papalawrence

On mlb.tv they discussed Tucker. They've been told he is getting offers in the 5-6 year range. They said with the cba uncertainty no teams are going to offer the 10-year contracts. I do think that will affect Skubal. The Dodgers will still do whatever they want and may go 10 with deferrals. But imho this does point to the risk Skubal will take by waiting. If Harris did offer 8/350 now he might consider it. For a pitcher (not counting Ohtani) that's both the highest total and AAV. Ever. To me losing Skubal hits harder than JV. The Tigers had 13 years with him, and it looked like he was in decline. Skubal is prime Randy Johnson level right now.

Here is "Ping" on radio talking about Skubal trade. From my take it's speculation. He had breakfast with Dave Roberts. He said Harris was on record last year saying that he intended to trade Skubal before free agency. Until I see it posted from others I don't find it credible

SI is also predicting that the Tigers are signing Jamie Moyer

Finnegan to begin again. 2/19. Like it! Now go get King and Kim

How would bumping up the payroll a bit, still well below luxury land, sacrifice 2027 and beyond? Only Keith is on the books after 2027. While you have an elite SP I think it does make sense to push more chips in. Sign a top closer. Sign King. Improve the 2026 odds.

It's not just a handful if us posting here that are griping. All of the guys in foul territory and other podcasts are saying the same. As close as Det got last season, maybe one better bat would have made the difference at the deadline. You have Skubal. Bringing in a better bat makes sense. Bringing in a better SP makes sense. Signing a top tier reliever who gets Ks makes sense.

Zumaya is still only 41. Maybe they can help him find something. Maybe a change-up using his deformed thumb.

Rosenthal today called Harris "very disciplined....if not rigid." Today on Tigers Territory they mentioned it's better to go waiver wire and minor league free agency over paying a middle SP 3/45. So better to try Drew Anderson than going after the Mike Pelfrey's of mlb. Cody Stavenhagen did say a few times that Harris is banking hard on the next wave of prospects, which is actually quite risky, because we know some will not pan out.

Like I said, I will be disappointed as a fan knowing the Tigers, in that model, will not be keeping any home grown superstar players long-term. There will never be another Al Kaline, Alan Trammell or Lou Whitaker in that model. And that sucks.

I don't know about that. It won't move the needle. Teams will be bidding large regardless. I read the Mets will not go in heavy this year for a SP. That's likely because they intend to throw the sink at Skubal next year. It would be nice to hear him say one time that he intends to try and keep Skubal around. That statement will not lead to a higher bidding situation. That's already a forgone conclusion. As a fan, I would be disappointed to know that any time the Tigers have a true superstar, it can only be for a maximum of his first 6 years.

Glasnow is 32 and often injured. In the past 7 seasons the most games he has pitched is 22. I'd be disappointed if he's the return pitcher, even if there are a couple decent postition player prospects in the package.

Probably true. But try. The past month Skubal said that his camp never said 400 and he seemed to say he would like to remain in Detroit. He might take 8/350. I doubt he is like Soto who turned down the Yankees at 15/750 for the Mets 15/765.

Career 839 Ks in 519 IP. He's 31. It takes some risk. DD would have gone there. It not like he is 36. So I disagree with you

I saw it and agree, disappointing. He doesn't have to committed to anything, but just one time say something like "we love Skubal and certainly want to have him.be a Tiger for life. He has options and has an agent who tends to go with the highest bidder. We intend to try." Instead we get the same statements, which to me point to Skubal being gone. Here is the interview via FB https://www.facebook.com/share/v/1AsPaM7Z6H/

So you don't want Harris to add a pitcher like Diaz? Imho there are a handful of consistent relievers and Diaz is one of them. You have a much better chance of landing a consistent pen with Diaz than a pitcher from the KBO. Diaz is still a risk, but less so. Harris seems averse to risk.

8/350. Just do it Harris

Kinda irks me that the Tigers haven't made a splash like this. Huge area of need. The waiver wire isn't the place to patch together a bullpen that is serious about contending. Dodgers, Dodgers, Dodgers.

I agree. I was responding to a post that no SP are under contract post 2026. The guys I mentioned are under team control, Olson, Jobe etc so it's not like Harris has to add 5-6 SP after 2026

Schwarber staying in Philly. Flippin' Dodgers signing Edwin Diaz.

I do agree. My point was in response that the cupboard is completely barren after 2026. It's not.

True, but they do have Olson, Jobe, Melton, Gibson-Long and Montero under team control. But I do agree, without additions there could be a significant step backwards

In Harris' briefing he mentioned not bringing in free agents that will block young players. Per free press interest in Bregman is "low." I interpret that as no big splashes. Probably Keith at 3rd, Javy at SS. One of Lee or Anderson is probably on the team. I still expect a couple new relief pitchers (or one and Finnegan). Hoping one of King or Gallen or similar will be added to SP rotation. But I will temper expectations and expect Harris to mostly run it back.

Yes, incredible cap flexibility. 1/24 committed Javy and 3/15 committed to Keith, with more years with club options - that's all that is committed in salary post 2026. Maybe Harris set that up due to uncertainty with the cba. Or maybe (likely) that's his ongoing preference. Therebis room for some risk. I prefer that risk be placed on Skubal. Not Alex Cobb.

Maybe, hopefully. Last year Harris offered Cobb 15 right out of the gate. I highly doubt any other team offered him anything close. Harris showed a history of going in with an offer he sees as market rate and he's been off before

I think the Tigers have a few likely regression candidates and depending on who Harris brings in, I will not be very surprised if the Tigers miss the playoffs in 2026. Hopefully players like Keith continue to ascend and Vierling comes back at his 2024 level. And hopefully Harris does bring in a couple notable players. The memory of September still lingers in my head, like a bad commercial jingle sung by William Shatner