On the same day they officially announced the signing of former MVP Justin Verlander and left-handed pitcher Framber Valdez to a three-year contract, the Detroit Tigers revealed they lost another key member of their starting rotation.
MORE: Former Cy Young Award winner, 43, signs $13 million contract where his MLB career began
Right-hander Reese Olson, who posted a 3.15 ERA in 13 starts last season, underwent right labral repair surgery on his right shoulder and will miss the entire 2026 season.
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Olson, 26, will officially begin the season on the 60-day injured list. He missed the final two months of last season with what was described as a right shoulder strain.
Olson is 13-19 with a 3.60 ERA in 56 career games (53 starts), all with the Tigers.
The Tigers, who are coming off back-to-back American League Division Series exits, were certainly justified in signing Valdez and Verlander to boost their chances of going deeper into the postseason.
https://twitter.com/DetroitTigersPR/status/2021354927738491069
Now, the depth looks more like a necessity than a luxury. Behind left-hander Tarik Skubal, the back-to-back American League Cy Young Award winner, it looks as if Verlander and Valdez will join Casey Mize and Jack Flaherty in the Tigers’ season-opening rotation.
Right-hander Jackson Jobe, who underwent Tommy John surgery last June, will also begin the season on the Tigers’ 60-day injured list.
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