Detroit Tigers Rumors: 5 Possible Free-Agent Targets In 2015

Detroit Tigers rumors are already swirling just one month removed from the team being crowned the AL Central Champions of the 2014 season. Dave Domrowski will begin retooling the Tigers soon and once again the emphasis will be on the bullpen, starting with pending free-agent Max Scherzer. The 2013 Cy Young winner has stated that he would like to return to the motor city, however the likelihood of that happening at this point seems moderate at best.

Back in the spring, both sides were in discussions for a possible extension. Eventually negotiations stalled and the Tigers released the following statement via Jim Bowden of ESPN:

"“The Detroit Tigers have made a substantial, long-term contract extension offer to Max Scherzer that would have placed him among the highest-paid pitchers in baseball, and the offer was rejected.”"

Credit: Tommy Gilligan-USA TODAY Sports

If Scherzer goes, will the Tigers look to the free-agent market for guys like Jon Lester or James Shields? Or will they look at in-house options like Robbie Ray, Kyle Ryan, Kyle Lobstein, Drew VerHagen, or Buck Farmer? They also have to decide on whether to exercise Joakim Soria‘s $7 million club option or buy him out for $500,000.

In 44 1/3 innings last season, Soria turned in a 3.25 ERA with 9.7 K/9 and 1.2 BB/9. Considering the Tigers had to give up two of their best prospects in starter Jake Thompson and reliever Corey Knebel to land Soria in July, it’s hard to imagine Detroit not exercising that option.

Either way, I expect the Tigers to do some tinkering with their bullpen and Dombrowski has said that it will be towards the top of their list.

Let’s take a look at 5 possible free-agents that could head to Detroit in 2015, bullpen and otherwise.