Ditching Ketel Marte speculation is wise. The Tigers' prospect pipeline and infield logjam make a blockbuster trade a poor fit.
Happy New Year, everyone. With roughly 48 days remaining until Spring Training games begin, the Detroit Tigers’ offseason has slowed to a crawl. That makes this a good time to take stock of a few developments around Major League Baseball and how they connect to the Tigers.
Before the end of 2025, Arizona Diamondbacks general manager Mike Hazen addressed the Ketel Marte trade rumors, stating it wasn't going to happen, and they would come to a resolution "shortly" according to MLB.com.
The idea of trading for Ketel Marte has been floated on several podcasts, including Tigers Minor League Report. His contract is team-friendly — five years, $91 million, with a player option for a sixth season — and the three-time All-Star brings right-handed power, having hit at least 25 home runs in each of the past three seasons. The Tigers could clearly use a right-handed bat with power who also controls the strike zone, but Arizona’s position in the market complicates that discussion.
Arizona is seeking starting pitching in return, an area where Detroit is relatively thin from a prospect standpoint. The Diamondbacks would likely also require a top-10 prospect as part of any deal.
With Kevin McGonigle projected to make his MLB debut at some point in 2026, Gleyber Torres under contract for another season, and the ongoing challenge of juggling the infield alignment — unless Marte were to move to the outfield — the fit becomes increasingly complicated. When factoring in Scott Harris’ track record, a deal of this magnitude appears unlikely.
Speaking of Magnitude...
The Toronto Blue Jays signed Japanese third baseman Kazuma Okamoto to a four-year, $60 million deal. While there has been more success with pitchers, Toronto is betting based on Okamoto's right-handed power will translate well state side. He hits for average and for power and gives the Blue Jays another weapon to defend their American League crown.
So where does that leave free agent Bo Bichette, a player that fans would love to see in a Tigers uniform? According to Jon Heyman, the teams who are in on him are the Phillies, Cubs, Dodgers, Red Sox and a possible return to Toronto.
From my perspective, Scott Harris has not telegraphed his intentions this offseason beyond, perhaps, the Tigers’ reported interest in Alex Bregman. Still, Bichette fits the profile of a hitter Detroit could use. He has shown the ability to handle fastballs, breaking pitches and offspeed offerings at a .300 clip or better, a rare skill set reflected in his underlying pitch-type production. Adding a bat with that level of consistency across pitch classes would immediately lengthen the lineup, even if the Tigers have remained guarded about revealing their true targets.
Speaking of Alex Bregman, Boston Red Sox have reportedly made an “aggressive offer.” Toronto Blue Jays and Arizona Diamondbacks have also been linked to Bregman, but as Mark Feinsand has noted, no team has been willing to meet his long-term contract demands.
Under Scott Harris, the Detroit Tigers have not gone beyond two-year commitments for any free agent. If Detroit were to make a serious push for Bregman, it would represent a clear departure from that approach and a notable shift in how the front office is willing to operate.
Follow me on "X" @rogcastbaseball.