Stormin

The theory that the Tigers could get a huge return from the Dodgers in a Skubal trade seems like an over estimate - at least according to Dodger fans. Many are not in favor of trading Sheehan straight up for one year of Skubal. The Dodger fans are confident the team can sign Skubal a year from now and not have to sacrifice any young talent.

Alex was receiving back pay owed to Ty.

I am not a young either, but I am more inclined to have the Tigers go for it this year because a shut down of some length seems likely. I cringe at all the items below, but the Tigers can make moves to improve the 2026 team. Brewers are looking for a Major League ready, young, controllable, starter in exchange for Freddy Peralta. Tigers have Olson, Melton, and Jobe. Valdez comes with a lot of baggage, but at this point he is available. Adding Peralta or Valdez to Skubal could make the Tigers rotation better than the Dodgers rotation. I don't know if there is a Skubal trade that makes the Tigers better in 2026. Maybe the Tigers send Skubal to (Mets/Red Sox/ Yankees), and the team receiving Skubal and the Tigers send prospects to the Nationals. Could the Tiger get MacKenzie Gore and CJ Abrams in return? After the Tucker signing I am more interested in the Tigers doing more to make the 2026 Tigers better because 2027 may not be fun.

I agree there is a relationship. The Dodgers demonstrated that they will pay whatever it takes to get a player they want. Tucker's salary plus the corresponding Luxury Tax payments will cost the Dodgers $119 Million next year - $119 Million for one player for one year. I had hope because the Tigers have enough contracts expiring to pay Skubal $50 Million next year. Now I fear, if the Dodgers want Skubal, $50 Million a year will not be nearly enough.

Ken Rosenthal has an article in the Athletic that states the Tigers made an initial offer of $19.8M to Skubal and were willing to go higher than $20M, but Boras and company never made a counteroffer.

I have read numerous reports stating exactly what you have said. I doubt Harris has ever publicly stated that the Tigers are a "File - and - Trial" team. I doubt Harris ever said Mize was a loophole exception. Mize is the only previous case to reach arbitration under Harris and that case was settled. To me, it seems like reporters are just making stuff up.

Why are so many reporters calling the Tigers a "File - and - Trial" team when the Tigers have had only 2 players (Michael Fulmer and Casey Mize) in the past 20+ years not agree to a salary before submitting arbitration numbers, and one those (Mize) resulted in a negotiated settlement before reaching the arbitrators? I would think Boras is more likely to take a "File - and - Trial" stance. He wants to establish precedent for other clients.

I mentioned the past, because you called the Tigers second half a "historic collapse". I mentioned names because you stated the second half of 2025 is how Harris will be remembered. For the record: 1951 Brooklyn Dodgers: Blew a 10-game lead to the New York Giants in September, famously losing the pennant on Bobby Thomson's "Shot Heard 'Round the World". 2011 Boston Red Sox: Lost a 9-game AL Wild Card lead to the Tampa Bay Rays in September, failing to even make the playoffs. 2011 Atlanta Braves: Lost a 7.5-game NL Wild Card lead to the St. Louis Cardinals, who then won the World Series. 1969 Chicago Cubs: Held a 9-game lead over the New York Mets in August but lost the division to them. 1978 Boston Red Sox: After leading the Yankees by 14 games in July, they lost the AL East on the final day of the season. 2012 Texas Rangers: Led the AL West by four games with nine left but lost the division to Oakland. 2009 Detroit Tigers: Led the AL Central by seven games in September and lost the Division to the Twins in a one game playoff. For the teams listed above, there was a significant consequence for the team that lost the lead - a team missed the postseason. The Tigers still made the playoffs, beat the Guardians, and were one run away from beating the Mariners.

Jim Campbell was GM/President of the Tigers for 30 years and what I remember most are the two years the Tigers won a post season series (1968 and 1984). The Tigers have won a post season series in 2 of the 3 years Scott Harris has been a GM. In the long run, Harris/Hinch will be be judged collectively by how often they make the post season and if the Tigers win in the post season. I really doubt details like first half vs second half records, players inherited or obtained, and even specific trade deadline deals will mean much in the long run. If the Tigers continue to make the post season with some regularity, Harris and Hinch will be here a long time. If the Tigers are absent from the post season for an extended period, Harris/Hinch will be fired. As far as spending, I would think most GMs will spend as much money as the owner allows.

