The Detroit Tigers’ 2025 season will be remembered as one of the most dramatic collapses in modern baseball history. A team that once looked destined to run away with the AL Central, holding a comfortable 15-game lead in July, barely managed to limp into the postseason. The once-celebrated turnaround under president of baseball operations Scott Harris and manager AJ Hinch suddenly looks shaky, leaving fans with more questions than answers about the roster’s ability to handle the pressure of a full 162-game season.
Now, as the dust settles from a September swoon that exposed glaring holes in the lineup, Detroit faces a pivotal offseason. The front office must decide whether this roster is close enough to contend as constructed, or if it’s time to take a bold swing for an impact player.
One name already surfacing is Arizona Diamondbacks star Ketel Marte. Fansided’s Robert Murray recently suggested that the Tigers should “go all in” for the three-time All-Star second baseman, who remains one of the most dynamic middle infielders in the game.
“With the Tigers’ collapse, if they bow out of the playoffs early, they’re going to need a spark,” Murray wrote. “Scott Harris isn’t going anywhere. AJ Hinch isn’t going anywhere. But Detroit should push all their chips in and trade for Marte. Do I expect it? Probably not, but it’s possible. Remember, they nearly landed Alex Bregman last winter. Why not take another big swing for Marte, who’s on a team-friendly deal, especially with Tarik Skubal possibly entering his final year in Detroit? It would be a smart move, and I think they should do it.”
The logic is simple: Marte isn’t just a good player—he’s a proven star. This season, he put together a .283/.376/.512 slash line, adding 28 doubles, 27 home runs, and 71 RBI in just 125 games. His ability to hit for both average and power while providing versatility on defense makes him exactly the type of player Detroit needs.
For comparison, Gleyber Torres, Detroit’s current second baseman, had a decent but less impactful season, batting .256/.358/.387 with 22 doubles, 16 home runs, and 74 RBI across 145 games. While Torres is serviceable and flashes moments of brilliance, he hasn’t consistently provided the offensive firepower that Marte brings to the table.
Of course, acquiring Marte wouldn’t come without complications. The Tigers would have to decide whether to keep both Marte and Torres in the lineup by moving one of them to a secondary position, or potentially include Torres in the trade package for Marte. The latter option might sting, but it could be necessary to secure a player of Marte’s caliber. Another path would be dealing Torres elsewhere in a separate trade, creating space for Marte to slide into the everyday second base role.
For the Tigers, this isn’t just about replacing one player with another—it’s about changing the identity of the offense. September made one thing crystal clear: Detroit’s bats went silent when it mattered most. The team lacked a reliable spark plug in the lineup, someone who could set the tone and deliver in pressure situations. Marte has built a career on doing just that.
The move would also send a clear message to the rest of the league—and to the fanbase—that the Tigers are serious about contending. With ace Tarik Skubal potentially approaching his final season in Detroit, there’s added urgency to capitalize while they still have one of the game’s premier pitchers anchoring their rotation.
While it remains uncertain if Arizona would even entertain offers for Marte, his team-friendly contract makes him an attractive target. Pairing him with Torres, rather than replacing him, could give Detroit one of the deepest infields in the American League and immediately upgrade an offense that too often faltered down the stretch.
The Tigers can’t afford to play it safe anymore. After watching a golden opportunity slip away in 2025, this offseason is about taking risks, making bold decisions, and proving that the rebuild is more than just empty promises. Whether or not Marte becomes the answer, the message is clear: Detroit needs a spark, and it can’t come from within.