Intriguing upgrade named for Detroit Tigers at first base in MLB free agency

The Detroit Tigers have a lot to be happy about as they enter the offseason with a much different mindset than they would have had had they not ended the season with one of the most improbable playoff runs in baseball history.

As they look to improve the roster and make 2025 a successful year throughout the entire season and not just the final month and a half, there are clear improvements that need to be made within both the lineup and the pitching staff. The team became a hot sell at the deadline when it looked like it was already out, but now it’s time for Detroit to get aggressive again this winter to compete next season.

One of the biggest problems on the roster last season was first baseman and former No. 1 overall pick Spencer Torkelson. Torkelson took a big step back from his 31-home run 2023 season – in which he really didn’t contribute much outside of power – and struggled all year and fared even worse in the playoffs. If the team wants to make a serious upgrade, the Mets’ Pete Alonso is available, but Just Baseball’s Clay Snowden doesn’t think that much of a buzz will be made. Instead, he cited the Diamondbacks’ Christian Walker as a more realistic option that would make a lot of sense to solve the first base problem.

“I don’t see the Tigers pursuing Pete Alonso or trading for Vlad Guerrero Jr., but Christian Walker is a good fit,” Snowden wrote. “He starts his season at the age of 34 and should not sign a long-term contract. With Thayron Liranzo and Josue Briceno potentially moving up front, a long-term deal is probably not a goal. Walker brings power and is a plus fielder and shouldn’t be out of the Tigers’ price range.

Walker was never quite a superstar, but he was consistently solid in his eight seasons in Arizona. Additionally, he is probably coming off his best and healthiest three-year run of his entire career with 95 home runs and 281 RBIs since 2022. Due to his age, he is unlikely to command a large long-term contract and could secure the first base spot for the next 2-3 years.

Should Detroit actually decide they are ready to move on from Torkelson or at least introduce competition and possibly an upgrade, Walker would be a fantastic place to start.