Tigers 2025-2026 Offseason: Trades, Free Agents, Call ups, Rule 5, tender, non-tender, Skubal Cy Young Award

[kalinecountry]

AJ Hinch says Kevin McGonigle and Max Clark are already getting work in at the team's Spring Training facility. "That's a pretty good start".

 

[kalinecountry]

World Series Champ % - AL:
8.1% - Mariners
6.8% - Tigers
5.8% - Yankees
4.7% - Blue Jays
3.7% - Red Sox
3.2% - Orioles
1.7% - Royals
1.6% - Astros
1.4% - Rangers
1.2% - Twins
0.7% - Athletics
0.6% - Rays
0.3% - Guardians
0.1% - Angles
0.0% - White Sox-
via Fangraphs
.

 

[kalinecountry]

Jim Bowden shocks no one with totally off the mark Chris Ilitch praise after Tigers’ arb loss

Jim Bowden credited Tigers owner Chris Ilitch for absolutely no reason after Tarik Skubal's arbitration victory.

motorcitybengals.com

Jim Bowden shocks no one with totally off the mark Chris Ilitch praise after Tigers’ arb loss.
MCBTB

 

[kalinecountry]

There is a distinct possibility that Reese Olson will not be ready for opening day.

 

[kalinecountry]

THE NEWS BEHIND THE NEWS

by Holly Horning This is one of those days when the usual Totally Tigers schedule gets thrown out the window. If you were expecting the Saturday Survey today, we’ll post it tomorrow. In the …

totallytigers.wordpress.com

THE NEWS BEHIND THE NEWS.
Totally Tigers

 

[tomdalton22]

THE NEWS BEHIND THE NEWS

by Holly Horning This is one of those days when the usual Totally Tigers schedule gets thrown out the window. If you were expecting the Saturday Survey today, we’ll post it tomorrow. In the …

totallytigers.wordpress.com

THE NEWS BEHIND THE NEWS.
Totally Tigers

100% of the blame is on Harris and co. That said, I'm glad he got his $32M, he deserves every penny.

 

[kalinecountry]

100% of the blame is on Harris and co. That said, I'm glad he got his $32M, he deserves every penny.

There is a gray area to all of this, and why I blame all of them. MLB, the owners, Harris, boras, and the player(s) going to arbitration or free agency. We want the best players but if You don't want to pay them, they are going to leave and we will have a team like the Tampa Bay rays and other teams of players brought up through the system, Tigers minor leagues, and they too will leave once they reach the number of years tied to the team that drafted and signed them. Forget about getting more than one player every few years who will sign a contract like Colt Keith. The entire system is need of an overhaul, but the owners who want that have an equal amount of owners who don't along with the players who want as much as they can get in the short amount of time they are in the game. With all that said, who gets the brunt of all of it? We the fans with higher ticket prices, food and beverages at the ball parks, team apparel, and of course higher amounts of $$$ just to watch them play through different cable and streaming places who carry them.

In 2026 there are 5 teams with a Luxury Tax Payroll under $100M
In 2016 there were 2 teams with a Luxury Tax Payroll under $100M
Owners collecting revenue sharing without putting it into payroll.
(34.1% inflation in the last 10 years).

 

[kalinecountry]

The Tigers signed Detroit native Jalen Evans this off-season. Here's how Jalen is looking in his last live AB at TreadHQ before heading to minor league spring training (spoiler alert: he looks really, really good).

 

[kalinecountry]

Tigers drop spring training roster amid Tarik Skubal chaos: Here's what to catch up on

Detroit Tigers finally gave fans something concrete to chew on this week, quietly dropping their spring training roster while the now-complete Tarik Skubal arbi

motorcitybengals.com

Tigers drop spring training roster amid Tarik Skubal chaos: Here's what to catch up on.
Less than a week until pitchers and catchers report!
MCBTB

 

[kalinecountry]

Surprise Tigers injury news has Framber Valdez signing making a lot more sense

The Detroit Tigers shocked the baseball world this week when they signed coveted free agent Framber Valdez to a contract featuring the highest annual salary eve

motorcitybengals.com

Surprise Tigers injury news has Framber Valdez signing making a lot more sense.
Depth, not desperation.
MCBTB

 

[tomdalton22]

There is a gray area to all of this, and why I blame all of them. MLB, the owners, Harris, boras, and the player(s) going to arbitration or free agency. We want the best players but if You don't want to pay them, they are going to leave and we will have a team like the Tampa Bay rays and other teams of players brought up through the system, Tigers minor leagues, and they too will leave once they reach the number of years tied to the team that drafted and signed them. Forget about getting more than one player every few years who will sign a contract like Colt Keith. The entire system is need of an overhaul, but the owners who want that have an equal amount of owners who don't along with the players who want as much as they can get in the short amount of time they are in the game. With all that said, who gets the brunt of all of it? We the fans with higher ticket prices, food and beverages at the ball parks, team apparel, and of course higher amounts of $$$ just to watch them play through different cable and streaming places who carry them.

