Best thing for Detroit Tigers, Tarik Skubal? Jim Duquette explains
On “Days of Roar,” former general manager Jim Duquette explains what the Detroit Tigers should do with Tarik Skubal in the 2025-26 MLB offseason.
The Detroit Tigers have less than 15 hours to protect players eligible for the 2025 Rule 5 Draft by adding them to the 40-man roster. Any eligible player left unprotected can be selected by one of MLB’s 29 other teams in the draft scheduled for Dec. 10.
The roster deadline is 6 p.m. Tuesday, Nov. 18.
Meanwhile, the Tigers’ 40-man roster was full entering Tuesday, meaning the Tigers will need to create space to protect any prospects.
Players signed at 18 or younger have to be protected within five professional seasons. Players signed at 19 or older have to be protected within four seasons.
In the Rule 5 draft, teams can select an eligible unprotected player from another team for $100,000. Said player must stay on the drafting team’s 26-man roster (or the injured list) for the entire 2026 season. If removed from the roster, the player will be placed on waivers, and if the player clears waivers, the player is offered back to the original team for $50,000.
There have been several notable players to go through the Rule 5 process; perhaps the most notable Tiger recently is right-handed reliever Will Vest, who was drafted from the Tigers by the Seattle Mariners in December 2020. After making his MLB debut with the M’s in April 2021, he was returned to the Tigers in July of that season.
Detroit Tigers eligible for 2025 Rule 5 draft
Here’s the full list of 2025 Rule 5 draft-eligible players from the Tigers’ organization ahead of Tuesday’s deadline:
Right-handed pitchers (17): Max Alba, Garrett Burhenn, Rayner Castillo, Ronny Chalas, Haden Erbe, Colin Fields, Marco Jimenez, Tanner Kohlhepp, Carlos Marcano, Jordan Marks, Trevin Michael, Joseph Montalvo, RJ Petit, Yosber Sanchez, Matt Seelinger, Eric Silva, Troy Watson.
Left-handed pitchers (6): Joe Adametz, Lael Lockhart, Jake Miller, Joe Miller, Gabriel Reyes, Andrew Sears.
Catchers (4): Ricardo Hurtado, Thayron Liranzo, Sergio Tapia, Eduardo Valencia.
Infielders (9): Abel Bastidas, Trei Cruz, Peyton Graham, Andrew Jenkins, Hao-Yu Lee, Izaac Pacheco, Cristian Santana, Danny Serretti, Gage Workman.
Outfielders (7): Justice Bigbie, Daniel Cabrera, Roberto Campos, Ben Malgeri, Chris Meyers, Austin Murr, Seth Stephenson.
Five Rule 5-eligible Detroit Tigers to knowTrei Cruz, UTIL
Acquired:Â Round 3 (No. 73 overall), 2020 draft.
Age:Â 27.
Highest level in 2025:Â Triple-A Toledo.
The buzz: Cruz – a switch-hitting shortstop and center fielder with the big leagues in his bloodline – spent parts of four seasons in Double-A Erie: eight games in 2022, 120 games in 2023, 102 games in 2024 and 69 games in 2025. In July, the Tigers finally promoted him to Triple-A Toledo – ending a streak of 1,042 days with the SeaWolves. For the Mud Hens, Cruz hit .284 with six home runs, 48 walks and 55 strikeouts in 58 games. As a switch-hitter, he hit .290 with a .919 OPS against right-handed pitchers and .244 with a .704 OPS against left-handed pitchers across the Double-A and Triple-A levels. He also has experience at third base, second base, right field and left field. Cruz appears ready for his MLB debut in 2026.
Hao-Yu Lee, 2B/3B
Acquired:Â From Philadelphia Phillies in 2023 Michael Lorenzen trade.
Age:Â 22.
Highest level in 2025:Â Triple-A Toledo.
The buzz: Lee is the Tigers’ No. 6 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline. He spent all of 2025 in Triple-A Toledo, hitting .243 with 14 home runs, 65 walks and 121 strikeouts in 126 games. He likely won’t be an everyday player, but he profiles like a long-term replacement for Andy Ibáñez: an infielder who specializes against left-handed pitchers, hitting .228 with a .702 OPS against righties and .299 with a .919 OPS against lefties. His defense is below average, his mechanics limit his power potential and his swing struggles with high-velocity fastballs, making him a platoon player – but one who should make his MLB debut in 2026.
Acquired:Â From Los Angeles Dodgers in 2024 Jack Flaherty trade.
Age:Â 22.
Highest level in 2025:Â Double-A Erie.
The buzz: Liranzo, a switch-hitting catcher with power from both sides of the plate, ranks as the Tigers’ No. 5 prospect, according to MLB Pipeline, but he is no longer among the top 100 prospects in baseball after a brief stint on the list. He struggled in Double-A Erie in 2025, hitting .206 with 11 home runs, 47 walks and 125 strikeouts across 88 games. He played just 45 of his 88 games at catcher, spending the other 43 games at designated hitter. As a switch-hitter, he hit .212 with a .657 OPS against right-handed pitchers and .196 with a .670 OPS against left-handed pitchers. He needs to clean up his 31.7% strikeout rate if he wants to advance to Triple-A Toledo in 2026. He probably won’t make his MLB debut until 2027.
Jake Miller, LHP
Acquired:Â Round 8 (No. 237 overall), 2022 draft.
Age:Â 24.
Highest level in 2025:Â Double-A Erie.
The buzz: Miller is one of the most underrated players in the Tigers’ farm system, ranked by MLB Pipeline as the No. 19 prospect. He would be ranked higher, but a back injury (and setbacks in the rehab process) limited him to 20 innings across six starts in 2025. Two of those were rehab starts, but in the other four starts, he posted a 2.12 ERA with four walks and 16 strikeouts in 17 innings for Erie. With the Tigers, Miller has developed a wicked changeup – his best pitch – that misses bats against right-handed and left-handed hitters. He pairs the above-average changeup with a 93 mph fastball and two variations of a slider. Miller is expected to be healthy for spring training and could make his MLB debut in 2026, but not until the second half of the season at the earliest.
Troy Watson, RHP
Acquired:Â From Toronto Blue Jays in 2024 trade for cash considerations.
Age:Â 28.
Highest level in 2025:Â Triple-A Toledo.
The buzz: Watson re-signed with the Tigers on a minor league contract in October, making him a priority – but he still isn’t part of the 40-man roster, which means he can be selected in the Rule 5 draft. The Tigers love Watson for the metrics of his five-pitch mix, so much so that he nearly made his MLB debut on Sept. 25 against the Cleveland Guardians during an intense battle for the American League Central. In 2025, Watson registered a 2.75 ERA with 37 walks and 97 strikeouts across 104â…” innings in 36 games (14 starts) for Erie and Toledo. As part of his 2026 contract, he will earn $1.2 million, prorated for his time spent on the MLB roster. Here’s the big question: Will one of the other 29 teams be willing to pay $1.2 million for a Rule 5 draftee? We’re going to find out if the Tigers don’t protect Watson.
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.
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