Tigers must act fast after Astros land Christian Walker on huge free agent contract

The Detroit Tigers have a number of question marks on their roster heading into the 2025 season, not the least of which is the situation at first base.

Is Spencer Torkelson the answer? Possibly. The Tigers want to give him an opportunity to show he's up for the challenge, but they want him to earn it. That's why Detroit has been linked to multiple veteran first basemen in free agency this offseason, including Paul Goldschmidt and Christian Walker – to put some pressure on Torkelson to earn his keep, while also giving him the opportunity to learn from a guy who is more experienced at the position.

If that is the Tigers' plan, though, it took a hit Friday when Walker agreed to a three-year, $60 million deal with the Houston Astros.

A slugger and a Gold Glove-winning first baseman, Walker could have been an ideal fit for a young Tigers team looking for veteran stability in the field and a right-handed bat in the middle of the lineup, but it's all a moot point now.

Tigers need to act fast on Alex Bregman after Astros land Christian Walker on huge free agent contract

So, where do the Tigers go from here? It's possible that they shift their focus to Goldschmidt, who remains unsigned, or put their full faith in Torkelson to man first base in 2025, which feels awfully risky. But they also have another option, and one that has actually become more plausible in light of the Walker contract: signing free agent slugger Alex Bregman.

With the Astros signing Walker to a massive free agent contract, it seems all but certain that Bregman won't be back with Houston in 2025. A two-time All-Star and two-time World Series champion, Bregman is a right-handed bat who can fill the void at third base, giving the Tigers more flexibility across the infield.

Either way, Walker coming off the board is the latest domino to fall in the Tigers' offseason. The longer they wait to make a move, the fewer options will be available to upgrade for 2025.

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