In 2026 there are 5 teams with a Luxury Tax Payroll under $100M
In 2016 there were 2 teams with a Luxury Tax Payroll under $100M
Owners collecting revenue sharing without putting it into payroll.
(34.1% inflation in the last 10 years).

I blame the owners because they can't seem to get on the same page with each other. The disparity in revenue is what is wrong with baseball. I don't blame any player for trying to get as much as they can, as soon as they can. I hope they have a long lockout and they get it fixed right.

 

[kalinecountry]

SUNDAY SURVEY

It’s now been several days since the arbitration committee ruled in favor of Tarik Skubal and awarded him $32 mill for the 2026 season. Yesterday, we outlined the dynamics of what happened at…

totallytigers.wordpress.com

SUNDAY SURVEY.
Totally Tigers

It’s now been several days since the arbitration committee ruled in favor of Tarik Skubal and awarded him $32 mill for the 2026 season.
Yesterday, we outlined the dynamics of what happened at the arbitration hearing. We learned about the intentions of Scott Boras and Tarik Skubal, the Tigers and MLB’s Labor Relations Board.
In case you missed it:

We know the immediate results but what did this meeting do to the future of the game? To the future of the Tigers and other teams?
To what may happen at the end of the year with a lockout becoming more likely?
What part of this arbitration drama concerned you the most?

What part of this arbitration drama concerned you the most?

1. Boras and Skubal's plan to not negotiate.

2. Setting a precedent to dismantle the arbitration system.

3. What this record-breaking deal will mean for top young talent going forward.

4. MLB's significant influence over how teams offer contracts.

VOTE

 

[tomdalton22]

SUNDAY SURVEY

It’s now been several days since the arbitration committee ruled in favor of Tarik Skubal and awarded him $32 mill for the 2026 season. Yesterday, we outlined the dynamics of what happened at…

totallytigers.wordpress.com

SUNDAY SURVEY.
Totally Tigers

It’s now been several days since the arbitration committee ruled in favor of Tarik Skubal and awarded him $32 mill for the 2026 season.
Yesterday, we outlined the dynamics of what happened at the arbitration hearing. We learned about the intentions of Scott Boras and Tarik Skubal, the Tigers and MLB’s Labor Relations Board.
In case you missed it:

We know the immediate results but what did this meeting do to the future of the game? To the future of the Tigers and other teams?
To what may happen at the end of the year with a lockout becoming more likely?
What part of this arbitration drama concerned you the most?

What part of this arbitration drama concerned you the most?

1. Boras and Skubal's plan to not negotiate.

2. Setting a precedent to dismantle the arbitration system.

3. What this record-breaking deal will mean for top young talent going forward.

4. MLB's significant influence over how teams offer contracts.

VOTE

none of it concerned me too much. I guess #4 the least. I don't buy that MLB was the influence of the $19M offer. Harris and the Tigers could have offered any amount that they wanted. But they ****ed around and found out!

 

[Mitchrapp]

I blame the owners because they can't seem to get on the same page with each other. The disparity in revenue is what is wrong with baseball. I don't blame any player for trying to get as much as they can, as soon as they can. I hope they have a long lockout and they get it fixed right.

Those lockouts effect the players much more (and the fans but moot point there). Especially the ones not making a ton of money. Billionaire owners are going to still be billionaires. In the end I probably do blame them more, maybe, but if they all "got on the same page" we'll be back to the 80's with players calling it conclusion.

And how do you get a cap? It'll take a long time for the Dodgers and that 1/2-billion-dollar payroll to drop significantly. And then forcing teams to spend a certain amount would be tough for the billionaire cheapskates. It took a long time to fk up this bad, it'll take even longer to fix. I'll be dead. or too old to know what's going on.