Jim Bowden and Steve Phillips are former GMs who were involved in activities while a GM that guaranteed they would never get another GM job. They both have shows on Sirius XM MLB. In Bowden's case, he resigned in 2009 when he was part of an FBI investigation into skimming of signing bonus money from Latin American players. Bowden now often criticizes current GMs for not offering record setting contracts, but I am not sure he ever negotiated a big time free agent contract while a GM.

Bowden is a shill for Boras. First Bowdon repeats the Boras "leadership" message regarding Bregman. Now Bowden is piling on the Skubal arbitration situation. Notice Bowden said nothing before the Boras number was released - and all the Skubal arbitration estimates were in the 17M to 23M range

The 19M to 32M difference is small change relative to the long term contract Skubal will eventually sign. The Tiger can say they will only negotiate contract extensions during the arbitration period and make Skubal/Boras decline a 200M + extension offer knowing Skubal is one injury away from missing out on a big pay day. BTW, agreeing to abide by an arbitration decision and pay a player between 19M and 32M, does not make the Tigers a trash organization. Under paying employees in the ticket offices, concessions. ushers, and minor leaguers struggling to make ends meet would make the Tigers a trash organization.

Or sign Valdez, try to make a payoff run with Skubal and Valdez in rotation, if it does not work out trade Skubal at trade deadline. If the Tigers have any chance of signing Skubal long term, I think the best opportunity is now.

Now that the arbitration numbers are out, seems like a good time for the Tigers to deliver their best long term contract offer. If Skubal/Boras say no, pivet to Valdez and/or Suarez?

As a side note, the Tigers drafted Christian Stewart with the comp pick they received for Max Scherzer. A few picks later the Braves drafted Austin Riley.

The Tigers annual revenue is around 300M (according to Forbes) and the 2026 player payroll is currently in the 180M to 190M. With that in mind, which of the long term ~150M+ available free agents are worth the investment and risk? What free agents that can be signed for a less than a six figure deal are improvements relative to current players?

It is difficult to find a SP who can pitch the type of innings Mize and Flaherty pitched for much less than 22M on a one year deal - the Tigers love short term FA contracts. SP will likely be a greater need for the Tigers prior to 2027.

I wouldn't be surprised if both Flaherty and Mize both receive qualifying offers from the Tigers after the 2026 season.

I don't understand the level of negativity around Flaherty and Mize. Flaherty's 2024 was a strong year for a #2 starter. His 2025 era and w/l were not good, but his fip, k rate, and stuff were still good. Fangraphs projects him at 2.6 war in 2026. 2025 was Mize's best year, he was an all star, and he was still recovering from surgery. Fangraphs projects Mize at 2.3 war. Suarez and Valdez do not project much better than Flaherty or Mize, and neither has raw stuff as good as Flaherty. Either Suarez/Valdez will cost a lot and the Tigers could end up paying them into their late 30s. Fangraphs currently projects the Tigers 2026 starting rotation as 3rd best in MLB.

Agree that Price's 19.75M was a ways back, contract was with Tigers, and Skubal's peak WAR season is better. Arguments on the Tigers front office side will be Price worked his way up to 19.75M. Price had a longer track record (4 all star games, CYA and a second place in CYA) and pitched over 200 innings in 4 seasons including 248 innings the year before the 19.75M agreement. Will the arbitrators decide to more than triple Skubal's salary in one year?

This is the Tampa Bay Rays. Malloy will find his MLB power stroke and hit 20 bombs. Wherever the Tigers put the cash considerations, the investment will tank and be worthless by midseason. The only redeeming aspect of the trade is the Rays will still finish in last place in the AL East this year. If the Tigers could just avoid trades with the Rays, Willy Adames and Isaac Paredes may have been manning the left side of the infield for several seasons.

Norm Cash had a cumulative WAR of 0 at age 24 and ended up with a career fWAR of ~55. Does that count for anything?

What was the last contract longer than 2 or 3 years that worked out for the Tigers? Javy - no Rodriguez and Upton - The Tigers are fortunate they opted out Zimmerman - no Vmart's second contract - no Miggy's second contract - no Fielder contract - Tigers were wise to trade him before the crash Second JV contract - yes

I do hope the Tigers reevaluate how they draft. I give Jung credit for working hard and getting the most out of his potential, but 30 years ago his lack athleticism would have him moved him to first base / DH before he reached AA. Jung may be the slowest player on the Tigers roster. Malloy, trying to move Tork to third, and I fear Max Anderson all fit in this hitting will make up for bad fielding philosophy. At the very least have players like this focus their practice reps at one position.