Detroit Tigers, Tarik Skubal: What we know about $250 million gap
On “Days of Roar,” Evan Petzold explains what’s happening between Detroit Tigers and Tarik Skubal as the offseason approaches, recorded Oct. 20, 2025.
This is Part 1 of a two-part series evaluating every player on the Tigers’ roster heading into the offseason. Come back to freep.com/sports/tigers on Friday for Part 2, on the position players.
The Detroit Tigers have 47 players on their 40-man roster, including 30 pitchers.
Five days after the World Series, the Tigers will need to reinstate seven players from the 60-day injured list, then remove at least seven players from the 40-man roster.
There are six unrestricted free agents: right-handers Alex Cobb, Kyle Finnegan, Tommy Kahnle, Rafael Montero, Chris Paddack and second baseman Gleyber Torres. Three others could become free agents: right-handers Jack Flaherty (player option), Paul Sewald (mutual option) and José Urquidy (team option).
Here’s an assessment of how every pitcher from the Tigers’ 40-man roster performed during the 2025 season, along with their stats, contract status and a letter grade:
Starting pitchers (12)RHP Alex Cobb
Age:Â 38.
2025 stats:Â Did not pitch.
2026 contract status:Â Free agent.
Grade:Â N/A.
The buzz:Â Cobb planned to retire for health reasons, then the Tigers decided to pay him $15 million. Before spring training, he suffered a hip injury and never pitched for the Tigers. The 13-year MLB veteran posted a 1.74 ERA with 15 walks and 24 strikeouts across 20â…” innings in 10 rehab games in the minor leagues.
RHP Jack Flaherty
Age:Â 30.
2025 stats:Â 31 games (31 starts), 161 IP, 4.64 ERA, 3.3 BB/9, 10.5 K/9, 2.5 fWAR.
2026 contract status:Â Player option, $20 million.
Grade:Â B.
The buzz: The Tigers signed Flaherty to a one-year, $25 million contract with a $10 million player option for 2026, which increased to $20 million after he made 15 starts. As a Tiger, Flaherty dominated in 2024 — before being traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers — but struggled in 2025. His ERA soared from 2.95 over 18 2024 starts with the Tigers to 4.64 in 2025, with his walk rate rising from 4.6% to 8.7% and his strikeout rate dropping from 32% to 27.6%. His ERA ranked 42nd among 50 starting pitchers with at least 160 innings.
RHP Sawyer Gipson-Long
Age:Â 27.
2025 stats:Â 8 games (3 starts), 31â…“ IP, 7.18 ERA, 1.7 BB/9, 7.5 K/9, -0.3 fWAR.
2026 contract status:Â Not yet eligible for arbitration.
Grade:Â D.
The buzz:Â Gipson-Long returned in early June from elbow and hip surgeries but fell short of the Tigers’ lofty expectations. He landed on the injured list twice with neck stiffness and spent more time in the bullpen than in the rotation. He threw strikes and missed bats with his slider and changeup, but hitters destroyed his fastball, which averaged 92.1 mph in 2025 compared to 93.1 mph in 202.
RHP Jackson Jobe
Age:Â 23.
2025 stats:Â 10 games (10 starts), 49 IP, 4.22 ERA, 5.0 BB/9, 7.2 K/9, 0.1 fWAR.
2026 contract status:Â Not yet eligible for arbitration.
Grade:Â D+.
The buzz: Jobe ranked as the No. 1 pitching prospect in baseball when he made his MLB debut in September 2024. In June 2025, the hard-throwing, high-spin newcomer underwent season-ending elbow surgery. Before the injury, he posted a 4.22 ERA – ranking 54th among 89 rookie pitchers with at least 40 innings (and a 4.85 expected ERA, which ranked 75th).
RHP Ty Madden
Age:Â 25.
2025 stats:Â Did not pitch.
2026 contract status:Â Not yet eligible for arbitration.
Grade:Â N/A.
The buzz: The Tigers expected Madden to provide depth in either the rotation or bullpen, but a shoulder injury in early March sidelined him for five months. He didn’t begin a throwing progression until mid-August – too late for him to pitch in games at any level in 2025. He should be healthy for 2026 spring training, barring any setbacks.
RHP Troy Melton
Age:Â 24.
