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Tigers’ free agency begins now in MLB 2024-25: Important dates to know
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Tigers’ free agency begins now in MLB 2024-25: Important dates to know

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Los Angeles Dodgers won the World Series.

That’s why the 2024-25 MLB offseason continues.

Detroit Tigers He went 86-76 in the regular season, including a 31-11 run to advance to the postseason. For the first time since 2014. This improbable run ended with the Tigers shutout on October 12. Lost to Cleveland Guardians in ALDS.

president of baseball operations Scott Harris He is entering his third season with the Tigers. He signed only one free agent to a multi-year contract during his tenure: Kenta Maeda. a two-year, $24 million contract In November 2023.

( MUST LISTEN: Tigers radio play-by-play Dan Dickerson joins “Roar Days” where you will go Detroit Tigers podcast. It’s available wherever you listen to podcasts. Apple, Spotify) )

Here’s a look at the Tigers’ key offseason dates for the 2024-25 season.

Free agency, trades: October 31

Players are now officially free agents.

The Tigers have already parted ways with all of their upcoming free agents. They traded Jack Flaherty To the Los Angeles DodgersAndrew Chafin to the Texas RangersCarson Kelly to Rangers and Mark Canha to the San Francisco Giants. They also cut Gio Urshelawas acquired by the Atlanta Braves and Shelby Miller.

Free agents cannot sign with a new team until five days after the end of the World Series, but these players can sign with their former team within the five-day period. The Tigers do not have exclusive negotiating rights with any players because they do not have free agents.

The trade market is also open.

Tigers last summer Acquired Canha from Milwaukee Brewers three days after the trading market opened.

Contract options: November 4

This is a big day on the baseball calendar, but it’s not that big of a deal for the Tigers.

There are multiple deadlines: Free agents can negotiate (and sign) with any team, player options and club options for the 2025 season must be accepted or denied, players on the 60-day injured list must be reinstated. 40-man squadand teams can make a one-year, $21.05 million qualifying offer to eligible free agents, and the player is given one week to accept or decline it.

The Tigers have a contract option.

They are expected to reject the offer $3.1 million club option on Casey MizeThis includes a $10,000 buyout, but they will retain Mize at a cheaper price point through the salary arbitration process.

The Tigers can’t extend the qualifying offer because they don’t have free agents, but the qualifying offer still affects their offseason plans. If a player accepts, his former team keeps him on a one-year contract. If a player declines, his former team receives the draft pick compensation surrendered by the new team that signed the player.

Potential free agent target Alex Bregman He’s a lock to land a qualifying offer from the Houston Astros, which means the Tigers would lose one of their top draft picks (but not one of their top first-round picks) to sign Bregman. Christian Walker He seems likely to receive a qualifying offer from the Arizona Diamondbacks and Walker Buehler One shot to get the ball from the Dodgers.

Flaherty is not eligible to receive a qualifying offer from the Dodgers because he was traded during the season; Nathan Eovaldi He is not eligible because he has already received a suitable offer.

The Tigers’ 40-man roster consists of 39 players, but four players need to be brought back from the 60-day injured list: Alex Faedo (right shoulder strain), Sawyer Gipson-Long (left hip labral surgery, right elbow surgery), Brendan White (right radial nerve injury) and Javier Báez (right hip surgery). After this, three players need to be cut.

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Alex Bregman a ‘sensational fit’ for Detroit Tigers in free agency

Mike Ferrin, co-host of Power Alley on MLB Network Radio, explains why Alex Bregman is an ideal free agent prospect for the Detroit Tigers. The full “Days of Roar” podcast is out now.

GM Meetings: 5-7 November

The meeting of presidents of baseball operations and general managers will be the first event of the offseason and will take place in San Antonio, Texas.

The important thing is to lay the groundwork for future acquisitions on the trade market and free agent market. For example, the Tigers could talk to agent Scott Boras about signing Bregman and approach Tampa Bay Rays president of baseball operations Erik Neander about a first baseman trade. Yandy Diaz.

Harris is scheduled to speak to reporters on November 5.

Rule 5 draft protection: November 19

By 6 p.m. ET, the Tigers must protect Rule 5 draft-eligible players by adding them to the 40-man roster. Players signed at age 19 or older must be added within four years; Players signed at age 18 or younger must be added within five years.

