Detroit sports fans have likely moved on from the Detroit Lions’ loss in the National Football League Divisional Championship. Now, it’s time to focus on baseball.
Spring training for the Detroit Tigers begins this week in Lakeland, Florida, as the team looks to build on their improvements.
The Tigers wrapped up a strong 2024 season with a record of 86-76, finishing 6.5 games behind first-place Cleveland in the Central Division. Currently, sportrac.com lists the Tigers’ Tax Payroll at $143,000,416, ranking them 19th in Major League Baseball.
This payroll is a step up from last season, when the Tigers spent between $104 million and $114 million.
In comparison, the Guardians’ current Tax Payroll is $102,987,023, ranking them 25th on the list. Outside of the Chicago White Sox, the other teams in the American League Central, including the Tigers, Guardians, Minnesota Twins, and Kansas City Royals, operate in smaller to mid-market cities, which is reflected in their payrolls.
However, the White Sox, despite being in a larger market, sit with a Tax Payroll of $67,829,999, ranking them 29th. Only the Miami Marlins, with a Tax Payroll of $61,296,666, are below Chicago.
Offseason Moves: Have the Tigers done enough to catch the Guardians, who recently lost powerful first baseman Josh Naylor and Gold Glove second baseman Andres Gimenez?
To close the gap, the Tigers have added several key players to their roster. These include second baseman Gleyber Torres, right-handed starter Jack Flaherty, reliever Tommy Kahnle, and starter Alex Cobb.
Cobb is currently dealing with a hip issue, which is expected to keep him sidelined for about a month.
For this old scout, two new players stand out as the Tigers try to close in on the Guardians: 1- Gleyber Torres: On December 27, Gleyber Torres agreed to a one-year, $15 million contract with Detroit.
Torres brings power from the right side of the plate to a lineup that already features talented, young left-handed hitters.
Torres, 28, most recently played for the New York Yankees and is 6-1, 205 pounds.
He was signed by the Chicago Cubs as an international free agent from