THE Detroit Tigers enter the offseason with a clear list of improvement needs in order to take the next step and try to contend for a championship rather than just making the playoffs.

Detroit had one of the most special runs by a team in a very long time after coming back from 9.5 games down in late August to make the playoffs and defeat the Houston Astros in the Wild Card round, but things ended in the next round in a five-game heartbreaker against Cleveland in the ALDS. The obvious takeaway for the Tigers is that the team is close and may just need a few adjustments to get the job done.

An area in which Scott Harris has been open to the need to improve is the addition of a right-handed bat in an extremely left-handed lineup, especially towards the end of the year. While everyone would be looking to bring in a few right-handed infielders to plug into two needed positions *cough cough Christian Walker And Alex Bregman cough cough*, there are some potential options that could strengthen the alignment and mix things up from a position of strength as well.

While Riley Greene, Kerry CarpenterAnd Parker Pres make for a great outfield, all three are left-handed and Detroit could look to bring in a right-hander to hit a left-handed pitcher and make things happen. SB Nation Brandon Day appointed Boston Red Sox free agent Tyler O’Neill as a good choice.

“Tyler O’Neill, as one of the game’s most dangerous hitters against left-handed pitchers, makes perfect sense as a free agent target,” Day wrote. “If the Tigers can land a left-handed outfielder, then pursue a trade for a right-handed infielder with the ability to play both corners, they would be in great shape by 2025.”

O’Neill had a huge season for the Red Sox in 2024 with 31 home runs, a .511 slugging percentage, and an .847 OPS. Boston acquired him in a trade last offseason and after the big year for the slugger would surely like to keep him, but it will be interesting to see what the price will be.

For a guy who hits as many home runs as he does, he’s expected to be a bargain on a shorter-term contract worth around $15 million per year or less, a figure Detroit would surely love to sign him, but so would every other team need a power bat in the lineup that costs a lot less than the top names on the market.

Seeing how O’Neill’s market develops and whether a bidding war develops will likely determine whether or not he could be a good fit for the Tigers.