Will Tigers Pony up for Skubal

[AlaskanTigersFan]

13 hours ago, papalawrence said:

If they struggle the first half of 2026 they can still trade him before the deadline, and they'd get a nice haul then. If they are in contention they'll keep him and get the comp pick. I think highest odds are on those 2 scenarios. Harris get solid offers this winter, but none will outweigh the fact that Detroit has a chance to win next season.

 

I jsut hope opening day he doesn't grab his left arm and need Tommy John surgery. That'd be a kick in the knockers. Harris should be fired immediately and Illitch should sell the team. MOo, MOo.

[chasfh]

5 hours ago, papalawrence said:

In an interview after the Tigers bowed out he was asked about his hopes for the off season. Skubal made a statement that he expects the team to have a goal every year to win the WS. He clearly wants to win, and I would think the Dodgers will be hi on his list. Who wouldn't? You're almost guaranteed post season play every year. The Dodgers revenue is other worldly, and they reinvest most back into the team. If I were in his shoes (my feet would hurt, I wear size 16/17), I would want to play for LAD. Watch them sign Tucker this winter.

He would definitely go. They might not make the offer to him. 

[TcFlint]

We will probably keep Skubal, battle to  get a wildcard berth, no assurances, and add a couple 3rd tier players.  Sounds right up Illitch and Harris ‘s alley.

[HeyAbbott]

Any scenario going forward has risk.

If Skubal is traded for a horde of players, most of the time, the team getting the one star wins the trade.

We could sign him for 6 years and 480 million dollars and he could blow his arm out falling after stepping on a piece of leggo at home, trying to break his fall. Remember, he has had 2 significant arm surgeries, there will be a 3rd more than likely.

The scenario I like is to keep Skubal, get a 3rd baseman, an outfielder, and another starting infielder, and do it by trading a surplus player or 2 such as Lee, Max Anderson, Brecenio, or Layronzo.

Finally, the final scenario is to do little or nothing and standing pat, pinning your hopes on 2027 and beyond. This scenario is the most risk adverse approach, but with very serious risk. This choice is probably more likely than most of us think as the Tigers attendance still is not in the top half of the league, being surpassed by 100 loss  Colorado that had one less home date.

Any of these methods have risks. Pick your poison Scott.

[chasfh]

I would be surprised, and disappointed, if Harris did not pull off some solid free agent signings and/or impact trades to get us into a solid position to go deep into October. We are now at that point in our trajectory. I would not count on top tier free agents, since Detroit is not a top tier destination for them at this moment. But I would bet this team will not be the same as last year plus a couple of ciphers.

[Tigermojo]

19 minutes ago, chasfh said:

I would be surprised, and disappointed, if Harris did not pull off some solid free agent signings and/or impact trades to get us into a solid position to go deep into October. We are now at that point in our trajectory. I would not count on top tier free agents, since Detroit is not a top tier destination for them at this moment. But I would bet this team will not be the same as last year plus a couple of ciphers.

Could be a top choice for pitchers. Look what they did for Finnegan. I think they have the young talent to fill the gaps on the offense. They also have guys like Jung who are injury insurance as long as they can still be optioned to the minors.

[gehringer_2]

7 minutes ago, Tigermojo said:

Could be a top choice for pitchers. Look what they did for Finnegan. I think they have the young talent to fill the gaps on the offense. They also have guys like Jung who are injury insurance as long as they can still be optioned to the minors.

Have any recent Tiger minor leaguer's career prospects gone 60 to zero as fast as Jace Jung's?

[Tigermojo]

33 minutes ago, gehringer_2 said:

Have any recent Tiger minor leaguer's career prospects gone 60 to zero as fast as Jace Jung's?

Two options left so he's not a complete lost cause but he's another first round pick who is not meeting expectations.

[chasfh]

11 hours ago, Tigermojo said:

Two options left so he's not a complete lost cause but he's another first round pick who is not meeting expectations.

