The 2024 season’s unexpected club was the Detroit Tigers. They are once again the surprise team in 2025, but for different reasons.
The Tigers made an incredible comeback last season, winning 15 of their last 19 games to surge into the playoffs after falling two games below.500 and nine and a half games short of a postseason berth on August 22.
The Tigers are having an incredibly turbulent start to the season. In fact, through the first 50 games of the season, Detroit has the best record in the Major Leagues for the first time since 2006. The Tigers are five games ahead of the Minnesota Twins in the American League Central with a 33-17 record and a.660 winning percentage.
That is the biggest margin of any of MLB’s six division leaders as of Wednesday afternoon.
What took place in 2006? The Tigers made it all the way to the World Series with that team. They haven’t returned to the Fall Classic since losing to the St. Louis Cardinals in five games.
Tigers Still Could Use More Home Runs
The Tigers, however, still need assistance. In terms of home runs, they are ranked ninth in MLB. Although that rating is undoubtedly respectable, the Tigers’ lineup only consists of three real power threats: Kerry Carpenter (10 home runs), Riley Green (12 home runs), and Spencer Torkelson (12 home runs).
More than half of the Tigers’ 62 round-trippers to date have come from just three.
Jim Bowden, a former MLB general manager and current writer for The Athletic, identified Detroit as the destination for lefty-swinging Kyle Schwarber, a designated hitter for the Philadelphia Phillies who, along with Shohei Ohtani of the Los Angeles Dodgers, leads the Major League in home runs with 17. Bowden acknowledged the need for one more deep threat.
Schwarber has hit 301 home runs and counting in 11 seasons, including the current one. During that same period, that is the fourth-highest total for any player.
Schwarber is constantly vying for the home run title, reaches base at a 39 percent clip, and is maybe the finest teammate in the game. If there is a DH position vacant or there is flexibility, most teams will want to sign him, Bowden wrote. The Padres (he would fit right in at their clubhouse), the Reds (who could use his leadership and power), the Braves (should they lose Marcell Ozuna in free agency), and AL Central clubs like the Tigers, Royals, and Guardians—all of whom want more power—would all love to have him.
Bowden was, of course, discussing the prospect of signing Schwarber as a free agent. After the current season, his $79 million, four-year deal will expire. The Phillies may choose to sell Schwarber for a prospect package rather than let him go for practically nothing in the winter, even while they lead the National League East, if they think they cannot sign him to a contract extension.
Would Prospect Package Be Enough to Persuade Phillies?
The Tigers sent pitching prospect Brant Hurter in exchange for a potential dealer, Schwarber, prior to this season.
Hurter has a 2.35 ERA and has made 13 appearances with the Tigers this season, all as a reliever. However, it would likely take more than Hurter to get Schwarber out of a competing club like Philadelphia, even though he would be a “rental” for Detroit.
They would most likely need to send a package of prospects who would become part of Philadelphia’s future rather than immediately pitching in if they could convince the Phillies to let go of the 32-year-old DH during the season.
Max Clark, the organization’s top prospect and the third overall choice in the 2023 draft, is presently playing in High-A ball and is anticipated to be ready for the major leagues by 2027. Clark and one other top 10 talent, like as Single A righty Owen Hall, may be sufficient to provide the Tigers with the power boost that a half season of Schwarber would provide, knowing that it would raise their chances of creating themes for their incredible season thus far.
