The Detroit Tigers wasted absolutely no time diving into the offseason action, officially acquiring infielder Tsung-Che Cheng from the Boston Red Sox for cash considerations. Andrew Parker of Sox Prospects first reported the move, and Chris Cotillo confirmed it. This isn’t just a random name; Cheng is set to link up with fellow Taiwanese infielder Hao-Yu Lee in Detroit, which is kinda cool, right?
Meet the New Guy: Tsung-Che Cheng’s Scouting Report
So, who is Tsung-Che Cheng? He’s a 25-year-old, left-handed hitter who plays a solid shortstop and already has a little bit of big league experience under his belt. The dude’s got some tools, too. He’s fast, can handle an average major league shortstop spot, and he’s even got experience at second base and a bit at third. The Red Sox snagged him after the Pittsburgh Pirates released him last offseason where he’d been since signing as a 19-year-old international free agent for $380,000 back in 2019. He bounced to the Nationals, then waivers, then Boston. Talk about a journey!
But let’s be real, it’s not all sunshine and rainbows. The big problem with Cheng is he strikes out a fair amount, racking up a 23.8 percent strikeout rate in Triple-A last year. His power is also just fringe average. He swings and misses more than you’d ideally want, and that’s something he’ll need to trim down if he wants to be a regular platoon player. On the upside, he does walk a good amount, posting a 13.5 percent walk rate at Triple-A in 2026, and shows solid chase rates. So, there’s definitely something there to work with.
Why the Tigers Made This Move Now
You gotta wonder why the Tigers are jumping on a depth infielder this early in the offseason, right? Well, for the Red Sox, it was simple: their 40-man roster was getting crowded, so this clears a spot for them. The Tigers are in a similar boat, actually, with eight players due back on their 40-man roster after coming off the 60-day injured list.
The real play here appears to be developing more options at shortstop beyond Kevin McGonigle. With John Peck providing a right-handed bat and Cheng now offering a left-handed one, they’re beefing up the possibilities. If this move spells trouble for anyone on the Tigers’ current roster, it’s probably Trey Sweeney, especially with him recovering from a major shoulder surgery. This Cheng acquisition is mostly a depth pickup right now. The Tigers might be trying to unlock something in his bat, and it certainly doesn’t hurt that he and Hao-Yu Lee were teammates on Chinese Taipei’s 2019 World Champion U-18 WBSC team. That comfort factor for international players can sometimes make a real difference.
The offseason just kicked off, and honestly, for all we know, Cheng could end up getting waived by the Tigers before it’s all said and done. He’s out of options and not exactly a household name. But for now, he’s a Tiger. It’s a small depth move, sure, but it shows how the team is thinking about their infield options and what they want to develop. Let’s see what they can do with him!
This article was created with AI assistance and published under Seattle On Tap’s editorial standards. See our Editorial Policy.
Originally reported by Bless You Boys.
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