DETROIT -- As the Detroit Tigers look to build on a promising 2024 season, will this winter be the time to bust open the piggy bank and spend like it’s 2016, when late owner Michael Ilitch went on an epic shopping spree? Or will team president Scott Harris stick with his trusted formula of high-upside, low-risk signings ? The free-agent market has something for every budget, from practical additions to big, ambitious splashes. To sort out the sensible from the speculative, let’s start small and work our way up. These budget-friendly options just might deliver solid returns.
Los Angeles Dodgers starting pitcher Walker Buehler tosses the ball after walking New York Yankees' Gleyber Torres during the first inning in Game 3 of the baseball World Series, Monday, Oct. 28, 2024, in New York. (AP Photo/Godofredo A.
Vásquez) AP RHP Walker Buehler It may sound like we’re repeating ourselves with this one , but it’s hard to find a more perfect fit for the Tigers. A former first-round pick, Buehler was one of the league’s best pitchers from 2018-2021, going 39-13 with a 2.92 ERA over 94 starts .
But he underwent Tommy John surgery in the summer of 2022, missed all of 2023, and his comeback season in 2024 fell short of expectations. Projections for Buehler are all over the place. He’s 30 years old, so accepting a one-year contract to bet on a bounce-back year is still feasible but a little bit more risky than it would be for a 28- or 29-year-old.
Best bet? A two-year deal wi.