2025 stats:Â 16 games (4 starts), 45â…” IP, 2.76 ERA, 3.0 BB/9, 7.1 K/9, 0.1 fWAR.
2026 contract status:Â Not yet eligible for arbitration.
Grade:Â B-.
The buzz: In early April, the Tigers assigned Melton to Double-A Erie out of minor-league spring training. By late July, he made his MLB debut – and never looked back. His 2.76 ERA ranked 15th among 89 rookie pitchers with at least 40 innings (and his 3.72 expected ERA ranked 35th). His fastball makes him special, sitting at 97 mph and generating an above-average 29.7% whiff rate. The Tigers will utilize Melton as a full-time starter in 2026.
RHP Casey Mize
Age:Â 28.
2025 stats:Â 28 games (28 starts), 149 IP, 3.87 ERA, 2.2 BB/9, 8.4 K/9, 2.4 fWAR.
2026 contract status:Â Arbitration eligible, projected for $5.4 million.
Grade:Â B+.
The buzz:Â Mize delivered his most complete season in his second year removed from elbow and back surgeries, driven by a lower walk rate (6.4% to 5.7%) and a higher strikeout rate (17.3% to 22.2%). One problem: He posted a 2.63 ERA in his first 15 starts, followed by a 5.54 ERA in his final 13 starts. To take the next step, Mize must rediscover the effectiveness of his once-revered splitter, which has graded as a below-average pitch since his MLB debut in 2020.
RHP Keider Montero
Age:Â 25.
2025 stats:Â 20 games (12 starts), 90â…” IP, 4.37 ERA, 3.1 BB/9, 7.1 K/9, 0.1 fWAR.
2026 contract status:Â Not yet eligible for arbitration.
Grade:Â D.
The buzz: Montero was one of 133 pitchers to register at least 180 innings across 2024 and 2025, but ranked 101st with a 4.57 ERA and 123rd with a 5.02 expected ERA. The alarming reality: He hasn’t had a sub-4.00 ERA in any season since 2019, back in the lower levels of the minors. Montero projects as rotation depth in Triple-A Toledo again in 2026 – unless the Tigers convert him to a full-time reliever.
RHP Reese Olson
Age:Â 26.
2025 stats:Â 13 games (13 starts), 68â…” IP, 3.15 ERA, 3.3 BB/9, 8.5 K/9, 1.4 fWAR.
2026 contract status:Â Not yet eligible for arbitration.
Grade:Â B.
The buzz:Â Injuries continue to hamper Olson, who has missed time with a shoulder injury in back-to-back seasons. He has been limited to just 35 starts across 2024-25, far short of a potential 65 starts. When healthy, he profiles as a frontline starter because he misses bats with his above-average changeup and slider while hiding his below-average fastball. For the Tigers, keeping Olson healthy through 2026 is essential.
RHP Chris Paddack
Age:Â 29.
2025 stats:Â 33 games (28 starts), 158 IP, 5.35 ERA, 1.9 BB/9, 5.6 K/9, 0.7 fWAR.
2026 contract status:Â Free agent.
Grade:Â F.
The buzz:Â The Tigers acquired Paddack from the Minnesota Twins before the July 31 trade deadline, replacing an injured Olson. After the trade, he posted a 6.32 ERA with 10 walks and 29 strikeouts across 47 innings in 12 games (seven starts). The struggles weren’t surprising, considering his 4.64 ERA in his seven-year MLB career.
LHP Tarik Skubal
Age:Â 28.
2025 stats:Â 31 games (31 starts), 195â…“ IP, 2.21 ERA, 1.5 BB/9, 11.1 K/9, 6.6 fWAR.
2026 contract status:Â Arbitration eligible, projected for $17.8 million.
Grade:Â A+.
The buzz: Skubal returned from 2022 flexor tendon surgery on July 4, 2023. Since then, he has posted a 2.39 ERA with a 4.5% walk rate and a 31.5% strikeout rate across 467â…” innings in 77 starts – including a 2.80 ERA in 2023, a 2.39 ERA in 2024 and a 2.21 ERA in 2025. His 15.9 fWAR over that span ranks first among all MLB pitchers, with No. 2, San Francisco Giants right-hander Logan Webb’s 12.5 fWAR, well behind him. Skubal has established himself as the best pitcher in baseball. The only question remaining: Will the Tigers extend him, trade him, or try to win with him before he reaches free agency after the 2026 season? The clock is ticking.
