3 notable Tigers who won’t be back and where they’ll go
By Drew Koch
The Detroit Tigers have fallen well short of expectations in 2022 and roster changes are imminent. Which three Tigers won’t be back in 2023?
The Detroit Tigers will be turning over a new leaf in 2023. Al Avila will no longer be calling the shots for Detroit and former San Francisco Giants’ GM Scot Harris was named the Tiger president of baseball operations.
With new leadership comes changes, and goodness knows the Tigers need some of that. Despite adding high-priced free agents like Eduardo Rodriguez and Javier Baez, Detroit still didn’t field a competitive team in 2022 and will finish in the basement of the AL Central once again.
Looking at the Tigers’ roster, there are a few free agents and a handful of players who could be non-tendered contracts this winter. Who are three notable Tigers unlikely to return in 2023 and where will they sign heading into Opening Day next year?
1. Pitcher Gregory Soto will not return to the Tigers in 2023.
The Detroit Tigers have been waiting for Gregory Soto to figure things out for quite some time, but the reliever’s time in the Motor City may soon be coming to an end. While Soto has a respectable 3.26 ERA during 60 appearances out of the Tigers’ bullpen, the left-hander has been unable to consistently throw strikes.
For the past two seasons, Soto maintained a K/9 over 10.50 and strikeout-rate above 27.5%. But this season, those numbers dropped to 9.00 K/9 and 23.3% K-rate according to FanGraphs. More troubling, however, is the consistently high walk-rate. Soto’s walk-rate has never been below 12.0% throughout his three-plus season in Detroit.
Alex Lange, Andrew Chafin, and Joe Jimenez could also take over the closer’s role next season for the Tigers if Detroit decides to part ways with Gregory Soto this winter. Soto is arbitration eligible for the first time in his career, and while he still has minor league options remaining, the more prudent move for the Tigers’ front office may be to non-tender the reliever in the coming months.
So where might Gregory Soto land during the offseason? There are plenty of rebuilding clubs who may take flier on a reliever with some upside and won’t break the bank. Look for the Milwaukee Brewers to make a play for Soto if he becomes available. After trading Josh Hader, the Brew Crew has elevated Devin Williams to the closer’s role, but could use another arm in the back of the bullpen.