The MLB rumors are beginning to swirl as the hot stove heats up, with the latest team of interest being the Detroit Tigers. The Tigers, who endured their sixth straight losing season, aren't looking to just sit back this offseason. After shelling out large contracts to starting pitcher Eduardo Rodriguez and infielder Javier Baez last offseason, the Tigers are rumored to be interested in pairing this Chicago Cubs All-Star back with his old teammate, Baez, this winter.
Cubs free agent catcher Willson Contreras has piqued the interest of the Tigers, according to Jon Morosi of MLB Network.
“Tigers are looking at the catching market as the offseason begins. They’re interested in free agent Willson Contreras, whom Scott Harris knows from his tenure in Chicago.”
Per Morosi, the Tigers are “interested” in Willson Contreras. Not only was Contreras a teammate of Javier Baez' while the two were on the Cubs, but Detroit's president of baseball operations, Scott Harris, was with Chicago from 2012-2019 in a front office role.
It certainly makes sense for the Tigers to upgrade their catching situation, given that the club racked up just -0.3 wins above replacement from their backstops in 2022, per Baseball Reference.
Catcher Eric Haase, who hit 14 homers this past year, provided some pop, though he has yet to approach the offensive numbers that Contreras, the owner of a career .808 OPS, has consistently delivered in his seven-year career.
Contreras, 30, avoided arbitration with the Cubs when he agreed to a one-year, $9.6 million contract back in June. The longtime Cubs catcher popped up in trade rumors, as he was linked to the Houston Astros, New York Mets and Tampa Bay Rays.
Now, he figures to get a payday this winter. Could it be from the Tigers? It would certainly make sense.
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