RHP José Urquidy
Age:Â 30.
2025 stats:Â 2 games (0 starts), 2â…“ IP, 7.71 ERA, 11.6 BB/9, 11.6 K/9, 0.0 fWAR.
2026 contract status:Â Team option, $4 million.
Grade:Â D.
The buzz: Urquidy showed up in mid-September, returning from his second elbow surgery. The Tigers hoped he would help them down the stretch, but he struggled – unsurprising, given he hadn’t pitched in the big leagues in two years and couldn’t command his pitches. The Tigers could bring him back in 2026 and stick him in the competition for the final rotation spot.
Relief pitchers (18)RHP Beau Brieske
Age:Â 27.
2025 stats:Â 22 games (1 start), 22 IP, 6.55 ERA, 4.9 BB/9, 6.5 K/9, -0.5 fWAR.
2026 contract status:Â Arbitration eligible, projected for $1.3 million.
Grade:Â F.
The buzz: Brieske fueled the Tigers’ magical run to the postseason in 2024, but he couldn’t recapture his magic in 2025. He was demoted to Triple-A in mid-June, then suffered an elbow injury in mid-July and experienced a setback in late August. He is expected to be fully healthy for 2026 spring training – provided he avoids surgery.
RHP Kyle Finnegan
Age:Â 34.
2025 stats:Â 56 games, 57 IP, 3.47 ERA, 2.8 BB/9, 8.7 K/9, 1.2 fWAR.
2026 contract status:Â Free agent.
Grade:Â A.
The buzz: The Tigers made several missteps at the July 31 trade deadline, but acquiring Finnegan from the Washington Nationals was a clear win. He registered a 4.38 ERA with a 19.6% strikeout rate before the trade, followed by a 1.50 ERA with a 34.8% strikeout rate after the trade. The difference? The Tigers overhauled his pitch mix, having him throw more splitters than fastballs for the first time in his six-year MLB career. Given their longstanding interest – both last offseason and again at the deadline – expect the Tigers to pursue a reunion with Finnegan, who was born in Detroit, in 2026.
RHP Jason Foley
Age:Â 29.
2025 stats:Â Did not pitch.
2026 contract status:Â Arbitration eligible, projected for $3.15 million.
Grade:Â N/A.
The buzz:Â Foley served as the Tigers’ closer in 2024, converting 28 saves in 32 opportunities, but he didn’t make the Opening Day roster in 2025 after the velocity and command of his sinker lagged in spring training. He immediately made the Tigers look foolish, tossing 6â…” scoreless innings with zero walks and nine strikeouts for Triple-A, only to suffer a shoulder injury in mid-April that required season-ending surgery in early May. He might not be fully healthy at the beginning of 2026 spring training.
LHP Sean Guenther
Age:Â 29.
2025 stats:Â 9 games (1 start), 10â…“ IP, 5.23 ERA, 4.4 BB/9, 7.0 K/9, 0.1 fWAR.
2026 contract status:Â Not yet eligible for arbitration.
Grade:Â D.
The buzz:Â Guenther played a key role in the Tigers’ 2024 run, but was another reliever who did not repeat that success. He struggled in spring training, then stumbled in a brief stint upon joining the Tigers in April and May. He underwent season-ending hip surgery in late June or early July. He should be healthy for 2026 spring training.
RHP Brenan Hanifee
Age:Â 27.
2025 stats:Â 54 games, 60 IP, 3.00 ERA, 2.1 BB/9, 6.0 K/9, 0.6 fWAR.
2026 contract status:Â Not yet eligible for arbitration.
Grade:Â B.
The buzz: The Tigers didn’t do Hanifee any favors in 2025, making him the odd man out in two roster shuffles, after overloading both the rotation and bullpen with underperforming arms at the trade deadline. He still ranked 45th in ERA among 100 relievers with at least 60 innings pitched out of the bullpen – the best mark among four Tigers relievers who qualified. His main flaw? Left-handed hitters crushed him, batting .373 with a .995 OPS, which made it impossible for the Tigers to trust him against lefty-heavy lineups such as that of the Cleveland Guardians.
LHP Tyler Holton
Age:Â 29.
2025 stats:Â 70 games (6 starts), 78â…” IP, 3.66 ERA, 1.9 BB/9, 7.3 K/9, -0.2 fWAR.
