Leaderboard

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.

You saw the grainy tape of me, eh?

They’re cowed? They’re complicit? They have no choice but to hope they can somehow stick things out just long enough for the fully-fascist country they’ve spent more than five decades working towards to come to fruition?

Yeah, Chris Ilitch deserves to have it stuck to him for being such a meanie to that nice Al Avila. 😁

Both Mize and Flaherty are subject to a qualifying offers. If the Tigers are willing to extend them both (-$45M), they will likely accept them because the attached draft pick will likely make them less attractive in free agency. So, there is the potential to keeping most of the ‘26 rotation intact, with Valdez, Reese, Jobe and Melton. In short, we’re good.

15 years ago blue states like California in good faith set up independent redistricting commissions. Not a single red state did. Democrats cannot unilaterally disarm themselves. Republicans have shot down all attempts at nationwide redistricting commissions. Democrats can't stop here. I'm looking at you New York. If Republicans want a ceasefire, than pass a nationwide redistricting bill.

I guess we'll see what tomorrow brings then. Or I supposed it might break like right before midnight today.

Agree that RH position player is a remaining area to improve on, I would also say LH reliever. Would like to have a strikeout lefty to mix in with the Jansen/Finnegan/Vest trio. Whether they do something about either of those now, or wait until the deadline will be interesting to watch.

The question the arbitrator's decide is if he is worth more or less than $25,500,000 compared to other arbitration cases which factors in precedence for both previous pitchers ($19.8 is current high) and percentage of raise among other things. If its $25,500,001, Skubal gets $32 mil. If it's $25,499,999, he gets $19 mil.

Mize is a free agent, too. Could get a QO, which he would almost certainly accept, unless he has an insane season.

I know you want the Tigers to extend him, but why would he want to stay with an organization that he feels isn't trying when he can go to another team that will put him in a better position to win a WS?

I am so happy to be wrong about my expectations.

If healthy, he is their second best starter. WOW, I have been working all night long and had no idea they signed Valdez!!!

Framber and Franyerber potentially on the same team!

Didn't see that coming! Like it a lot!

Framber!!! 3yearsx...115 million

Is that contract even a drawback though? I think it's perfect length for a 35 year old. He's still an offensive upgrade over Kane, with whom we could cut bait after this season, and 15 months older. Sure, $8mm is much higher than Kane's $3mm, but shouldn't handcuff the Wings. Offer the Preds this year's #1 plus a middling prospect if the Preds retain 25%?

Trump isn't stupid, but he is ignorant. We tend to assume the later always implies the former, but not with Trump. Trump is ignorant because not because he is stupid but because he has a closed mind. Snapped shut somewhere around 1972 and he's still there.