I wonder how much of it was Avila trusting that a top prospect’s sibling would de facto become a top prospect as well? Josh Jung was the Rangers’ #1 prospect the day Avila drafted Jace first round, and Austin Meadows was the Pirates’ #2 prospect when Avila took Parker second round.

Apropos of something, probably, Avila also picked Kody Clemens right after Parker.

[gehringer_2]

16 minutes ago, chasfh said:

I wonder how much of it was Avila trusting that a top prospect’s sibling would de facto become a top prospect as well? Josh Jung was the Rangers’ #1 prospect the day Avila drafted Jace first round, and Austin Meadows was the Pirates’ #2 prospect when Avila took Parker second round.

Apropos of something, probably, Avila also picked Kody Clemens right after Parker.

He did seem to like family legacies but off the top of my head I think children of past players have fared better than siblings (e.g. Fielder/Boone(s)/Ripkens/Guererro) but then again Al still missed with Daz Cameron.

[chasfh]

TBF, Daz was a supporting player in that trade.

[chasfh]

2 minutes ago, gehringer_2 said:

He did seem to like family legacies but off the top of my head I think children of past players have fared better than siblings (e.g. Fielder/Boone(s)/Ripkens/Guererro) but then again Al still missed with Daz Cameron.

Being the child of a should-be Hall of Fame doesn’t seem to have helped Kody a whole heck of a lot on the field. He just had his best ever season and turns 30 next May. He’s cleared a couple million in earnings by himself, though, so at least he won’t have to have Daddy pay for all his pharmaceuticals. 😉

[alex]

14 hours ago, chasfh said:

I would be surprised, and disappointed, if Harris did not pull off some solid free agent signings and/or impact trades to get us into a solid position to go deep into October. We are now at that point in our trajectory. I would not count on top tier free agents, since Detroit is not a top tier destination for them at this moment. But I would bet this team will not be the same as last year plus a couple of ciphers.

This is where I am it. I do think it is time for Harris to 'make some moves' and add MLB talent. Not all 'rebound' projects for arms either. IMHO, I think Bregman still would consider coming here, but I would not wait for him. I like Kim, Bichette, Hader and maybe a couple trade possibilities. I am not sure about a SP. That has never been Harris way, to offer longer term deals for SP and I really do NOT blame him there.

Again, IMHO, it is time to get at least one more bat (even if Torres re-ups). Last off season they still went after Bregman after Torres.

They have to think McGonigle will be on the team at some point (if not to start), but I think he and Javy can handle 2B, SS or 3B if they add another INF. They also have Keith who can play some 1B, 2B and 3B (also DH). They have ZMac as well.

Torres signing or not, will have a domino effect. Regardless, they are in position to compete.

FWIW, I also would like to see Harris maybe trade a prospect INF or two for a position of need prospect maybe (SP & INF). To add talent from outside is never easy, there is also risk but it is time for he and Greenberg to 'do so'. IMHO, I feel Ilitch would be behind them.

 

Edited Sunday at 02:37 PM by alex

[chasfh]

2 hours ago, alex said:

This is where I am it. I do think it is time for Harris to 'make some moves' and add MLB talent. Not all 'rebound' projects for arms either. IMHO, I think Bregman still would consider coming here, but I would not wait for him. 

 

Curious: what makes you believe Bregman would seriously consider coming here?

[Tiger337]

7 minutes ago, chasfh said:

Curious: what makes you believe Bregman would seriously consider coming here?

By most accounts, including his own, he was interested last year.

Edited Sunday at 05:16 PM by Tiger337

[casimir]

3 hours ago, alex said:

This is where I am it. I do think it is time for Harris to 'make some moves' and add MLB talent. Not all 'rebound' projects for arms either. IMHO, I think Bregman still would consider coming here, but I would not wait for him. I like Kim, Bichette, Hader and maybe a couple trade possibilities. I am not sure about a SP. That has never been Harris way, to offer longer term deals for SP and I really do NOT blame him there.

Again, IMHO, it is time to get at least one more bat (even if Torres re-ups). Last off season they still went after Bregman after Torres.

