Watching former players from a distance can be a bittersweet experience for fans. Sometimes it’s a relief when a team moves on, but other times, it stirs up a sense of regret.
Let’s dive into the journeys of some former Detroit Tigers and see where their paths have led them since leaving the Motor City. Whether they departed via trade, free agency, or were simply released, these players have stories worth telling.
Take Isaac Paredes, for instance. He’s a prime example of what can slip through the cracks during a team’s rebuild.
After the 2021 season, the Tigers traded the then-22-year-old infielder to the Tampa Bay Rays. At that point, Paredes was batting .208 with a .625 OPS over 23 games.
The Tigers needed to make some roster moves, and the Rays were looking for depth. Initially, it seemed like a fair trade for both sides, but it ended up costing Detroit dearly.
Paredes found his groove in Tampa Bay, and by 2023, he was posting a .250/.352/.488 slash line with 31 home runs and 98 RBIs. That’s right, 31 homers and 98 RBIs-a true breakout performance. Midway through 2024, he was traded to the Chicago Cubs and later became part of a deal sending him to the Houston Astros.
Fast forward to 2026, and Paredes is hitting .238/.332/.388 with seven home runs and 27 RBIs in 57 games. While those numbers aren’t as electrifying as his peak, the Tigers could certainly use a 27-year-old third baseman with 99 career home runs on their roster right now.
Then there’s Matthew Boyd, who, after nearly seven seasons in Detroit, managed to reinvent himself elsewhere. Boyd faced plenty of challenges as a Tiger, from losing seasons to Tommy John surgery while pitching for a team deep in rebuild mode.
Boyd wore the Old English D from 2015 to 2021 and made a brief return in 2023. When he left, he had a 4.61 ERA and seemed to have little upside left, especially while recovering from surgery. But once he recovered, Boyd lit up the mound for the Cleveland Reds in 2024, posting a 2.72 ERA over eight starts before signing with the Chicago Cubs.
In 2025, Boyd shone brightly, finishing with a 14-8 record and a 3.21 ERA across 31 starts. His 179.2-inning season earned him his first All-Star nod at 34. Although his 2026 season has been marred by a meniscus injury, his 2025 performance proved he had more to offer than anyone expected.
Nick Castellanos, drafted by the Tigers in 2010 as the 44th overall pick, made his debut in 2013 and stayed until the 2019 trade deadline. His prime years were spent away from Detroit, with his best season in 2021 for Cincinnati, where he hit .309/.362/.576 with a .938 OPS, 34 home runs, and 100 RBIs.
Now, in 2026, Castellanos’ tale takes a somber turn. Signed by San Diego as a depth player, he’s batting just .191/.221/.339 with a .560 OPS over 39 games. It seems like the end might be near for Castellanos, whether he’s ready to accept it or not.
Jeimer Candelario, who played for the Tigers from 2017 to 2022, had his moments. His standout season was in 2021, with a .271/.351/.443 slash line, but his inconsistency led to his release in 2022.
In 2026, his decline has been steep, hitting just .111/.200/.222 in seven games for the Los Angeles Angels before being sent to Triple-A Salt Lake. At 32, Candelario is running out of opportunities.
Meanwhile, Akil Baddoo and Michael Fulmer are still battling to find their place on MLB fields. Baddoo, remembered for his home run on his first major league pitch in 2021, is hitting .220 at Triple-A Nashville for the Brewers. Fulmer, the 2016 AL Rookie of the Year, is on a minor league contract with the Giants at Triple-A Sacramento, marking his fourth organization in under a year.
These stories, though varied, share a common thread: a love for baseball and time spent with the Detroit Tigers. Every MLB team faces similar challenges-trading veterans, making tough decisions, developing prospects, and trying to predict the future. For some players, the journey continues, while for others, the end may be in sight.