Progress report: Detroit Tigers

DETROIT TIGERS

• 2022 finish: 66-96 (fourth in AL Central)
• Manager: A.J. Hinch (143-181, third season)
• Leading the front office: Scott Harris, president of baseball operations (first season)

DOLLARS AND SENSE

• Highest-paid player: 1B Miguel Cabrera ($32 million in 2023).
• Top returning position player: SS Javier Baez (2.0 WAR in 2022, fangraphs.com)
• Top returning starting pitcher: LHP Tarik Skubal (2.9 WAR)
• Top returning reliever: RHP Jason Foley (0.8 WAR)

ROSTER WATCH

• Key additions: LHP Matthew Boyd (free agent), RHP Michael Lorenzen (free agent), 3B Tyler Nevin (trade), OF Matt Vierling (trade), INF Nick Maton (trade), INF Cesar Hernandez (minors).
• Key losses: LHP Gregory Soto (trade), C Tucker Barnhart (free agent), LHP Daniel Norris (free agent), LHP Andrew Chafin (free agent), RHP Drew Hutichison (free agent), SS Harold Castro (free agent), INF Kody Clemens (trade), INF Jeimer Candelario (free agent).
• Baseball America top-100 prospect(s): RHP Jackson Jobe (83).

KEEP AN EYE ON

• LHP Tarik Skubal’s flexor tendon surgery figures to sideline him well into the 2023 season, while RHP Casey Mize, the No. 1 overall pick in 2018, won’t pitch until late in the year, if at all, after undergoing Tommy John surgery last summer. To get by, the Tigers signed LHP Matthew Boyd to a reunion deal and brought in RHP Michael Lorenzen.
• At 39 years old, Miguel Cabrera is coming off his least productive season yet (.622 OPS) and his last in Detroit as the Tigers are likely to spend $8 million to buy out two club options after the 2023 season. Cabrera could find himself in a DH platoon with Kerry Carpenter, who hit six homers in the majors after hitting 30 in the minors to start the year.
• With LHP Gregory Soto flipped to the Phillies, the closer role is open. RHP Alex Lange looks to be first in line to save games after striking out 82 batters in 63 1/3 innings (3.41 ERA) in his sophomore season a year ago.
  

PECOTA projection: 63.7 wins

Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Alex Lange throws out Cleveland Guardians’ Owen Miller at first base during the seventh inning of a baseball game Friday, July 15, 2022, in Cleveland.

(Ron Schwane / Associated Press)

MLB POWER RANKINGS

• 27 | Detroit Tigers
• 28 | Cincinnati Reds
• 29 | Colorado Rockies
• 30 | Washington Nationals