bullpen and has really started to emerge as a relief option who can get the job done as needed. There has to be some intrigue to bring him back to Detroit.

After all, Fulmer spent the last seven years with the Tigers organization. He was a starting pitcher when he broke into the league and even won the Rookie of the Year award in 2017. Fulmer would easily bring a benefit to the Tigers' pitching staff once again.

The 29-year-old right-handed pitcher finished the 2022 season with 67 appearances in total between his time in Detroit and Minnesota. Fulmer pitched to a 3.39 ERA and a 1.37 WHIP. He accumulated 63.2 innings pitched, where he punched out 61 opposing hitters.

He has been a staple of the Tigers' pitching staff as a starter and then a reliever once he established himself. For the Tigers, bringing back Fulmer is something that has to be discussed.

Detroit Tigers should consider Andrew Benintendi for their outfield.

One of the things that the Detroit Tigers want to do is bring in a right-handed hitting outfielder. While Matthew Scheidel broke down the idea of targeting Mitch Haniger from the Seattle Mariners, if Scott Harris is less picky, the team could expand to find someone to play left field.

For that, the team should be turning to Andrew Benintendi to help anchor left field. The way things stand, they have Riley Greene to patrol centerfield and a new and improved Austin Meadows to play right field. This leaves them with room in left field to split time with Akil Baddoo.

While it would add another left-handed bat which is not entirely what the Tigers want, Benintendi would be able to slot in ahead of Baddoo and possibly allow Eric Haase to platoon if he is not needed behind the dish.

The intrigue may not be as exciting as Haniger since he is a right-handed hitter, but Benintendi is still exciting for the bat himself. He's been with the Kansas City Royals for the last two seasons and was traded to the New York Yankees at the trade deadline.

Benintendi played in 126 games, totaling 521 plate appearances, slashing .304/.373/.399, and managed 23 doubles, three triples, and five home runs. He picked up 51 RBI between his time in Kansas City and the Big Apple.

Adding another bat who's proven he can hit at the big-league level might be intriguing. There will be more of an intrigue with right-handed bats, but the Tigers have to consider Benintendi if the price is right. A trade could move someone like Baddoo and free up a spot for a right-handed bat to be acquired.

The point is, the Tigers have options. Passing up on Benintendi at a bargain price seems a bit silly.