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
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)
Non-tender candidates: Vest, McKinstry, Vierling, Brieske, Pérez
Free Agents
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?
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