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Some think 32 is between 30 and 40.

This signing changes everything. It erases my doubts about Harris/Ilitch having the aggressiveness to make big moves. They are now the clear favorites to win the division and the pitching depth should give them an edge in the playoffs. It also gives them a better chance in 2027-2028 than they would have had otherwise.

They didn't "low ball" him, Arbitration isn't intended to reflect what a players value would be in free agency.

I had few run-ins with Mickey Lolich over the years... I grew up in the Rochester/Lake Orion area, so I remember his donut shops in both downtown Rochester and later in Lake Orion, which was right by my childhood church. One time when I was little, I was having dinner with my parents in Lake Orion at a restaurant called The Orion House and Mickey was there with his family. He got up and left his table, so my younger self followed after him hoping for an autograph. Not knowing any better, I followed him into the bathroom but quickly retreated back to my table once I realized what I had done. Mickey on his way back to his table, stopped by and signed an autograph for me (I still have it), and thanked me for allowing him some privacy. I was young, but still felt embarrassed... My parents still razz me about that to this day. When my older sister was in High School, she did a project for school about Mickey and was able to interview him at his donut shop. He didn't have to do that, but was happy to help her out. I remember listening to the tape she had with his interview over and over. Most recently, Mickey shared a common wall with my mother-in-law at an assisted living facility... My MIL moved from there in early 2025 and passed away a few months later at another facilty, but for about a year (2024) she lived just on the other side of the wall from someone she cheered on during the 68 World Series and for years after. Unfortunately for her (and probably fortunate for him 🙂), she wasn't with it enough to probably realize he was there. My wife ran into him on an occasion or two, and often saw his wife there visiting him. Lots of fun memories of him. I wish his family well in these times...

this entire paragraph at mlbtraderumors is dead wrong. the CB picks can be counted when determining a team's 3rd pick, but, unless traded, the CB pick CANNOT be the pick that is forfeited, so they are going to lose the 98th pick for signing Valdez. Kind of incompetent for them not to know the rules. the story actually is this: the Tigers have gamed the system a little bit, as they are losing their 4th overall pick for signing a free agent

Fangraphs updated Starting Rotation projections for 2026 Red Sox 18.0 WAR Tigers 17.8 WAR Dodgers 16.4 WAR Phillies 15.9 WAR

Never stop not making sense.

I seriously don't understand the hate for Skubal and Boras. They are trying to make as much money as they can. Everyone on here claims its a business, but then get angry because a player is treating baseball as a business to try and increase their wealth. Do you get mad at yourself for trying to make more money at your job? Or are you more "I would prefer the owner/executives keep that money instead"

They're not going to trade Skubal unless they tank it this year and are way out of it by the deadline.

Illitch doesnt want to win! he only wants to make money.

Yes, I’m hoping that Skubal wins the final game of the 2026 World Series as a member of the Detroit Tigers.

i keep seeing all these useful backup point guards going into trade exceptions for middling second round picks or nothing prospects and all i can think of is "are we really refusing to upgrade our backup point guard because of daniss jenkins"? you can call me a hater all you - because its true - but i'd feel a lot better with a more proven commodity backing up cade against a team that is trying on defense in the playoffs.

Are half of them currently on other teams?

I get what Mister Salad means. We can bemoan having to do it even as we do it, exactly because it's terrible but we can't unilaterally disarm in the face of it.

if this comes to pass, i nominate the one on that unmade bed

So much for Ilitch is too cheap and Harris is too scared to sign or trade for expensive big leaguers. I would bet there's another shoe dropping at some point, although I'm not sure what that is. Two immediate thoughts leap to mind: This acquisition is definitely going to challenge an infield that is average at best, below average more likely. Valdez is simultaneously one of the premier ground ball pitchers in the game and one of the hardest-hit as well. There are going to be a lot of screaming ground balls getting through the infield when he's pitching, and we're going to hear Benetti intone "past a diving" a lot. To that end, if another shoe doesn't drop somehow, I would guess we're going to see a lot more Javy Baez at short this year, at least until his bat disintegrates. I think a follow-on effect of signing Valdez is that overnight, Detroit has become a lot more attractive destination for free agents, because now they know we will pay players top dollar to come here. This is a big step toward moving ourselves into the conversation with the Big Six, Blue Jays, and Phillies when it comes to attracting top talent.

It's been pointed out here already by multiple posters, this case has morphed beyond being about about Skubal and the Tigers in particular, it's about Boras and the Union wanting the arb scales reset and ownership wanting the status quo system of arbitration escalation 'rules'. And as has been pointed out, the Tigers didn't particularly 'low ball' Skubal, they made an offer than pretty much followed arbitration precedent. For Boras, repping clients that score bigger in arbitration is probably the area of biggest potential income growth for his business if he can get 'market value' established as a significant factor in future arb awards. Skubal, as a player rep, can contribute to something that will benefit a lot more players than the deal he signs next year. OTOH, to mid market and below teams, a big escalation in arb costs would be the last straw in making them all 2nd class citizens to NY and LA as they will end up having to cut lose a lot of competitive players they would otherwise have kept.

What is all this talk about trading Skubal? I'd be shocked if that happened now. They are in great position with this team now.

