David Briggs: As Hinch makes swaggering pledge, will the Tigers pony up in free agency?

Aug. 29—Don't everyone look at once, but how 'bout these Detroit Tigers?

They're not only in position to record their fourth consecutive winning month; they're starting to get a little chesty, too.

Maybe you heard manager AJ Hinch's swaggering pledge from over the weekend, when, on the subject of attracting free agents to Motown this winter, he all but rewrote Eminem's all-star "Detroit Vs. Everybody" track.

"If the Tigers' organization does a good job, we're going to reestablish ourselves as a winning franchise and develop a winning culture," he told reporters. "If you want to be a part of it, then you'll come. If you don't, then we'll beat you."

Whew!

If you're a Tigers fan who made it through the tank-a-thon of the past four seasons, I'm guessing you're about ready to run through the outfield wall for your team.

And why not?

As long as owner Chris Ilitch reinvests the dough from his family's Little Caesars pizza empire into the free-agent market — more on that in a minute — the excitement is well founded, whether we expected it or not.

Me? I didn't expect this.

It wasn't long ago the Tigers' rebuild appeared more aimless than Giannis Antetokounmpo at the foul line. In fact, it was just in May that yours suggested as much, wondering if: "Given the [Al] Avila regime's stunningly bad trades, curious free-agent signings, and shallow drafts, they could be on the long road to nowhere."

Much of that criticism still rings true, including on the trade front. It still boggles the mind that Avila did not land a single cornerstone-type talent in his slew of big-ticket deals at the deadlines from 2017 to 2019, including the Justin Verlander swap in 2017, when they helped Houston pay the freight for two-plus seasons of one of the best pitchers in the game. What should have led to a monster return instead yielded pitcher Franklin Perez, outfielder Daz Cameron, and catcher Jake Rogers.

Still, it's clear the Tigers have gotten plenty right, too, including at manager — extending a second chance to Hinch has proven a grand slam — and at the top of the drafts. Now, they have core pieces helping them win in Detroit and two big-time slugging prospects (Spencer Torkelson and Riley Greene) rapping on the door in Toledo.

It's a foundation you can build around.

All that's left now is to wonder: Will Ilitch spend the money necessary to build the Tigers from a good young team into a contender?

And, if so, who should Detroit pursue?

To the first question, we'll see, though I would be cautiously hopeful. While Ilitch will never be like his free-spending father, Mike — who in his all-out pursuit of a championship funded top-five payrolls from 2012 to 2016 — the Tigers are positioned well to begin seriously supplementing their major league roster. Consider: their $85 million payroll is 23rd in baseball and the end of Miguel Cabrera's anchor of a contract is in sight, his $32-million-per-year deal set to expire after the 2023 season.

As for a wish list, let's work under the premise that shortstop remains their biggest long-term need (though I suppose the equation could change if Ryan Kreidler keeps up his searing pace in Toledo).

I'd go all in on two splashes: Carlos Correa — a headliner in a class of free-agent-to-be shortstops that includes Javier Baez, Corey Seager, Andrelton Simmons, and Trevor Story — and Verlander.

Both live in the well-documented dreams of Tigers fans, but both make sense, beyond their connection to and affinity for Hinch, with whom they won the World Series in Houston in 2017.

Correa is a 27-year-old five-tool talent who would not have to shatter the bank. He turned down a six-year, $120 million extension earlier this year. It might not take a whole lot more to get him.

Verlander, meanwhile, is 38 and hasn't pitched since undergoing Tommy John surgery last year. But given he was still in top form before the injury — he was the Cy Young winner in 2019 — a two-year, high-value deal seems worth the risk, especially for a perfectly timed reunion with the team for which he will enter the Hall of Fame.

Imagine Verlander back in Motown pitching the Tigers back into the playoffs.

The way Hinch is talking — and has his team playing — it's hard not to let the mind wander.