Detroit Tigers: Building on Postseason Momentum Despite Missed Bregman Acquisition
The Detroit Tigers are gearing up for the upcoming season with renewed optimism after their impressive performance in the 2022 playoffs. Despite falling short in the American League Division Series to the Cleveland Guardians, the team’s first postseason appearance since 2014 has instilled a sense of belief within the organization.
President of Baseball Operations Scott Harris has made it clear that the Tigers are committed to building on that momentum, but they are also realistic about the challenges ahead. While the team was active in the offseason, their pursuit of free-agent third baseman Alex Bregman ultimately ended in disappointment.
Bregman, who spent the first nine seasons of his career with the Houston Astros, signed a three-year, $120 million deal with the Boston Red Sox instead of the six-year, $171.5 million offer from Detroit. Harris expressed his understanding of Bregman’s decision.
"We want players who want to be here," Harris said. "We made a very compelling offer to Alex Bregman, but he chose to sign somewhere else. That’s fine. We knew that was a possibility throughout this process, and we planned for that outcome."
Despite the missed opportunity, Harris remains confident in the team’s potential. He emphasized that the Tigers have a talented clubhouse that has already proven its capabilities by defeating Bregman and the Astros in the Wild Card Series.
"We’re going to be just fine without Alex Bregman," Harris said. "We still have a clubhouse that just got to the postseason and just beat a team with Alex Bregman, so it clearly can be done. We just got to focus on the guys we have in camp right now."
The Tigers’ roster has undergone some changes since last season, with the addition of second baseman Gleyber Torres and pitcher Alex Cobb being the most notable acquisitions. While these moves have solidified certain positions, Harris acknowledges that there are still some areas that need to be addressed.
"We’re still looking to add some pitching depth," Harris said. "We’d like to get another starting pitcher and a few more relievers. We’re also looking at some outfield depth."
Harris declined to comment on specific targets, but he hinted that the Tigers are exploring both the trade market and the free-agent pool. He also emphasized that the team is not afraid to give young players opportunities.
"We have a lot of young players who are knocking on the door," Harris said. "We’re excited to see what they can do this year. We’re going to give them every chance to earn a spot on the team."
The Tigers’ roster is a blend of veteran experience and youthful potential, with a solid core of players who are eager to build on last season’s success. While the team may have missed out on Bregman, Harris is confident that they have the pieces in place to compete in the American League Central Division and beyond.
As the season approaches, the Tigers remain focused on their ultimate goal: to bring a World Series championship back to Detroit. Whether they can achieve that goal this year remains to be seen, but the team is determined to make a significant run and prove that their 2022 playoff appearance was just the beginning.
