Detroit Tigers: 4 team needs that must be addressed this offseason

The 2023 season is over, and since the Tigers did not make the playoffs, it's time to look toward the offseason. The Tigers have a lot to address this winter. The offense, while it was better, still has a long way to go if they want to be competitive in 2024.

The pitching could use some work as well. While they have some young arms like Tarik Skubal, Matt Manning, and the emerging Reese Olson, they still need to find some more innings, especially if Eduardo Rodriguez doesn't return.

This is a massive offseason for the Detroit Tigers. They need to make some moves and take advantage of a weak AL Central. It only took 87 wins for the Twins to win the division this year, and it probably could have taken even less.

It's time for Scott Harris and company to get serious. This team can compete next season, but it just needs some help.

Here are 4 team needs for the Detroit Tigers to address this offseason

1. Third base

This could really be all four needs. Third base was a huge need last offseason, and Harris completely neglected it. He thought a cast of characters that included Nick Maton, Zach McKinstry, Andy Ibanez, and Matt Vierling would get it done. Obviously, it did not.

That can't happen again. The Tigers NEED an everyday third baseman that can provide some thump in the lineup. They have Colt Keith and Justyn-Henry Malloy in house, but both of their future defensive homes are huge question marks.

In free agency, by far the best third base option on the market is Matt Chapman, Defensively, he's a wizard. He's one of the best in the game, right up there with Nolan Arenado. Offesively, he'd basically be Javier Baez with more walks.

I'll go more into detail in the future about why the Tigers should avoid signing Chapman, but for the price he's likely to command, he's not worth it.

The Tigers may have to get creative to fill third base, but they have to do whatever it takes. Tigers third baseman were fourth-worst in baseball this year with a -0.9 fWAR. That has to change. Third base is by far this team's biggest need.

3. Starting pitching

The Tigers need more quality arms, They can't rely on as many bullpen games as they had in 2023. They need more innings out of their starters.

I think you can pencil in Tarik Skubal and Reese Olson. If Olson get can start getting some whiffs on his fastball, look out. The rest is a major question mark.

We'd like to hope Casey Mize will be ready for the season, but his rehab has hit a few snags as of late. We still don't know if he'll be ready. Sawyer Gipson-Long looked great in his first few big league starts, but I think he's better suited as the first arm in Toledo to be called up in the event of an injury next season.

I am expecting Matt Manning to be traded for a bat. They need to move arms for bats, and since it doesn't sound like they're going to spend, they are going to have to get creative. With Manning's injuries and inconsistency, he seems like a prime candidate to be moved.

Not to sound like a broken record, but if Spencer Turnbull ever pitches for the Tigers again, I'll be shocked, no matter what the organization says.

And then we get to Eduardo Rodriguez. I've said before that the Tigers have to bring him back in order to right the wrongs of the trade deadline. After what Scott Harris said about E-rod and the contract negotiations yesterday, I do not expect that to happen. He said they haven't had any discussions yet. If that's the case, he's not coming back.

So the Tigers have a lot of work to do with the starting rotation. They may need to get up to three new starting pitchers. We could be looking at almost a whole new rotation. It'll be interesting to see how they go about it.

4. Bullpen

The Tigers bullpen, while it wasn't as good as it was in 2022, held its own for the most part. It had a 4.16 ERA, which ranked 17th in MLB. They ranked higher than several playoff teams.

Jason Foley and Tyler Holton were the highlights. Holton came out of nowhere as a waiver claim to have a 2.11 ERA in 85.1 IP. But Alex Lange took a step back, as he just lost it from about June onward.

He had a 3.68 ERA, which is not bad, but he walked over 6 batters per nine innings and had a -0.1 fWAR. He can still get plenty of strikeouts, but throwing strikes consistently is still a massive issue.

The Tigers could still use a bullpen arm or two to pitch in leverage spots. Fortuntately, there are some options in free agency. Reynaldo Lopez is one of our favorites, and we wouldn't mind seeing a Joe Jimenez reunion either.

Most competitive teams have really good bullpens, and while the Tigers bullpen wasn't bad in 2023, it could have been better. Adding another arm or two wouldn't hurt a bit.