The Tigers own MLB’s best record right now, standing tall even in the brutally competitive AL Central. It’s a remarkable turnaround for a team that shocked baseball with their second-half surge last season after selling off pieces at the trade deadline.
This year, Detroit’s looking like a buyer rather than a seller. Their most glaring weakness? Third base.
Tim Kelly of Bleacher Report suggests Rockies third baseman Ryan McMahon as a potential target.
“The Tigers likely regret not signing Alex Bregman in the offseason, as he’s performing like an AL MVP candidate for Boston, while Jace Jung was recently optioned to Triple-A after hitting just .111 in 18 games. Whether it’s Nolan Arenado, Ryan McMahon or someone else, the hot corner appears to be the most-pressing need in Detroit,” Kelly wrote.
McMahon’s 2025 hasn’t started well. The former All-Star is slashing just .206/.333/.374 with six homers, 11 RBI and a .708 OPS. That’s well below his career norms.
But here’s why this makes sense: Colorado’s going nowhere fast. They’re obvious sellers, and McMahon brings left-handed power that Detroit could use to bolster their lineup as they try to build on last year’s momentum.
At 30, McMahon has spent his entire career with the Rockies without tasting meaningful October baseball. He’s exactly the type of established veteran who could benefit from a change of scenery to a contender.
The Tigers missed out on Bregman, who’s tearing it up in Boston, and weren’t on Arenado’s radar as a preferred destination. That leaves McMahon as potentially their best available option to upgrade at third.
What makes this particularly interesting is how it signals Detroit’s shift from rebuilder to contender. After years in the wilderness, they’re now looking to add pieces rather than subtract them. The hot corner might just be where they make their first big move.
