The offseason is already reshaping the Detroit Tigers’ roster, and two familiar faces are officially moving on. Outfielder Akil Baddoo and catcher Tomás Nido have elected free agency, marking the end of another chapter for a pair of players who took very different paths to the same crossroads.
While the timing might surprise some fans, both players had the contractual right to test the market after being outrighted to Triple-A Toledo earlier this year. Instead of making an early exit, they chose to stick it out through the end of the season, traveling with the organization through its postseason run. Now, their decisions signal new beginnings, and perhaps a few quiet goodbyes.
Baddoo’s Wild Ride: From Rule 5 Spark to a Fight for Relevance
Few players have captured the imagination of Detroit fans quite like Baddoo did during his 2021 rookie season. Plucked from the Minnesota Twins in the Rule 5 Draft, he burst onto the scene as an unexpected sensation–a power-speed threat who played with energy, confidence, and flair. But like so many flashpoints in baseball, the story cooled faster than anyone expected.
Now 27, Baddoo’s career has become a study in volatility. After that electric rookie campaign, his production dipped sharply in 2022, and he’s since bounced between Detroit and Triple-A Toledo trying to rediscover the spark. In his short major league stint this past season–just seven games–he went 2-for-17 with the Tigers. But in Toledo, he quietly put together one of his most complete offensive seasons: hitting .281 with an .868 OPS, 15 home runs, and 25 stolen bases.
For the first time in his career, Baddoo enters free agency with control over his future. He’s expected to draw interest across the league, potentially as a non-roster invitee with upside. A strong spring could put him back on a major league bench, or even earn him a comeback shot at a 26-man roster spot.
Nido’s Journey: Veteran Presence, Quiet Contributor
At 31, Nido has seen the highs and lows of professional baseball from nearly every angle–from once being the Mets’ future behind the plate to grinding out innings as a backup and depth piece. For Detroit, he represented something valuable: reliability and steadiness.
Nido joined the Tigers early in 2025 when Jake Rogers hit the injured list, and he made the most of his window. Over six weeks in April and May, Nido hit .343 (12-for-35) in limited action while mentoring rookie Dillon Dingler, who was just announced as an AL Gold Glove Finalist. His experience and composure offered balance in a clubhouse increasingly shaped by young talent.
His journey to Detroit was anything but straightforward. After battling offensive struggles and even vision issues in 2023, Nido bounced through multiple clubs–including the Mets, Cubs, and finally the Tigers–before settling into a late-season role at Triple-A. In a fun bit of trivia, his last act in the big leagues this year wasn’t behind the plate but on the mound, tossing 1 2/3 scoreless innings in a blowout loss to St. Louis.
What It Means for the Tigers
Detroit’s catching depth chart remains fluid heading into the offseason. Prospects Eduardo Valencia and Thayron Liranzo are both Rule 5 eligible, while Josue Briceño continues to climb the organizational ladder. The front office will have to balance development with stability, and that could mean Nido isn’t completely out of the picture.
Baddoo’s departure, meanwhile, reflects a broader reality: Detroit’s roster churn is ongoing. Once a spark plug of the rebuild, his exit underscores how fast the window shifts in baseball, and how hard it is to stay relevant once it does.
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