alex

... and Lee with an oblique... what looks like depth (C & Inf.) soon becomes challenged. This will continue. Every team goes through this as well. Teams need a lot of players and a lot of depth. I have said it before and will again the LAD won last year with a lot of talent - but only 3 pitchers pitched more than 100 innings!

Agree on that (if not happening already?). The Tigs may really need more SP depth. Maybe to acquire 1-2 AAAA types? Maybe a PCorbin type on a minors deal with incentives? KMontero is looking 'very' important theses days and it may get more challenging (for every team).

Yes, I admit at times I question SHarris and his ability to acquire MLB talent. The above post is a good thing to know (Greenberg also hinted at possibly being opportunistic later on in the off-season). I do feel AJ had a lot to do with Valdez signing however and JV, as we now know, wanted to come back here. Yet to hear CIlitch say Scott came to him early on about this possibility as the off season went on is a good thing to know. I have always said I like the direction and am all good with the improvements: scouting, player development, fitness/nutrition/rest/psychology, international attempts, facility upgrades, etc. - they are improved for sure since Harris took over. I personally like that he does not like long term deals for Ps as they are more volatile than position players. Not every GM/CEO can be good at 'everything'. The only thing I have not seen is if Harris has the ability to trade for MLB talent (ex last seasons deadline approach) and can he deal a prospect in position of strength for an MLB talent and/or prospect of position of need ex an Inf prospect which we have many of for say a young SP or deadline help ex RH bat (if even needed later on). I also like that SHarris recognizes that depth is of utmost importance. I have said many times the following: the days of a team with 6-7 position players starting 140+ games a year are gone as is also multiple teams with 3-4 SPs throwing 180+ innings. That is sooo unfortunate. All IMHO and perhaps another thread for another day. MLB really needs to look at having less games played (ex 150), bye-weekends for each team (ex 2 per team per season), maybe scheduled DHs 1-2 a year so more off days. Maybe 27-28 man rosters (at least). All of this for more actual rest and recovery time as the players of today are so fine tuned physically they actually, from that standpoint, are more readily over taxed/trained and their bodies are simply breaking down faster (the travel days and time zone changes are hard as well). The increased IL times that teams are all using this day and age, again IMHO, are proof of this. Maybe the next CBA will consider some of these mentioned things.

Looks like they signed Austin Slater as well - maybe a minor league deal?

I like the JV signing (andof course Framber). I do not think they should trade Mize at all - however, they could do so for a 'one' year bat.

NOT that this would happen either, but deal Skubal for Schlitter and Weathers. In reality only a few teams can afford Skubal anyways - and IF the NYY do NOT get Bellinger they will be prompted to do something. Then Detroit could also sign another FA SP. The above two scenarios are fantasy perhaps as our GM/CEO has not shown any propensity to make talent based MLB player type deals. Hopefully this ability is there. I am really suspecting it is not as the Tigers now for 3+ years under his / their guidance and simply have not made any trades for adding proven MLB talents (besides Finnegan). I am not buying the team is not good enough yet (two years in a row now advancing in the playoffs) or the old 'We need a core' line (c'mon - Skubal, Olsen, Vest, Greene, Tork, Keith, Carp, etc.) is not in place. Those who think once McGonigle, Clark, Briceno, etc. are up and the team automatically will go to the playoffs and the CEO/GM will THEN add FAs and talented MLB players in trades are fooling themselves. It is then, if back to mediocrity and less, they to will be questioning the brass and asking for ANOTHER change. IMHO, this team has been and is pretty good right NOW and really has not added. I actually think Illitch would add if Harris thought it be the right type of player.

NOT that I would think any of this can happen - but we could simply sign Valdez first and almost force the NYM hand.

We could say that in both instances, after each of the last two seasons trade deadlines ('24 and '25), the exact opposite happened (team Ws and Ls) that Scott Harris was more than likely thinking would happen - as a result of his moves. Think about it.

Is there a link to the 'Tiger Talk' podcast on 97.1 Tuesday, Jan. 6 '26 with AJ joining DD/Marc Ryan? I looked and could not find one as of yet... Thanks

I agree for the 'most' part. However, IMHO, I think they will try to add still with what they feel comfortable with ex maybe up to a 2-4 year offer for a legit SP ex King, Suarez, Gallen, or try to trade. Although Harris has not/shown he can trade for an established MLB player, one would think he has to be able to trade a prospect or two at some point and do this? Now is the time and I do not mean trading a top 4 or 5 prospect (McG, Clark, Rainer, ... ) but we have several 2B, C types ex Anderson, Jung, Lee, etc. Problem here is that most teams are looking for P and we are thin there. With said they have to know where their SP is at after this yr (Skubal, Mize and Flaherty all FAs). I also think they may strongly consider making offers, that they are comfortable with again, to a few position players ex Bichette, Kim, etc. or even Bregman as they monitor each situation. This does mean they are going to land anyone (a SP or bat), but they will still go along with each one they may be interested in and make an offer when the time is right.