 

[tomdalton22]

Those lockouts effect the players much more (and the fans but moot point there). Especially the ones not making a ton of money. Billionaire owners are going to still be billionaires. In the end I probably do blame them more, maybe, but if they all "got on the same page" we'll be back to the 80's with players calling it conclusion.

And how do you get a cap? It'll take a long time for the Dodgers and that 1/2-billion-dollar payroll to drop significantly. And then forcing teams to spend a certain amount would be tough for the billionaire cheapskates. It took a long time to fk up this bad, it'll take even longer to fix. I'll be dead. or too old to know what's going on.

I would like to see a much higher penalty for going over the luxury tax or some sort of local TV revenue sharing. The salary floor will be tough just because different teams are in different stages of player development. You could have a team that is bring up almost all of their players and mostly on rookie contracts...they shouldn't be punished. Baseball is definitely broke.

 

[gotime909]

Only way you'd ever get the players to agree to a cap is to have a high enough floor to offset it. Then you run into teams like Tampa, Oakland, Miami etc. crying poor. Its just a bunch of greedy ****s destroying a once great sport.

 

[Mitchrapp]

I would like to see a much higher penalty for going over the luxury tax or some sort of local TV revenue sharing. The salary floor will be tough just because different teams are in different stages of player development. You could have a team that is bring up almost all of their players and mostly on rookie contracts...they shouldn't be punished. Baseball is definitely broke.

I don't think that's going to help. These guys are rich as hell. Unless you make 800% increase.

 

[kalinecountry]

https://www.mlb.com/tigers/news/best-one-two-rotation-punches-in-baseball-2026

Which teams have the best 1-2 punches atop their rotations?
Tigers official site

 

[kalinecountry]

3 overlooked breakout Tigers prospects who could make a spring training statement

Spring training is coming up soon and the Detroit Tigers have a lot of prospects who will be in camp. These three overlooked prospects could make a statement.

motorcitybengals.com

3 overlooked breakout Tigers prospects who could make a spring training statement.
Now is their time.
MCBTB

 

[kalinecountry]

DEEPER DISCUSSIONS

Yes, this is Monday if you’re wondering why Sunday’s blog is appearing today. It’s because of big events that happened to the Tigers, combined with the Super Bowl that disrupts fa…

totallytigers.wordpress.com

DEEPER DISCUSSIONS.
Totally Tigers

Yes, this is Monday if you’re wondering why Sunday’s blog is appearing today. It’s because of big events that happened to the Tigers, combined with the Super Bowl that disrupts fans’ attention to baseball.
So let’s get to this week’s thought-provoking question….

---

He was hired to blow up a dysfunctional, antiquated franchise. Made hundreds of moves to broom entire departments and bring in all new people.
In his first year, the Tigers won 12 more games than under the former regime. Finishing in 2nd place.
The next 2 years resulted in October baseball.
But moves started to quiet down in 2024. The roster didn’t change much and no big free agent contracts were signed. Maybe because it was still too soon.
A few secondary players from the minors and drafted by the former Front Office came up but not to much fanfare. Four veteran starting pitchers (3 recently acquired) completely bombed.
Some former #1 draft picks started to finally emerge last year and the rejuvenation of their most expensive player happened.
But the winter of 2025 started off quietly. Too quietly for most of us. No big moves, several near misses and the promise that the focus would be on acquiring pitching, not bats.
We’re waiting on the debuts of several top prospects which will likely be this year. But the team is still without a regular 3Ber.
Then this past week happened. Tarik Skubal won his arbitration case and while this distraction was taking place, the team signed Framber Valdez to a 3-year $115 mill contract. A move no one saw coming. Absolutely no one.
Just these 2 contracts alone pushed payroll higher by $70 mill which is more than several other teams’ entire roster salaries. Their payroll is expected to reach $230 mill if there are no further changes.
The Tigers are now being billed as having the best 1-2 punch in team starting rotations.
Yes, these moves were all made by PoBO Scott Harris.
So what do you think about him now?
Today’s blog addresses this question and allows readers to share their thoughts in more detail. And hopefully, to actively engage with others by responding to their posts and creating back-and-forth discussion threads. The more the merrier!
For this one blog only, you’ve got 6 sentences max to share your thoughts. Of course, you can also respond to other readers.
TT will supply the ammunition. One thought-provoking question. Several options provided. One hard choice to be selected. One vote.
Ready?

How do you feel about Scott Harris today?

1. I always liked him.

2. I've warmed up to him.

3. I still don't like him.

4. Still somewhat of a mystery. Need more evaluation time.

VOTE