2026 contract status:Â Arbitration eligible, projected for $1.7 million.
Grade: C.
The buzz: From 2023-24, Holton posted a 2.15 ERA that ranked No. 1 among 148 pitchers – both starters and relievers – with at least 160 innings. He even picked up a 10th-place vote in American League MVP voting after dominating over a career-high 94⅓ innings in 2024. His performance came crashing down in 2025, highlighted by a spike in home runs. The inability to locate his cutter – his most-used pitch – ultimately led to his downfall.
LHP Bailey Horn
Age:Â 27.
2025 stats:Â 10 games, 11â…“ IP, 1.59 ERA, 5.6 BB/9, 7.9 K/9, 0.0 fWAR.
2026 contract status:Â Not yet eligible for arbitration.
Grade:Â D.
The buzz:Â Horn spent most of his 2025 with Triple-A, but in four brief stints with the Tigers, he allowed just two earned runs. He didn’t receive more opportunities, though, because he issued seven walks to 50 batters for a 14% walk rate (on top of a 10.5% walk rate for the Mud Hens). The Tigers have five left-handers on their 40-man roster, including four relievers. In the bullpen, Horn ranks as the third-best lefty option.
LHP Brant Hurter
Age:Â 27.
2025 stats:Â 43 games (4 starts), 63 IP, 2.43 ERA, 3.9 BB/9, 9.7 K/9, 0.6 fWAR.
2026 contract status:Â Not yet eligible for arbitration.
Grade:Â B+.
The buzz:Â There was a small bump in the road, but overall, Hurter established himself as one of the Tigers’ best arms in the bullpen with his precision-over-power profile. Among 10 Tigers pitchers who logged at least 60 innings, only Skubal posted a lower ERA. Hurter continued to struggle against right-handed hitters, which likely rules out a return to the rotation, but he remained dominant against lefties, making him a left-on-left weapon in 2026.
RHP Tommy Kahnle
Age:Â 36.
2025 stats:Â 66 games, 63 IP, 4.43 ERA, 4.4 BB/9, 7.1 K/9, -0.2 fWAR.
2026 contract status:Â Free agent.
Grade:Â D+.
The buzz:Â For Kahnle, it was a tale of three phases in 2025: a 1.35 ERA over his first 32 games, a 13.86 ERA across the next 17 games and a 2.20 ERA in his final 17 games. In total, his 4.43 ERA ranked 127th among 147 relievers with at least 60 innings, while his expected 4.59 ERA ranked 140th. He threw the second-most innings of his 11-year MLB career, but he wasn’t worth the $7.75 million the Tigers paid him in free agency.
RHP Alex Lange
Age:Â 30.
2025 stats:Â 1 game, 1 IP, 0.00 ERA, 9.0 BB/9, 9.0 K/9, 0.0 fWAR.
2026 contract status:Â Arbitration eligible, projected for $900,000.
Grade:Â D.
The buzz: Lange joined the Tigers in mid-August following a nearly 15-month recovery from lat surgery in June 2024. He appeared in just one game for the Tigers, showcasing a 96.2 mph sinker and his vintage swing-and-miss curveball in a scoreless inning. To impact the Tigers in the future, Lange needs to reduce his walks – he posted a 14.3% walk rate in Triple-A – while maintaining his above-average strikeout ability.
RHP Chase Lee
Age:Â 27.
2025 stats:Â 32 games, 37â…“ IP, 4.10 ERA, 2.2 BB/9, 8.7 K/9, -0.1 fWAR.
2026 contract status:Â Not yet eligible for arbitration.
Grade:Â C-.
The buzz: Lee helped the Tigers in the first half, then disappeared in the second half. He posted a 2.05 ERA over 30⅔ innings in 25 of his first 27 appearances before the All-Star break, then struggled in his final two outings before the break and appeared in just five games during the rest of the season. The Tigers value Lee for his unique sidearm delivery, but right-handed hitters crushed him for damage – putting him on the outside looking in for 2026.
RHP Tyler Mattison
Age:Â 26.
2025 stats:Â Did not pitch.
2026 contract status:Â Not yet eligible for arbitration.
Grade:Â N/A.