The Tigers’ eligible players include: Eliezer Alfonzo, Brady Allen, Justice Bigbie, Garrett Burhenn, Roberto Campos, Trei Cruz, José De La Cruz, Liam Hicks, Jake Holton, Corey Joyce, Tanner Kohlhepp, Chase Lee, Lael Lockhart, Ben Malgeri, Tyler Mattison, Carlos Mendoza, Chris Meyers, Joseph Montalvo, Austin Murr, Andrew Navigato, Tyler Owens, Carlos Pena, R.J. Petit, Gabriel Reyes, Yosber Sanchez, Stephen Scott, Dylan Smith And Gauge Worker.

The Tigers acquired Hicks, Lee, Montalvo and Owens at the 2024 trade deadline. Montalvo is the 16th prospect in the Tigers’ farm system. MLB Pipeline.

Here’s another thing: Players like Bregman must accept a qualifying offer from their former team by 4 p.m. Most players reject the offer in favor of free agency.

BBWAA Cy Young Awards: November 20

Tariq Skubal He plans to celebrate his 28th birthday by winning the first Cy Young Award of his five-year MLB career.

Considering he leads the league in strikeouts (18), ERA (2.39) and strikeouts (228), he’s almost guaranteed to win the American League award. Secure the BUY pitching Triple Crown. No pitcher has accomplished that in a 162-game season since Justin Verlander in 2011.

Deadline for non-tendering: 22 November

This is the first step in the salary arbitration process.

All players on the 40-man roster with less than six years of MLB service must be offered a contract. Players with fewer than three years under their belt will receive a $760,000 minimum salary, but players with three to six years (plus those participating in the Super Two playoffs) can negotiate raises as arbitration-eligible players.

The Tigers have nine arbitration-eligible players, ranked by MLB service time, with their projected salaries based on the following calculations: MLB Trade Rumors:

The Tigers will decide whether to tender these nine arbitration-eligible players. Keeping them all would cost the Tigers about $24.5 million. If tendered, the player will be given a contract to be negotiated for the 2025 season. If the tender is not made, the player is removed from the 40-man roster and immediately enters the free agency period.

Winter Meetings: 9-12 December

This year’s winter meetings will be in Dallas.

Teams will actively build their rosters for the 2025 season through trades and free agency. tigers targeting at least one right-handed hitter and several pitchers. For the first time in a long time, they appear willing to trade prospects to upgrade the roster.

Two events (the MLB draft lottery and the Rule 5 draft) occur during the winter meetings. The draft drawing is on December 10th and the Rule 5 draft is on December 11th.

The Tigers sit 24th overall. 2025 MLB draftFor the first time in three years of the lottery, there is no chance of taking the No. 1 overall pick. The AL Central rival Minnesota Twins have a slim 1.09% chance of taking the No. 1 pick, while the Colorado Rockies and Miami Marlins lead at 22.45%.

In the 2024 Rule 5 draft, the Tigers will be able to select an eligible unprotected player from another team for $100,000. A player selected in the Rule 5 draft must be added to the 40-man roster and must remain on the 26-man roster (or the injured list) for the entire 2025 season. If the player is removed, he will be waived and offered to return to his original team for $50,000.

This past offseason, the Tigers declined to select a player in the Rule 5 draft for the first time since 2015.

Arbitration figures shared: January 9

This is the second and often final step of the salary arbitration process, in which the Tigers and proposed arbitration-eligible players agree on a specific salary for the 2025 season.

If they cannot agree, both parties will need to exchange figures and an arbitration hearing will be scheduled for February. The Tigers are operating as a filing and trial team, meaning they will not continue negotiations in the weeks leading up to the hearing. At the hearing, a panel of independent arbitrators will decide which side will win the case.

Tigers had no arbitration hearing Michael Fulmer since February 2019.

MLB spring training: Mid-February

The first practice date for pitchers and catchers is typically the Wednesday after the Super Bowl, which is February 12 in the 2025 calendar year.

tigers He will begin his 30-game spring training schedule on February 22 against the Philadelphia Phillies. at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, Florida. The spring schedule will conclude on March 23 against the Phillies at BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater, Florida.

Opening Day: March 27 vs. defending champion Dodgers at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.

Contact Evan Petzold at: [email protected] or follow him @EvanPetzold.

Listen to our weekly Tigers show “Roar Days” on demand every Monday afternoon at freep.com, Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts. You can find all our podcasts and daily audio briefings at: freep.com/podcasts.