Tigers fans can't have rumored free agent fit ending up being consolation prize

The deafening silence surrounding the Detroit Tigers in free agency talks this offseason seems to indicate that president of baseball operations Scott Harris is focused more on improving the club from within for 2025. However, that doesn't change the fact that Detroit would still be an ideal fit for several free agents currently on the market.

It's safe to say that the Tigers won't be throwing their hats in the ring for someone like Juan Soto, but what about Anthony Santander? Mark Feinsand of MLB.com lists Detroit as a potential landing spot for the slugging corner outfielder coming off a career year with the Baltimore Orioles.

" offense ranked ninth in the league in runs scored and 12th in home runs and OPS, so adding a bat would seem to be a priority this offseason," Feinsand wrote. "Right field featured a rotating cast of characters including Wenceel Pérez, Kerry Carpenter and Matt Vierling, but a power bat like Santander’s would add some much-needed thump to the lineup."

Objectively, Feinsand isn't wrong. An impact bat (preferably, a right-handed one) is arguably one of the Tigers' three biggest needs in free agency, along with a corner infielder and starting pitching. Santander is coming off the best season of his career in which he finished third in the Majors with 44 home runs and drove in more than 100 runs for the first time in his career.

But Feinsand also predicts that Santander's next contract will be worth upwards of $20 million annually, which is pricey for what he is – a below-average defensive outfielder who is on the path toward becoming a designated hitter within the next few years.

Tigers should aim higher than Anthony Santander in free agency

Based on the early returns, the Tigers aren't expected to be big spenders in free agency. In the unlikely event that they were to drop the kind of cash required to land Santander, they would be better off investing those funds elsewhere.

Santander impressed during his contract year and will almost certainly earn a long-term contract as a result. But it would be too big of a risk for the Tigers, who are still dealing with the ramifications of the disastrous Javy Báez contract. If they were to sign Santander, it would probably be their only free agent signing this offseason due to financial limitations.

There are plenty of available free agents with a profile similar to Santander's who would be better fits for the Tigers with superior defensive skills, at a lower cost. The club would also be wise to consider killing two birds with one stone and acquiring a corner infielder with an impact bat. Regardless, the Tigers have plenty of options that would be better than putting all of their eggs in Santander's basket.

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