When a team — say, the Detroit Tigers — has, arguably, one of the best pitchers on the planet — maybe someone like Tarik Skubal — and their control of that pitcher is in its last season, it would make sense to seize the moment and try to win it all.
Further, let’s posit that said team is coming off back-to-back playoff appearances, which indicates some organizational momentum. The only reasonable choice, then, would be to move heaven and earth and build around that player for one last run.
For most
of the offseason, Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris seemed relatively tame as the team was inactive in the free-agent market while rumors flew that the Tigers might be open to trading Skubal. And then Harris began building seriously for 2026 — as in signing Framber Valdez to a three-year, $115 million contract and bringing back fan favorite Justin Verlander, along with a series of other moves designed to fortify the Tigers as they push their chips to the center of the table.
The question now is whether they did enough.
2025 Record: 87-75 (1st in the AL Central)
Projected FanGraphs 2026 record: 86-76 (1st in the AL Central)
What did they do during the offseason? Well, the Tigers went to work this winter despite a slow start. Besides the aforementioned additions, they extended manager A.J. Hinch, brought back Jack Flaherty (well, he exercised his player option) and Gleyber Torres (accepted a qualifying offer), and made some interesting signings, such as relievers Kyle Finnegan and Kenley Jansen, plus KBO sensation Drew Anderson.
Other minor moves included trading righty Chase Lee for lefty Johan Simon and flipping outfielder Justyn Henry-Malloy for cash.
So, how good are the 2026 Tigers? Well, despite the fact that they did their best to irritate the best and most consistent pitcher in the league with lowball offers, they can actually compete.
Skubal, winner of the last two AL Cy Young awards, remains with the team despite the record gap in arbitration negotiations and the endless trade rumors, so the Tigers begin with a significant advantage. Plus, they’ve added Valdez to an already solid rotation, which also projects to have Flaherty (3.85 FIP last year), Casey Mize (3.87 ERA), and Verlander. Anderson is around in case there’s an injury, and he just put up a 2.25 ERA in 171.2 innings in Korea with 245 punchouts.
Detroit will miss Reese Olson in 2026 after he underwent right shoulder labral repair surgery, but waiting on the farm will be Troy Melton, Keider Montero, and Sawyer Gipson-Long; plus, Jackson Jobe is expected to return from Tommy John surgery in the second half of the season.
Long story short, the Tigers have a deep rotation.
As for the bullpen? The Tigers are mostly solid on this front. They have Jansen, Finnegan, Will Vest, Anderson, Tyler Holton, Brenan Hanifee, Brant Hurter, and Beau Brieske. That group should hold its own.
While there were some clear upgrades acquired in the pitching department, the same can’t be said about the offense. This is largely the same group that ranked 12th last year with a 103 wRC+, but that’s not necessarily a bad thing.
Detroit had nine guys with above-average offensive performance in 2025 in a minimum of 150 plate appearances: Jahmai Jones (159 wRC+), Riley Greene (121), Spencer Torkelson (118), Kerry Carpenter (115), Zach McKinstry (114), Torres (113), Dillon Dingler (109), and Colt Keith (109).
Of course, they also have the jewel of the crown: shortstop prospect Kevin McGonigle, who posted a 182 wRC+ last year in the minors and is at 172 in spring training play. He should be able to break camp with the team and projects as a future star.
The Tigers’ offense is full of steady, above-average guys but lacks one true, difference-making talent. Greene is close, but he is not a superstar. If McGonigle develops as expected, he could fill that void and give Detroit a true star in the position player department.
As things stand right now, the Tigers will fight with the Guardians and Royals for the AL Central and a place in the postseason. If they consider themselves out of it, there is a chance they ultimately flip Skubal for prospects ahead of the deadline, but they should be good enough to make one last run with their ace before he hits free agency.
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