The Detroit Tigers are unlikely to pursue superstar third baseman in free agency

The Detroit Tigers are facing a critical offseason after their 2024 playoff run was one of the most improbable in the history of the sport.

Detroit, which sold at the deadline and already seemed to be looking ahead to 2025, suddenly became the hottest team in baseball over the last month and a half, making the playoffs and defeating the Houston Astros in the Wild Card round before ending the run for good ended in the ALDS against the Cleveland Guardians. Now that the existing team has proven what it can do, Tigers officials must be willing to do whatever it takes to improve the roster and add final pieces to make the team a true contender.

While all indications are that Detroit will be willing to spend some money, those hoping for a reunion between Tigers manager AJ Hinch and impending free agent Astros third baseman Alex Bregman to solve Detroit’s woes at the position will have to maybe just keep hoping. Just Baseball’s Clay Snowden raised this possibility, but ultimately thinks it’s unlikely.

“Alex Bregman is the big name and his connection to Hinch makes sense,” Snowden wrote. “He had a slow start to the season but bounced back and has been one of the most consistent batsmen at the third position for some time. I want the Tigers to pursue him, but I wonder how many years and what it took. The Tigers are ready to go. I would tend to think Bregman is unlikely.

In 2024, the Tigers relied on a combination of Gio Urshela — whom the team released to make room for September prospects — along with various utility men and No. 5 prospect Jace Jung. Of course, there is hope that Jung can step up and eventually be the man who becomes a franchise cornerstone at the position, but Scott Harris has to weigh how likely he thinks that could happen sooner rather than later , after Jung didn’t exactly freak anyone out during the 34 games he played in 2024.

There’s an argument to be made that Bregman could be worth the risk if he’s willing to take a shorter-term deal, but given that numbers have been steadily declining over the last few years and he wouldn’t be cheap if he were to team up with Jung with a cheaper veteran, it will likely be the smarter play for Detroit.