This story was excerpted from Jason Beck’s Tigers Beat newsletter. To read the full newsletter, click here. And subscribe to get it regularly in your inbox.

The sight of snow and the near disappearance of sunshine in Michigan reflect the start of a new year. Visions of spring sunshine, green grass and Tigers baseball can’t be far behind. How the Tigers will line up for what could be their most anticipated season in years remains uncertain.

President of baseball operations Scott Harris has shown an ability to move on opportunities late in the offseason during his two-plus years in charge. Still, the bulk of the Tigers roster is no mystery. The young players who led Detroit from eight games under .500 to an American League Wild Card spot and then the brink of the AL Championship Series are all on track to come back. The Tigers are counting on their continued development to help the team take the next step and challenge for an AL Central title, something that has eluded Detroit since 2014.

It's not automatic, and manager A.J. Hinch doesn’t want his team or fans to think that way. But it’s a reasonable expectation for a core group that has been building for years.

“We can’t repeat last season. We’re not trying to repeat last season. We’re trying to be better,” Hinch said at the Winter Meetings. “We want to win the AL Central. We want to put ourselves in a better position moving forward. You can’t do that by looking backwards.

“I want our guys to take ownership of the fact that we are going to be looked at a little bit different. We have a lot of things we need to do to get better. The test is going to come as the attention grows towards the season. [Last season] was a fun run and a fun time and a memorable playoff chase for us, and now we start over again.”

One free-agent target who would still be a perfect fit: Alex Bregman
While Bregman’s free agency has had more twists and turns than anyone would’ve expected, his on-field fit with the Tigers has been clear since the offseason began. He’s a right-handed hitter who can plug into the middle of a Detroit lineup weighted with young left-handed batters, though his power expectations might need to be tempered for the transition to Comerica Park. Bregman is a 2024 Gold Glove winner and has been a consistently plus defender at third base, where the Tigers have had a revolving door in recent years and haven’t had a standout glove long term since Brandon Inge. Hinch was Bregman’s skipper for his first four seasons in Houston, and Tigers bullpen catcher Chris Chinea was a three-year teammate of Bregman's at LSU and his roommate for two seasons.

One player poised to have a breakout season: Parker Meadows
While Meadows has dazzled in stretches, including a strong postseason at the plate and in the field, the 25-year-old has yet to enjoy a full season in the Majors. He slashed .296/.340/.500 with six home runs and 23 RBIs in August and September, and he looked like a more confident hitter than the one who was optioned to Triple-A Toledo in May. Meadows' defense affords a lot of patience with his hitting, but his plate discipline has improved and his power/speed combination plays beautifully in the outfield gaps of spacious Comerica Park.

One prospect to watch: Thayron Liranzo
While fellow Tigers catching prospect Josue Briceño (No. 9 prospect) dominated the Arizona Fall League, Liranzo (No. 6 prospect) quietly put together a sneaky good season behind him, backing up his breakout stretch run at High-A West Michigan and reinforcing hopes that the switch-hitting backstop can fill a role as the Tigers’ catcher of the future with impact both at the plate and behind it. Catchers can take longer to develop than other position players, but Liranzo has a chance to make some noise at Double-A Erie at some point next season.

One prediction
Starters Luis Gil and Paul Skenes won their respective league’s Rookie of the Year Award last season, ending a drought for starters that went back to former Tiger Michael Fulmer’s victory in 2016. Jackson Jobe (Detroit's No. 1 prospect, No. 5 overall per MLB Pipeline) has the talent has the talent to follow in those footsteps, and the Tigers are inclined to give him the opportunity to crack the rotation either out of Spring Training or early into the season. Colleague Jonathan Mayo named Jobe one of his top three AL Rookie of the Year candidates in November.