I can see 'some' of this for sure. However, I think each situation is different with each player. One good example is the Tigers signing of 'Pudge' Rodriguez in 2004. At that time Pudge just won the WS with Florida (2003). Nobody was offering him a long term deal (age, injury potential of his back, etc.) and he was seeking a longer term deal at 'that' point of his career. As I said before, I do think Bregman would actually come here. He himself said, while wearing a Boston uniform, in an interview at the beginning of last season that 'They (he and family) thought they may be going to Detroit'. We offered what he wanted, but did not give him an 'opt' out after one year. I still feel at best it is a 40% chance we sign Bregman. Yet the difference is 'he might actually come here.' However, it would not take the 8/300 you mentioned or even near that (maybe you exaggerated?). Offer him something like 5/160. With higher AAV earlier in the deal and an 'opt' out after each of the first two years. Make the first two years high at 40 mil and same 2nd year (then would owe 80 at 3 remaining years). Then he gets what he left on the table in Boston. He gets higher AAV the first two years. He can also get the security of longer term that he was 'said' to sought last year. If he does not wish to play in Detroit potentially without Skubal he can opt out (again, try to sign Skubal). As with last year, I do not think anyone is going to offer him more than 3 or 4 years (after all he is a year older and coming off another injury). With said he has to see that Detroit has a decent pipeline of younger players. He still may be the best fit for Detroit. A good veteran mentor and leader. RH contact bat for the middle of the order. Can play 3B well (later even 2B if needed). It could still work. Everyone has to see this. I say Bregman again with regards to FAs, because as said earlier I feel he really just might choose here IF the offer is enticing, which is unlike most other top FAs. With said, I would still go after P and make a run at Bichette (and maybe even Kim for INF help. Decent RH bat, speed, good glove).

I can see that as well. No doubt he is/has also talked to Jack Flaherty (his teammate for a few years), who thinks well of Fetters, A.J. and the organization.

Again, I am not pro-Avila here, but Norris for Reese Olson was a good deal. That is off the top of my head.

I will agree with this. I am not trying to be diplomatic here - but it is Avila's group mostly that we are working with. With said, I do not think he did a real good job with most areas of the franchise. Some here may think he really took us back and/or buried the franchise. I am not totally on board with that but to me he did NOT surround himself with the right people - and he needed to do just that. Scott Harris, all IMHO, is putting together a solid franchise from the ground up. I will say again he has really helped in several areas: scouting, player development, exercise and nutrition science gains on many fronts (rehab, recovery, etc.), facility upgrades, international look see, waiver wire 'potential' player pick-ups and more. However, I have said repeatedly, he has to show he can acquire MLB talent (not fringe MLB types). It has been apx three years now. We were not in the position 2-3 years ago to add. However, this team has now been to the post-season two straight years. Both times advancing. Most baseball pundits feel it is a talented team. Harris cannot give the previous statement we want to develop a core first (BTW, he has not done that lately). The Tigers can contend 'now'. It does not mean they will win a WS, but they can contend for it. With said they need to add some talented MLB players. Maybe another bat, a top RP or two and 'maybe' a solid starter. I have been questioning all along 'Can Harris add MLB talent, via trade or FA?' I would like to see it. The last trade deadline was nothing to write home about, it may have effected the team (cannot say for sure) but on the positive I feel it gave him some experience in dealing with several clubs GMs and hopefully he is better at evaluating real talent (our MLB scouts as well). So much of sports is a crap-shot. Injuries are one of the biggest factors (this is why depth is sooo important). The Tigers are close. They have Skubal for another year. The have a core. They have another wave coming of young players (and there will/should be less swing-and-miss). IMHO, Harris needs to add THIS off season MLB talent. It will be interesting to see what happens. If it shows up, that he does not have this knack, this skill set - then hopefully he can find someone to help him who can. That is also why I ask/question the ability of GM Greenberg just as much in THIS particular area.

Agreed, IMHO, if they see a real opportunity and without being public about it - they will at least try. I would think Bregman, Bichette, Kim, Arenado and a maybe couple others (an OF?) might be looked at.