The buzz: Mattison recovered from elbow surgery but never pitched for the Tigers, even though the Tigers were counting on him. He flashed many positives in Triple-A – a 3.79 ERA with a 30% strikeout rate across 19 innings, plus a 31.1% whiff rate on his 94.2 mph fastball. One area of concern – an 18.4% walk rate – needs to be fixed before his MLB debut in 2026.
RHP Rafael Montero
Age:Â 35.
2025 stats:Â 59 games, 60â…“ IP, 4.48 ERA, 5.5 BB/9, 8.7 K/9, 0.1 fWAR.
2026 contract status:Â Free agent.
Grade:Â C-.
The buzz: The Tigers acquired Montero from the Atlanta Braves at the July 31 trade deadline. He posted a 2.86 ERA across 22 innings in 20 games after the trade, but those numbers are misleading. He had 14 walks (with just 19 strikeouts) in those 22 innings – a problem that made him untrustworthy, which is why the Tigers used him once in eight postseason games. Since 2023, Montero ranks 174th among 195 qualified relievers with a 4.77 ERA.
RHP Tanner Rainey
Age:Â 32.
2025 stats:Â 13 games, 9â…” IP, 11.17 ERA, 8.4 BB/9, 10.2 K/9, 0.1 fWAR.
2026 contract status:Â Arbitration eligible, projected for $1.6 million.
Grade:Â F.
The buzz: The Tigers’ roster became so dysfunctional in late September that Rainey had to be called up from Triple-A for the final week of the season, all while the Tigers blew a 14-game lead in the AL Central (with the Guardians coming from even farther back, at 15½ games). The first of two Rainey experiences? Three runs on one hit and two walks without recording an out, throwing just five of 16 pitches for strikes. He shouldn’t be back in 2026.
RHP Paul Sewald
Age:Â 35.
2025 stats:Â 22 games, 19â…” IP, 4.58 ERA, 2.7 BB/9, 9.2 K/9, 0.0 fWAR.
2026 contract status:Â Mutual option, $10 million.
Grade:Â D.
The buzz:Â The Tigers acquired Sewald from the Guardians at the July 31 trade deadline, hoping he would bolster their bullpen in the postseason after recovering from a shoulder injury. He reached full health with 10 days left in the regular season, but he didn’t appear in any of the eight playoff games due to velocity and command concerns. Expect the Tigers to decline his $10 million mutual option, buying him out for $1 million and sending him into free agency.
RHP Dylan Smith
Age:Â 25.
2025 stats:Â 7 games, 13 IP, 1.38 ERA, 3.5 BB/9, 2.8 K/9, 0.0 fWAR.
2026 contract status:Â Not yet eligible for arbitration.
Grade:Â D+.
The buzz: Smith showed promise as a multi-inning reliever, featuring a 94.6 mph fastball, a swing-and-miss sweeper and a splitter to neutralize left-handed hitters – but he needs to throw more strikes. A shoulder injury suffered in early July limited him over the final three months, but he is fully healthy in preparation for 2026 spring training. He could compete for one of the final spots in the bullpen.
LHP Drew Sommers
Age:Â 25.
2025 stats:Â 4 games, 3 IP, 18.00 ERA, 9.0 BB/9, 9.0 K/9, -0.1 fWAR.
2026 contract status:Â Not yet eligible for arbitration.
Grade:Â F.
The buzz:Â The Tigers needed Sommers to step up in August and September as a reliable third left-handed reliever in the bullpen, but he wasn’t the answer. He struggled against right-handed hitters and gave up key hits to lefty hitters in matchups that were supposed to favor him. The Tigers lost three of four games in which he pitched, with Sommers allowing at least one run in all three losses.
RHP Will Vest
Age:Â 30.
2025 stats:Â 64 games, 68â…” IP, 3.01 ERA, 2.9 BB/9, 9.8 K/9, 1.8 fWAR.
2026 contract status:Â Arbitration eligible, projected for $3.3 million.
Grade:Â A.
The buzz: Vest has established himself as the Tigers’ closer – at least until he reaches free agency after the 2027 season. In 2025, he racked up 23 saves in 30 opportunities by pairing one of the best fastballs in baseball and a slider that misses bats on nearly half of all swings. Since 2023, Vest ranks 39th among 195 qualified relieves with a 2.99 ERA. He will continues to pitch in the biggest moments in 2026, even if there’s not a defined closer.
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Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.