As free agency prepares to heat up, the Detroit Tigers appear poised to become a major player, which may not have been the case had the team not gone on an improbable run to make the playoffs.

As the Tigers prove to team decision-makers and check-signers that they are just a few pieces away from having a chance to truly compete for a championship, the strategy could prove aggressive on the open market. But acquiring talent simply by being the highest bidder on a free agent isn’t the only way to accomplish this, and perhaps Detroit will attempt to make some serious moves in the trade market.

A player who has often been left out of every baseball team’s dream trade goals is Toronto Blue Jays superstar hitting the first baseman Vladimir Guerrero Jr. after another huge season and an All-Star appearance in 2024.

Toronto wasn’t even close in terms of results this season, winning 74 games and finishing 12 games behind in the Wild Card race. Many have said that the Blue Jays are a sneaky suitor to Juan Sotoin which case they would likely retain Guerrero Jr. and attempt to compete next season. Otherwise, Guerrero Jr. could become available. WG Brady of Detroit Sports Nation reacted to a proposed trade by the Detroit Free Press which saw the Tigers win the star in exchange for Reese Olson, Jace Jung, Matt ManningAnd Jose Dickson.

“If the Blue Jays find themselves unable to sign (Guerrero) to a contract extension, miss out on the lucrative Juan Soto sweepstakes or decide to reorganize their roster for the future, they could consider trading him before Opening Day 2025,” Brady wrote. . “As the Tigers look ahead to the offseason, the prospect of acquiring a superstar like Vladimir Guerrero Jr. has fans buzzing with excitement.”

While moving Olson with Jung and other prospects would sting, the opportunity to acquire a player who is one of the best hitters in baseball doesn’t come around every day.

Guerrero Jr. has made four straight All-Star Games and is coming off a career-high in batting average in 2024 at .323 in what was the second-best season. of his career only to his ridiculous 2021 campaign when he finished second in AL MVP voting.

Guerrero Jr. could be the piece that puts the Tigers over the top and if he truly becomes available, Detroit needs to pull the trigger here.