Tigers Free Agency MLB 2024-25 Begins Now: Key Dates You Should Know

The Los Angeles Dodgers won the World Series.

Therefore, the 2024-25 MLB offseason is underway.

The Detroit Tigers posted an 86-76 record in the regular season, including a 31-11 run to reach the postseason For the first time since 2014. The improbable run ended on October 12th when the Tigers lost to the Cleveland Guardians in the ALDS.

President of Baseball Operations Scott Harris is entering his third offseason with the Tigers. He has only signed one free agent to a multi-year contract during his tenure: Kenta Maeda a two-year, $24 million contract in November 2023.

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

Free Agency, Trades: Oct. 31

The players are now officially free agents.

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

Free agents cannot sign with a new team until five days after the conclusion of the World Series, but these players can sign with their old team within the five-day period. The Tigers do not have exclusive negotiating rights with players because they have no free agents.

The trading market is also open.

Last offseason, the Tigers acquired Canha from the Milwaukee Brewers three days after the opening of the trading market.

Contract options: November 4th

This is a big day on the baseball calendar, but not so much for the Tigers.

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

The Tigers have a contract option.

They are expected to refuse $3.1 million club option for Casey Mizewhich includes a $10,000 buyout, but they will retain Mize at a cheaper rate through salary arbitration.

The Tigers cannot extend the qualifying offer because they have no free agents, but the qualifying offer still takes into account their offseason plan. If a player agrees, his former team will retain him on a one-year contract. If a player declines, his former team receives draft pick compensation, which is paid out by the new team that signs the player.

Potential free agent target Alex Bregman is a lock on receiving the Houston Astros’ qualifying offer, meaning the Tigers would lose one of their top draft picks (but not their highest first-round pick) for signing Bregman. Christian Walker appears likely to receive the qualifying offer from the Arizona Diamondbacks, and Walker Buhler is an attempt to get him from the Dodgers.

Flaherty is not eligible for a qualifying offer from the Dodgers because he was traded during the season; Nathan Eovaldi is ineligible because he previously received a qualifying offer.

The Tigers’ 40-man roster includes 39 players, but four players must be returned from the 60-day injured list: Alex Faedo (right shoulder strain), Sawyer Gipson Long (Labral surgery of the left hip, surgery of the right elbow), Brendan White (Right radial nerve injury) and Javier Báez (right hip operation). After that, three players have to be deleted.

Alex Bregman is a “sensational fit” for the Detroit Tigers in free agency

Mike Ferrin, co-host of Power Alley on MLB Network Radio, explains why Alex Bregman is the ideal free agent candidate for the Detroit Tigers. Full Days of Roar podcast available now.

GM meeting: March 5-7 November

The Presidents of Baseball Operations and General Managers Meeting is the first event of the offseason and will be held in San Antonio, Texas.

It’s about laying 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 reach out to Tampa Bay Rays president of baseball operations Erik Neander to discuss trading for the first baseman Yandy Diaz.

Harris is scheduled to speak to reporters on November 5th.

Rule 5 Draft Protection: November 19th

By 6 p.m., the Tigers must protect players eligible for the Rule 5 draft 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, Judge Bigbie, Garrett Burhenn, Roberto Campos, Trei Cruz, Jose 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, RJ Petit, Gabriel Reyes, Yosber Sanchez, Stephen Scott, Dylan Smith And Gage Workman.

The Tigers acquired Hicks, Lee, Montalvo and Owens at the 2024 trade deadline. According to Montalvo, Montalvo is the No. 16 prospect in the Tigers’ farm system MLB Pipeline.

One more thing: players like Bregman have until 4 p.m. to accept the qualifying offer from their former teams. Most players turn down the offer in favor of free agency.

BBWAA Cy Young Awards: November 20

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

He’s all but guaranteed to win the American League award considering he led the league in wins (18), ERA (2.39) and strikeouts (228). Secure the AL Pitching Triple Crown. No pitcher has done that in a 162-game season since Justin Verlander in 2011.

Non-tender deadline: November 22nd

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 receive tendered contracts. Players with less than three years receive the minimum salary of $760,000, but players between three and six years (plus Super Two qualifiers) can negotiate raises as arbitration-eligible players.

The Tigers have nine players eligible for arbitration. Players are ranked by MLB seniority and their projected salaries are based on calculations by MLB trade rumors:

The Tigers will decide whether to tender or non-tender these nine arbitration-eligible players. Retaining everyone would cost the Tigers about $24.5 million. If tendered, the player will receive a contract to be negotiated for the 2025 season. If not tendered, the player will be removed from the 40-man roster and immediately enter free agency.

Winter meeting: 9th – 12th December

This year’s winter meetings will take place in Dallas.

Teams will actively build their rosters for the 2025 season through trades and free agency. The tigers are The goal is to target at least one right-handed hitter and a few pitchers. For the first time in a long time, they appear willing to trade prospects to improve the roster.

Two events – the MLB Draft Lottery and the Rule 5 Draft – take place during the Winter Meetings. The draft lottery date is December 10th and the Rule 5 draft lottery date is December 11th.

The Tigers are ranked 24th overall 2025 MLB Draftwith no chance of becoming No. 1 overall for the first time in the lottery’s three years. The AL Central rival Minnesota Twins have a slim 1.09% chance of becoming No. 1, while the Colorado Rockies and Miami Marlins top the odds at 22.45% each.

In the 2024 Rule 5 draft, the Tigers can 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 injured list) for the entire 2025 season. If the player is removed, he will be placed on a waiver and will be returned to his original team for $50,000.

Last offseason, the Tigers declined to select a player in the Rule 5 Draft for the first time since 2015.

Exchange of arbitration figures: January 9th

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

If they don’t agree, both sides will have to exchange figures and an arbitration hearing is scheduled for February. The Tigers are acting as a filing and trial team, meaning they will not negotiate further in the weeks leading up to the hearing. At the hearing, a panel of independent arbitrators decides which side wins the case.

The Tigers did not have an arbitration hearing since Michael Fulmer in February 2019.

MLB Spring Training: Mid-February

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

The Tigers begin their 30-game spring training on February 22 against the Philadelphia Phillies at Joker Marchant Stadium in Lakeland, Florida. The spring tournament ends March 23 against the Phillies at BayCare Ballpark in Clearwater, Florida.

It’s opening day March 27 against the defending champion Dodgers at Dodger Stadium in Los Angeles.

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

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