Tigers Rumors: Insider proposes blockbuster trades for Detroit this offseason

The Tigers have yet to make a definitive call on Spencer Torkelson's future as their everyday first baseman, but it feels safe to operate under the assumption that he'll either start the 2025 season in the minors or be traded in the coming weeks.

Evan Petzold of The Detroit Free Press wrote that "all signs point" to Detroit putting an end to the Torkelson experiment and seeking out an alternate first baseman on the free agent or trade markets.

In fact, Petzold seems so assured of that eventuality that he's gone as far as to propose four blockbuster trades for first basemen (subscription required) that the Tigers could pursue this offseason — Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Yandy Díaz, Rhys Hoskins, and Ryan Mountcastle.

The Tigers have more money to spend this offseason, but chasing trade targets instead of dealing with expensive free agents looking for multi-year deals like Pete Alonso or Christian Walker could allow them to put most of their money into bolstering the pitching staff around Tarik Skubal.

Again, no decision has been made on Torkelson as of yet, but Petzold's proposals for Guerrero and company aren't unrealistic by any means, and they could all offer more than Torkelson did on both sides of the ball this year.

Evan Petzold proposes Tigers' trades for Vladimir Guerrero Jr., Yandy Díaz, and more as Spencer Torkelson replacements

The trade for Guerrero — a Rookie of the Year candidate in 2019 and a four-time All-Star — would require the biggest haul of any of Petzold's candidates. He listed Reese Olson, Jace Jung, Matt Manning, and unranked shortstop prospect Jose Dickson as pieces to send to Toronto to get a deal for Guerrero over the line.

For Díaz, Petzold listed Casey Mize and No. 11 prospect Troy Melton (RHP); for Hoskins, pitching prospect Dylan Smith; and for Mountcastle, Ty Madden and No. 26 prospect Lael Lockhart (LHP).

None of these are totally outside the realm of possibility, and a return like that for Guerrero could very well be worth it. Although he looked like he was completely regressing after his 2021 season, when he placed second in AL MVP voting, he came back with a vengeance in 2024 with 30 home runs, 103 RBI, and his second-best fWAR season. Guerrero wouldn't come cheap in his last year of arbitration eligibility either, but he could be worth it for the immediate power boost he'd supply to the Tigers lineup.

Any and all would be an upgrade from Torkelson, at least.