The Detroit Tigers have taken some big steps towards respectability this season. Though they're in fourth place in the American League Central, they're a game over the .500 mark and just five games back of the third Wild Card spot.
While they are longshots to reach October this year, they could significantly improve for 2025 and bounce right back into the mix for an AL Central title.
There are plenty of free agent sluggers available, and Detroit has already been linked to Baltimore Orioles slugger Anthony Santander by Tim Kelly of Bleacher Report.
The Tigers have some solid young pieces in place that have helped them significantly improve such as Parker Meadows, Riley Greene, and Kerry Carpenter. They also have Spencer Torkelson ready.
But the potential addition of Santander would give them a much better chance to compete for the top spot in the AL Central, a division they have not won since 2014.
Santander himself is having a strong season in what will likely be his last with the Orioles. The 29-year-old slugger is hitting just .236 but has popped 38 home runs, driven in 86 runs, and posted an .819 OPS, so he could certainly benefit Detroit in 2025.
Kelly even projects that Santander will sign a similar deal to the five years and $100 million that Nick Castellanos signed with the Philadelphia Phillies prior to the 2022 season.
Detroit needs power in their lineup and Santander could give them a major boost as they try to emerge from their rebuilding phase and become a contender again.
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