They have to think McGonigle will be on the team at some point (if not to start), but I think he and Javy can handle 2B, SS or 3B if they add another INF. They also have Keith who can play some 1B, 2B and 3B (also DH). They have ZMac as well.

Torres signing or not, will have a domino effect. Regardless, they are in position to compete.

FWIW, I also would like to see Harris maybe trade a prospect INF or two for a position of need prospect maybe (SP & INF). To add talent from outside is never easy, there is also risk but it is time for he and Greenberg to 'do so'. IMHO, I feel Ilitch would be behind them.

 

Torres accepting the QO would indeed have a domino effect.  I think the main result is how it affects McGonigle.

I think trading from among the 2B types to acquire SP depth to stash in Toledo should be a priority.  SP with options, maybe not necessarily top of the rotation prospects, but guys that aren’t going to be overmatched in 2026.  I mean, if they can get future aces, have at it, but it seems unlikely by moving Keith, Jung, Lee, or Malloy, Anderson.

The other thing is they need to have a plan to need overthrow Melton in 2026.  I don’t know if that means the Tiger bullpen early on or slowly building stamina in Toledo to start the season.  The problem with a season stamina progression in 2026 is it could get stalled in 2027.

[casimir]

50 minutes ago, chasfh said:

Curious: what makes you believe Bregman would seriously consider coming here?

The answer to all your questions is money.

[gehringer_2]

4 hours ago, chasfh said:

Being the child of a should-be Hall of Fame doesn’t seem to have helped Kody a whole heck of a lot on the field. He just had his best ever season and turns 30 next May. He’s cleared a couple million in earnings by himself, though, so at least he won’t have to have Daddy pay for all his pharmaceuticals. 😉

Forgot about Kody. And then there was Ben Verlander - but I think we know what that was about.

[chasfh]

57 minutes ago, casimir said:

The answer to all your questions is money.

That wasn't the answer last year.

[Tiger337]

2 hours ago, chasfh said:

That wasn't the answer last year.

It was though, in part.  If he had taken the Tigers offer last year (which reportedly had two team option years), he would not have had the opportunity to be a free agent again this yrear.  

[Tenacious D]

Detroit is an attractive option—young team that is already playoff tested with a lot of payroll flexibility.  Remember that the only reason the Bregman deal with Detroit fell apart was their insistence that he receive an opt out after the first year, which the Tigers did want to give. If he gets the deal he’s looking for, I can see him coming here.

[casimir]

4 hours ago, chasfh said:

That wasn't the answer last year.

 

2 hours ago, Tiger337 said:

It was though, in part.  If he had taken the Tigers offer last year (which reportedly had two team option years), he would not have had the opportunity to be a free agent again this yrear.  

We’ll see if the gamble pays off for him.

[TcFlint]

Detroit is not a good option if your priority is money and years.  What happened to trades Harris said would happen once we had a number of prospects?  I see Harris targeting 3rd tier free agents and holding on to our top 10 prospects.  Hope I am wrong.

[chasfh]

11 hours ago, TcFlint said:

Detroit is not a good option if your priority is money and years.  What happened to trades Harris said would happen once we had a number of prospects?  I see Harris targeting 3rd tier free agents and holding on to our top 10 prospects.  Hope I am wrong.

Detroit is also not a top tier option if you’re a top tier player looking to win now for legacy teams that burnish your brand and increase your chances for the Hall.

[Tenacious D]

1 hour ago, chasfh said:

Detroit is also not a top tier option if you’re a top tier player looking to win now for legacy teams that burnish your brand and increase your chances for the Hall.

? The team has been on the cusp of the ALCS the last two seasons with largely a young, inexperienced team. And three recent players, who played significant time for the Tigers, will likely be first ballot HOF’ers.

Detroit has amazing suburbs, payroll flexibility, a respected manager and coaching staff, young players who should only get better and an excellent chance at sustainable winning with one of the best minor league systems.

The only negative is the weather in April. I suspect most players can look past that.