Tigers’ front office needs to use formidable catching depth to their advantage this offseason

Ever since Pudge Rodriguez was traded to the Yankees in 2008, the Tigers have been searching for a legitimate franchise catcher to give all their backing to.

Alex Avila showed signs of being that guy for a couple of years but he just wasn’t consistent enough. Brandon Inge was named to the All-Star team a year after Pudge was dealt, but he split time between catcher and third base. James McCann was also supposed to be that guy after Avila, but he never really stuck.

Fortunately, Dillon Dingler looks like he’s going to be around for a while, and the Tigers finally have an All-Star catcher again, which isn’t easy to come by.

Catcher is one of the toughest positions to fill in baseball because it requires a guy who’s going to put a ton of strain on his body defensively, someone who knows every pitcher and how to call a good game, and someone who can also get it done at the plate themselves. It’s rare to find a really good one these days but the Tigers have them in spades behind Dingler.

And they need to use that to their advantage when trying to construct a roster that can compete for a World Series as soon as next season.

Dingler and rookie Eduardo Valencia have been plus hitters at the plate this season and they could act as the one-two catching duo for the foreseeable future, and there wouldn’t be a soul in Detroit complaining about that. Dingler is an All-Star and Valencia is hitting .320 with six homers and 18 RBI in just 33 appearances with the Tigers. That’s an incredible catching duo.

It doesn’t stop there, however.

For those counting at home, that’s nine catchers in the organization that have been playing really well this season, and most of them could be utilized to bolster some trades this offseason.

Catchers are always in demand and organizations around the MLB will be in search of their next star behind the plate. The Tigers have several who fit that description. Catcher is the least of Detroit’s worries, so trading some of these guys (not named Josue Briceño or Thayron Liranzo) would work in the Tigers favor seeing as they have serious pitching needs.

Obviously adding a bat or two would be welcomed, but pitching is the clear weakness, especially in the bullpen. Trading one or two of these catching prospects for bullpen help or another middle-of-the-rotation starter would do wonders for the roster in 2027.

Scott Harris needs to take full advantage of this wealth of catchers in the organization. You can only play one at a time and typically roster two, so why not deal two or three of the seven minor league catchers who have been making a splash in 2026? Now’s the time.

How’re the Tigers’ catchers doing in 2026?

In case you don’t believe that the Tigers truly have a wealth of talent at the catcher spot for years to come, here’s how each catcher from Dingler all the way down to Steven Madero is hitting:

Note: Ages in parentheses.

• Dillon Dingler — .242 AVG, 27 HR, 88 RBI
• Eduardo Valencia (26)— .320, 6 HR, 18 RBI
• Josue Briceño (21) — .250, 9 HR, 29 RBI
• Luke (24) — .290, 10 HR, 40 RBI
• Thayron Liranzo (23) — .211, 19 HR, 64 RBI
• Edian Espinal (21) — .311, 7 HR, 48 RBI
• Michael Oliveto (19) — .285, 2 HR, 21 RBI
• Manuel Bolivar (18) — .322, 9 HR, 23 RBI
• Steven Madero (19) — .265, 7 HR, 30 RBI

Every single one of those catchers is showcasing some power and most of them are also hitting for average, which is far from a given at the position.

The Tigers have the trade pieces to improve the pitching staff, and it starts with these guys.

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