After years and years of being an also-ran, bordering on laughingstock status, the AL Central finally had its moment in 2024. Outside of the shortened 2020 campaign, the Central had not featured multiple playoff squads since 2017, as it was constantly viewed as the weakest division in the whole sport. However, having such an awful team as the White Sox was enough to turn the tide, as the Central sent out three representatives to the postseason, while the Twins were in it almost into the final weekend of the season.
Alas, the Tigers and Royals finished their dream seasons in the ALDS, and now they have to figure out if their return to relevance was a real thing or merely the product of the playing Chicago 13 times. Detroit (10-3 vs the Sox) and Kansas City (12-1) were basically .500 teams outside of those contests, which now points to a busy offseason if they wish to sustain their breakout seasons.
When the Royals signed World Series talisman Will Smith as a veteran presence for their bullpen, we should have all known that something was afoot in Kansas City. Coming off a 106-loss season, it was easy to overlook the Royals in what should have been a transitional year, but a slew of veteran signings (Seth Lugo, Michael Wacha) and an MVP-type season from Bobby Witt Jr. were enough to change their direction, propelling a 30-win turnaround that was truly remarkable. With Witt signed for the long haul and a renewed local sense of pride, the Royals would benefit from using 2024 as a building block.
While the Royals may not be a natural hotspot for prime free agents, this season has at least added credibility for a franchise that had been an afterthought for almost a decade. Lugo and Wacha are bound to return and anchor the rotation along with Cole Ragans, giving the staff a head start as one of the most reliable in the AL. The front office is not known for massive contracts, but adding a competent arm or two may be enough to hedge any potential injuries, while internal options like Brady Singer and Alec Marsh at least possess a high floor in the back end.
The bullpen is a completely different tale, and will probably be the priority going forward. The trade deadline saw the Royals add a nice closer in Lucas Erceg, but the lack of depth was evident in the ALDS, where the Royals appeared short in the late games. Trotting out Angel Zerpa every day may have worked to an extent, but the Game 1 loss against the Yankees in a very winnable game proved costly. Ten different pitchers had at least one save for the team during the regular season, and with the aforementioned Smith now a free agent and early-season closer James McArthur exposed as the season advanced, it is clear that a stable group of hurlers is necessary.
Should the pitching hold up, the offense may be a bigger predicament to fix. Witt, Vinnie Pasquantino, and captain Salvador Perez are a solid core, but the Royals did feature eight different batters who posted below-average lines in at least 200 plate appearances. Bringing back free agents Tommy Pham, Paul DeJong, and Robbie Grossman could at least add continuity, but with a hard cap in terms of potential. With no top prospects knocking on the door, the team needs other youngsters to step up, unless they want Witt to become a one-man show.
All in all, the Royals appear to be in an enviable spot for the foreseeable future. With an excited fanbase and payroll flexibility, 2024 should be viewed as a massive success despite the sour elimination in the end. Just like it happened a decade ago, Kansas City has the chance to regroup and give us the underrated sight of those awesome Kauffman fountains in October.
In terms of seeking comeuppance following a bitter playoff exit, the Tigers may be at the top of the list as of today. They just lost two straight potential clinching games against a divisional foe, with the first featuring a late lead at home and the second having the best pitcher in the league on the mound. At the same time, any playoff success that the Tigers could have experienced was gravy compared to where they stood in early August. After seemingly waving the white flag at the trade deadline, the team went on a tear all the way to the ALDS, having eliminated the mighty Astros and pushing Cleveland to the brink. From a team-building standpoint, Detroit’s late surge does not seem sustainable by any means, so how they can sustain this momentum?
Taking a quick glimpse at the team’s offensive output in 2024, a few numbers stick out for their lack of sheer volume. Only one Tiger was able to hit over 20 home runs (Riley Greene’s 24), and no one even reached 75 RBI or 85 runs. At the same time, the Tigers were able to put together this spirited run with a lineup full of hitters under 25, which portends better days to come after such a valuable learning experience. The likes of Wenceel Perez, Justin-Henry Malloy, and Colt Keith held their own in October, while the resurgence of Matt Vierling and Spencer Torkelson suggests that they can finally become big-league regulars.
With this in mind, it becomes imperative for the Tigers to build off this surprise season and spend on a higher-upside slugger in free agency. The final two losses in the ALDS exposed what happens when the margin of error falls off the wayside in the playoffs, as the Tigers were simply unprepared to come back late in games. While the Javy Baez fiasco may give the front office some pause when it comes to dishing out a long-term contract, they at least have the payroll option to add without compromising the rest of the team’s foundation. Even as it is a long shot, aiming for an Alex Bregman type (there is the A.J. Hinch connection, after all) or pushing for a proven veteran hitter like Josh Bell or Anthony Santander may be the jolt needed to turn this Cinderella season into a sustained run.
Speaking of Hinch, he may have been masterful in his balancing act of openers and bullpen games, but it would not hurt the Tigers to add at least one more starter that can provide stability. Having Tarik Skubal is a luxury few teams can boast in terms of predictability and excellence, while Reese Olson and Casey Mize will probably get better, but there is only so much a team with three clear starters can do over a full season. Keider Montero at least provides some hope that he can become more than a swing arm, but the front office should complement any impact bat they acquire with a similarly potent starter. With Jason Foley emerging as a trustworthy closer and Hinch in charge of a deep bullpen, there is a lot to like with this staff, as long as reinforcements arrive.
After years of mediocrity and a season that seemed destined to become just another one in that line, Detroit shocked the world and came within one win of the ALCS. If the Tigers want this to become a footnote as they go for bigger and better things, the front office must bank on this newfound goodwill with the fanbase and spend. There is no other way around it, especially for a franchise that had almost seemed content with failing to launch.