The story is that Boras insisted on taking this to arbitration. Why should they give an arb number $1 higher than they think they can win the case with? The can't force him to sign a contract.

Thank you. Arbitration is a process. Skubal knows this. Boras knows this. Nobody is going to be "pissed" when the result is known. Skubal might be "bummed" for the lost money but he knows the game.

I think Skubal will lose his arbitration case based on the fact all pitchers making more were only able to do that as a free agent with 30 teams bidding for their services and Skubal does not have that but has been offered a very healthy raise of over 50 %. If Skubal does win then arbitration is very damaged going forward and will add the labor difficulties. Perhaps leading to a more team friendly arbitration process or none at all in exchange for a salary floor without cap. Just guessing.

OTOH, if the Tigers are not willing to dig into the couch cushions to find $10M for one year to keep together a potential WS staff, then what are we all here for?

I am very confident this will work itself out. YOU CAN NEVER EVER HAVE TOO MUCH STARTING PITCHING

The Lolich tribute that just aired during the Red Wings game was great.

Not ashamed to say I cried a bit today. '67 was my start as a fan but those Tigers were my heroes. Hang on Willie!!

Hmmmmmm.........

He mentioned it very briefly, but that's the first time I've heard him or anybody with the team reference the Debt Service Rule as a reason for cutting back on payroll. It's a relatively obscure section in the CBA that gives the commissioner's office latitude to restrict a team's spending if they are operating at a loss and have too much debt. Combine that with him saying Verlander needed to be traded for salary reasons, it's kinda the first confirmation (even though I long suspected it) that was playing a role in the salary scaledown. He cited Daz Cameron's signing bonus and Franklin Perez's prospect ranking in why they were good pickups. Just comes off like he was pulling up BA. Speaks to a lacking pro scouting operation, but it is something I noticed in a lot of his pickups over the years. A lot of former top prospects/first round picks/etc. Like that public information was playing a big role in his decisions.

For sure. And Denny McLain too for different reasons. Overweight, self-destructive gambler, quarrelsome, shady business practices - he seemed like someone who would be lucky to make it out of his 50s or 60s.

Will probably never get to HOF, but a local legend! Mickey had a career the vast majority of players wish they could replicate. Hell of a Tiger career, hero of ’68 WS and lived locally, investing in the community. God Bless #29, Mickey Lolich.

It's amazing that Hiller is one of the ones remaining.

Basic game theory. When your opponent won't play fair you may absorb the 1st hit. After that the optimal stratagem is to hammer back harder to show them their decision was counter-productive. It's just being practical.

Yes, that's fair.

I'm a little shocked but happy for Skubal. World Series or bust!

Yep

Well. They will this year, to answer the thread title.

Skubal is not going to extend. Arbitration is not necessarily based on what a player is "worth", it is based more on precedent, and what is reasonable and fair, regarding wage progression, compared to others in a similar situation who have gone before.

Pitching chaos is like platooning. It's great when it works, but it's based on need rather than design.

Physicals were passed. Huerter is available tonight.

All due respect, this is chicken little thinking. I think Chris has already proven since the Baez deal, and the hiring of Harris, that he is willing to spend to improve the product both on the field and behind the scenes.

"Kyle Tucker is not much better than Bobby Higginson" is not something I expected to read this morning.

I think it is pretty clear he was dangled over the offseason with the Tigers doing their dilligence and asking for the moon. Given that reporting stopped and it was reported he was staying right around the time the Mets acquired Peralta tells me the Mets came the closest to meeting the asking price. The stuff the last couple weeks has been hot take artists shooting from the hip.

$38.5 for valdez and you wont give your home grown, cy young x2 starter more than $19?

The Tigers pitching staff may be one of the best in the AL. Fetter has some high quality arms to work with. Harris signing 2 really good BP arms to go along with Vest gives us 3 pitchers who had 20+ saves last season. And we have about 7 or 8 pitchers who could start. Which is good because we probably used at least 8 starters last season.

I would be surprised if Skubal loses in arbitration. Back to back Cy Young awards? Comp that, Detroit.

I am expecting them to trade Skubal before pitchers and catchers report next week.

They weren't Tigers but had a Detroit Baseball connection https://www.birminghamtimes.com/2026/02/clinton-tiny-forge-former-negro-leagues-catcher-from-birmingham-dead-at-age-90/ Ron "Schoolboy" Teasley https://www.mlb.com/news/former-negro-leaguer-ron-schoolboy-teasley-dies-at-99?adobe_mc=TS%3D1770246785|MCMID%3D75703849256014150018988617340891444480|MCORGID%3DA65F776A5245B01B0A490D44@AdobeOrg&affiliateId=mlbapp-ios_webview_news-index&rsid=mlbios.at.bat.new.implementation

But what has Pittsburgh actually tried to do with a once in a lifetime pitcher? They put a bunch of AAA players behind him. They deserve to lose him ASAP.

They live in a different world than the rest of us. It's 2000 vs 8 billion and the 8 billion are losing. It's not just Trump. They are all complicit. I don't even want to imagine the illegal activities they are all involved in.

At age 16 and having spent half my life rooting for the Tigers when they won in 68 baseball did as much for me as it ever could, and I moved on for many years. Losing Mickey is painful and when Willie Horton goes, damn I’ll be a puddle.