This is the 2nd week of the new blog focused on building the Detroit Tigers’ 2026 roster. Your job? You get to play GM/PoBO and determine the team’s needs and which players …
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YOU BUILD THE ROSTER.
Totally Tigers
This is the 2nd week of the new blog focused on building the Detroit Tigers’ 2026 roster.
Your job? You get to play GM/PoBO and determine the team’s needs and which players to add and edit. Within reason, of course. No trading Jake Rogers for Shohei Ohtani, OK?
Every week, we’ll ask you to respond to a poll question. We’ll start off considering the overall strategy and general direction, becoming more specific as we go along.
Of course, we welcome your responses as they pertain to that week’s specific topic.
Just before spring training, we’ll publish the final results of your decisions to see where you matched or misjudged the Tigers’ Front Office.
Here’s this week’s challenge:
There are a number of concerns about each part of the Tigers’ roster. Ironically, the bullpen is the least of the team’s worries.
The starting rotation needs additional help. Tarik Skubal may be traded over the winter and Jack Flaherty may opt out of his contract. The only other starting pitchers are Casey Mize, Keider Montero and Reese Olson. It is expected that Troy Melton will make the roster but he is still unproven as a starter long-term.
The Tigers went through a lot of starting pitchers last year even though they started the year with a surplus of them. They ended up both trading and promoting more pitchers in order to fill the rotation.
Other than Dillon Dingler, the infield has many holes. Spencer Torkelson has improved but he’s still not a consistent player. Gleyber Torres is gone, leaving a hole at 2B. Third base still doesn’t have an official everyday player and SS Javier Baez will be 33 years old. It is still undetermined where Colt Keith will end up playing.
Only Baez, Ibanez and Dingler are plus defenders.
The outfield has 2 everyday outfielders and 2 platoon players. Kerry Carpenter has the best defensive stats but he’s a neutral defender (0 DRS). Riley Greene is the worst player on the roster defensively w/ -7 DRS. Parker Meadows has struggled all year, that is when he wasn’t on the IL for most of it. And Matt Vierling’s future and position(s) are uncertain after playing only 24 games in 2025.
Which of these areas is of greatest concern and requires the most attention, solutions and resources in preparation for the 2026 season?
Which area of the roster requires the most time and attention?
1. The starting rotation.
2. The infield.
3. The outfield.
VOTE