The Detroit Tigers were the surprise story of the 2024 season—and in 2025, they’re turning heads once again, but for entirely different reasons.
Last season, they mounted an incredible late surge, overcoming a sub-.500 record and a 9.5-game playoff deficit as of August 22 by winning 15 of their final 19 games to clinch a postseason berth.
This year, instead of playing catch-up, Detroit is dominating from the outset. With a 33-17 record—a .660 winning percentage—the Tigers not only top the AL Central by five games over the Minnesota Twins but also boast the best record in the Majors through the first 50 games for the first time since 2006.
As of Wednesday afternoon, no other division leader has a larger lead.
And what happened in 2006? That Tigers team made it all the way to the World Series, ultimately falling to the St. Louis Cardinals in five games. They haven’t returned to the Fall Classic since.
Tigers Still Could Use More Home Runs
The Tigers may be off to a red-hot start, but they could still use a boost—specifically in the power department. While ranking seventh in the majors in home runs is solid, Detroit’s offense relies heavily on just three sluggers: Spencer Torkelson and Riley Greene with 12 homers each, and Kerry Carpenter with 10. Together, they’ve combined for more than half of the team’s 62 home runs.
Recognizing the need for another power bat, former MLB GM and current The Athletic writer Jim Bowden suggested on Wednesday that Detroit would be a great fit for Philadelphia Phillies slugger Kyle Schwarber. The left-handed designated hitter is tied with Shohei Ohtani for the MLB lead in home runs this season with 17.
Over his 11-year career, Schwarber has racked up 301 homers—fourth-most among all players in that span. Bowden highlighted his strong on-base skills (.390 OBP), leadership, and reputation as one of the best teammates in the game.
“Schwarber is arguably the best teammate in the game, reaches base at a 39 percent clip and is always in the hunt for the home run crown,” Bowden wrote. “He’s a player most teams will covet if they have an opening or flexibility at the DH spot.”
Bowden also listed the Braves, Reds, Padres, Royals, and Guardians among teams that could benefit from Schwarber’s presence.
While Bowden was primarily referring to Schwarber’s potential availability as a free agent—his four-year, $79 million contract is up after this season—there’s a chance he could be moved sooner. If the Phillies, despite their strong standing in the NL East, believe they won’t be able to extend him, they might explore a trade to recoup value before he hits the open market.
Would Prospect Package Be Enough to Persuade Phillies?
Before this season, the Tigers were rumored to have explored a deal for Kyle Schwarber that would’ve involved left-handed pitching prospect Brant Hurter. Hurter has since made his big-league debut, appearing in 13 relief outings with an impressive 2.35 ERA. Still, given Schwarber’s value—even as a short-term rental—it’s unlikely Hurter alone would be enough to pry him away from a contending Phillies team.
If Detroit were to seriously pursue Schwarber during the season, they’d likely need to offer a more enticing prospect package, one focused on long-term potential rather than immediate MLB help. That would mean parting with players seen as part of the Tigers’ future core.
Their top prospect, Max Clark—the No. 3 overall pick in the 2023 draft—is currently playing in High-A and projected to reach the majors by 2027. Including Clark in a deal, along with another high-upside talent like Single-A right-hander Owen Hall (ranked among the club’s top 10 prospects), might be enough to get Philadelphia’s attention.
It would be a bold move for Detroit, but if the front office believes Schwarber’s power bat could help solidify a playoff run and turn their surprising season into a true contender’s campaign, it might just be worth the price.
