These 2 non-tendered players could make sense as Tigers candidates (and at a bargain)

Over 60 players across the league were non-tendered and became free agents last Friday. For their part, the Tigers DFA'd Alex Lange, Jason Foley, Sean Guenther, and four other pitchers to make room for five Rule 5-eligible minor leaguers ahead of the deadline, and they non-tendered Andy Ibáñez on the actual day. The 40-man currently sits at 39.

The bullpen is the Tigers' biggest concern this offseason, but Detroit's offense needs some help too. The Tigers are still a relatively young squad with a lot of swing-and-miss, and although Gleyber Torres will take up the role of Veteran with Superior Plate Discipline (a role the Tigers have cycled players in and out of for years. Remember Mark Canha?) again in 2026, there are other players who could assume some of that responsibility.

That's where the new wave of non-tendered free agents comes in. Two outfielders, Mike Tauchman and Adolis García, were let go by the White Sox and Rangers. They would offer different skillsets — Tauchman the plate discipline, García some pop — but they could be upgrades from any of Parker Meadows, Wenceel Pérez, or Justyn-Henry Malloy, and they could come cheaply.

Tigers could target new outfield free agents Mike Tauchman, Adolis García after they were non-tendered

Tauchman, who played with the Yankees with Torres from 2019 until April 2021, was a pretty similar player to Torres in 2025. He batted .263 with a .356 OBP to Torres' .256 average and .358 OBP. His defense has certainly seen better days and he would be a defensive downgrade from either Meadows or Pérez in center or right, but Meadows could be due for another demotion to Triple-A after his awful offensive showing after returning from injury.

García has never reached the heights of his 2023 campaign, when he was instrumental in the Rangers' World Series victory, won ALCS MVP (and got a few MVP votes), but he still gave the Rangers 19 homers and 75 RBI in 2025. He isn't and will never be known for his plate discipline (he had 28 walks to 135 strikeouts), but if the right hitting coach can help him recover the old oomph in his bat that led to 30+ homer seasons, he could be a worthwhile fixer-upper.

Before being cut, the two players were expected to make a combined $15.4 million to avoid arbitration, so they could come cheaply, and that's right up the Tigers' alley.