Redeemed Tigers infielder could actually be their best trade piece this offseason

If the Tigers are going to pull off any huge trades this offseason (that don't involve Tarik Skubal), it's likely that they'll be almost entirely dependent on prospects. They have one of the best farm systems in baseball, and they have a handful of major league-ready players who don't have a clear path to the majors in Detroit.

When it comes to the actual major leaguers, there aren't a ton of options. If we take Skubal off the table, you could look at Reese Olson, but he's been injured a lot in his short career. Riley Greene should be untouchable. Kerry Carpenter doesn't have quite as much value yet; he still needs to break out of his platoon role and/or improve his defense. Dillon Dingler's not going anywhere, and neither is Colt Keith, who has a team-friendly contract but was extended to be the face of Detroit's new generation.

But the more ancillary players — Wenceel Pérez, Justyn-Henry Malloy, Parker Meadows, Jace Jung, and Trey Sweeney — are not going to pull a lot of weight in a trade.

Spencer Torkelson could, though. No one would've bet on Torkelson to have the bounce back year he did in 2025, but he arguably should've been an All-Star and could definitely have some power in a trade.

Spencer Torkelson could be the Tigers' most tradable player after resurgent 2025 season

There was some interest in Torkelson last year, even after he struggled so mightily. Both the Mets and Pirates reportedly looked at him in potential deals last offseason. If he was still managing to generate interest after a season when he hit .219 with a .669 OPS and was demoted, he could do a lot more after missing only seven games and hitting 30+ homers this year.

The Mets could actually be a trade partner again. If they don't re-sign Pete Alonso, they'll need a new first baseman and some replacement power. The Tigers have been interested in Brett Baty in years prior, and he could fill the Tigers' opening at third. Freeing up first would give Keith a clear-cut place to play.

And Torkelson is still three years away from free agency and should be relatively affordable even with his arb eligibility.

His nice redemption season endeared him to Tigers fans after so many years of looking like a draft bust, but it might be time for the Tigers to leverage him.