In the second half of a mediocre and fairly disappointing 2023 season for the Detroit Tigers, the makings of the team that would break out in 2024 were in place. Tarik Skubal was the best pitcher in the American League after returning from flexor tendon surgery. Spencer Torkelson was hitting a bunch of homers. Riley Greene and Kerry Carpenter were establishing themselves as power hitters. A story that started to develop down the stretch was the emergence of right-hander Sawyer Gipson-Long as a potential part of the rotation.
Former general manager Al Avila made two outstanding trades in the later years of his tenure running the team.