Tigers have growing reason to be paranoid about White Sox after latest bullpen signing

For the last decade or so, the AL Central has not been the division to look to for exciting offseason moves. These are small- or mid-market teams operating accordingly. They focus on development and hope that it'll at least get them into the fight with the big spenders — and then they trade the talent they've developed or let them walk in free agency.

There are exceptions to the rule. The Royals extended Bobby Witt Jr. on an 11-year, $289 million contract in 2024. The Guardians extended José Ramírez. The White Sox extended Luis Robert Jr. Even the Tigers took a calculated risk and extended Colt Keith (albeit for far less money than the aforementioned players).

But now the White Sox have traded Robert, ostensibly giving up on the idea that he would be the centerpiece of their roster for years to come. A Robert trade was a long time coming, but it doesn't signal that the White Sox are giving up — not even close.

In fact, what they've managed to do in their sneakily good offseason suggests the total opposite.

After letting go of Robert for former top prospect Luisangel Acuña and a pitching prospect from the Mets, they signed Seranthony Domínguez to a two-year deal with some of the money they saved by dealing Robert. They've also added Munetaka Murakami and Anthony Kay this offseason.

That sounds like a team that's ready to get serious about winning in a very winnable division.

White Sox's Seranthony Domínguez signing should have Tigers fans looking over their shoulders

There are still a lot of uncertainties that have White Sox fans tempering their expectations and division rivals stuck in an in-between of whether or not to take them seriously.

But say everything works out. Murakami cuts his strikeout rate down and crushes 30+ homers in his rookie season. Miguel Vargas blossoms into an actual star. Top prospects, current and former, Colson Montgomery, Edgar Quero, Kyle Teel, and Chase Meidroth work out. If Anthony Kay brings the improvements he made in Japan back to MLB. If Domínguez puts up 20+ saves.

That's not a team that Tigers fans should just write off.

It might not happen all at once, or immediately. It might not even happen this year. But in 2027, after the Tigers have lost three starters including Tarik Skubal and the White Sox have worked out some potential kinks? That's when the White Sox will be able to capitalize.