Offseason Outlook: Detroit Tigers

The Tigers never recovered from an atrocious May. They wound up dealing the two-time defending Cy Young winner at the deadline but didn’t orchestrate any kind of rebuild. They’ll look to reload this offseason and improve upon a 76-86 finish, yet it’s going to take a lot of work on the pitching staff and some shuffling in the bottom half of the lineup. Guaranteed Contracts SS/3B Kevin McGonigle: $136MM through 2034 LHP Framber Valdez: $77.5MM through 2028 (including buyout of ’29 mutual option; Valdez can opt out after ’27) SS/CF Javier Báez: $24MM through 2027 3B/1B Colt Keith: $16.6425MM through 2029 (including buyout of ’30 club option; deal also includes club options for ’31-32) RHP Kyle Finnegan: $10.25MM through 2027 (including buyout of ’28 mutual option) Option Decisions Team holds $12MM option ($2MM buyout) on RHP Kenley Jansen Team holds $10MM option (no buyout) on RHP Drew Anderson Additional future commitments: Owe $31MM in deferred payments to Framber Valdez and Justin Verlander between 2030-39 2027 guarantees: $76.5MM Total future commitments: $297.3925MM Arbitration-Eligible Players (service time in parentheses; projected salaries courtesy of MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz) Will Vest (5.100): $4.4MM Zach McKinstry (5.099): $5MM Matt Vierling (5.026): $3.7MM Riley Greene (4.110): $9.3MM Spencer Torkelson (4.076): $7.7MM Kerry Carpenter (4.057): $4.1MM Tyler Holton (4.047): $2.4MM Beau Brieske (4.007): $1.5MM Reese Olson (3.123): $1.5MM Wenceel Pérez (3.000): $1.4MM Parker Meadows (2.169): $1MM Non-tender candidates: Vest, McKinstry, Vierling, Brieske, Pérez Free Agents Gleyber Torres, Jack Flaherty, Justin Verlander (retired), Jacob Waguespack, Burch Smith, Tyler Kinley, Tanner Rainey, James Outman (eligible for minor league free agency) The Tigers never recovered from a 6-22 performance in May, making it all but inevitable they’d listen on Tarik Skubal at the deadline. Detroit played well in June and July to make that a little more interesting, yet a blown 7-0 lead in what proved to be Skubal’s final start sealed their fate. He’d be shipped off to the Dodgers three days later for outfielder Zyhir Hope and right-hander River Ryan. The Tigers followed by dealing their other big impending free agent, Casey Mize, to San Diego for 2024 first-round pick Kash Mayfield. Detroit stopped short of any kind of full teardown. They didn’t move anyone whom they had under club control beyond this season (aside from including depth infielder Gage Workman in the Mize deal). Other impending free agents Gleyber Torres, Jack Flaherty and Kenley Jansen were expensive enough to have minimal trade value. Detroit hung around for a little while in a poor American League playoff race, but a 2-11 stretch in late August extinguished any hopes of a miracle run. The American League Central has improved but remains one of the two weakest divisions in MLB. The Tigers should expect to compete for a division title in 2027. How do they get there? Unlock Subscriber-Exclusive Articles Like This One With a Trade Rumors Front Office Subscription Access weekly subscriber-only articles by Tim Dierkes, Steve Adams, and Anthony Franco. Join exclusive weekly live chats with Anthony. Remove ads and support our writers. Access GM-caliber tools like our MLB Contract Tracker View Comments (1)