Dylan Carlson Landing Spots: 3 potential destinations for former first-round draft pick after rough 2024 campaign
Despite much anticipation, Dylan Carlson's career at the major league level has not played out as many expected. The outfielder was selected by the St. Louis Cardinals with the 33rd overall pick in the 2016 MLB Draft, and many believed he would blossom into a superstar.
Even though he has shown glimpses of his potential, Carlson has struggled with injuries and inconsistency throughout his career. This led to the Cardinals moving on from the 26-year-old this past season, trading him to the Tampa Bay Rays in exchange for pitcher Shawn Armstrong.
It was a difficult year for Carlson, who struggled to do much of anything for both the Rays and Cardinals, posting a combined .209 batting average with 3 home runs and 25 RBIs. While he left much to be desired, he is still relatively young and could still turn things around, which could help him draw interest from clubs in free agency willing to gamble on the outfielder.
3 potential landing spots for Dylan Carlson in free agency
#1 - Minnesota Twins
The Minnesota Twins are an interesting landing spot for Carlson heading into 2025. The club has a few openings on its roster, with Max Kepler hitting free agency and Alex Kirilloff retiring, which could open the door for Carlson to receive some playing time.
The Twins would likely be able to bring Carlson into the fold for an affordable deal, while also providing themselves with some additional support behind oft-injured stars such as Byron Buxton. Carlson could be a low-risk, high-reward signing for the Twins this offseason.
#2 - New York Yankees
The New York Yankees could also be willing to gamble on Dylan Carlson with an affordable contract. The move to a power-friendly park like Yankee Stadium could see Carlson return to the double-digit home run numbers he posted earlier in his career.
With them missing out on Juan Soto, and potentially losing Alex Verdugo in free agency, the Yankees need help in the outfield, and Carlson could be worth a flier.
#3 - Detroit Tigers
The Detroit Tigers must leave no stone unturned when it comes to revamping their offense this offseason. After reaching the ALDS, it was clear that the team did not have the firepower needed to seriously contend for the World Series, no matter how strong their pitching was.
Dylan Carlson could provide the Tigers with a spark, even in a platoon role, while also having an opportunity to rebuild his value.