2025-2026 Tigers Off Season Thread

[Tiger337]

13 minutes ago, romad1 said:

Carlos, Carlos, Carlos...

https://www.freep.com/story/sports/columnists/carlos-monarrez/2025/10/14/detroit-tigers-scott-harris-big-step-forward/86681024007/

 

He's right.  It was a good season but not a step forward.  Perhaps the organization as a whole stepped forward, but the Tigers on the field really did not.  

[Tigermojo]

At some point in the interview, Harris was talking about the experience gained and how you can't simulate the experience of the roaring crowd in game five of the ALDS. In that sense, it was a step forward because they gained something as a team they can use next year. It's not a step forward for us fans but it is for the organization.

[papalawrence]

A lot of teams are in the same boat. It is extremely difficult to hit. And every team not called the Dodgers has flaws.. Given everything, the Tigers were a shattered bat grounder to 3B by Javy away from getting to the ALCS. I agree it's not a huge step forward, but with Skubal the Tigers are close. If Harris trades Skubal, that's a step backward. 

[4hzglory]

9 minutes ago, papalawrence said:

A lot of teams are in the same boat. It is extremely difficult to hit. And every team not called the Dodgers has flaws.. Given everything, the Tigers were a shattered bat grounder to 3B by Javy away from getting to the ALCS. I agree it's not a huge step forward, but with Skubal the Tigers are close. If Harris trades Skubal, that's a step backward. 

If anything, the Tigers should be trading for another Skubal for next year instead of trading him.  If Ryan for example would be available for 1 of our top 3 plus more of our next 3, that would make more sense with their opportunity to compete than trading Skubal.

 

It’s easy for some fans to say, trade him for prospects for the future, but do you really think it wouldn’t destroy the morale of the club to know they have a chance to again likely be in the postseason, but the team is trading away their best opportunity for that, especially advancing in the postseason for prospects?

 

Even though we didn’t win either of Skubal’s starts, I believe his presence for game 2 forced the Mariners to make some decisions and press that helped us win game 1.

[Jason_R]

12 minutes ago, papalawrence said:

A lot of teams are in the same boat. It is extremely difficult to hit. And every team not called the Dodgers has flaws.. Given everything, the Tigers were a shattered bat grounder to 3B by Javy away from getting to the ALCS. I agree it's not a huge step forward, but with Skubal the Tigers are close. If Harris trades Skubal, that's a step backward. 

Totally agree. But let’s be fair that a huge step forward occurred in 2024. Nobody expected that run. 

I may be the only one who thinks this but I think you have to run it back with Skubal next year. Realistically they were a bat away from making it to the ALCS. One FA signing and calling up one or two of the hitting prospects during the year gets you there. Then you’ve demonstrated to Skubal you are willing and able to contend. Maybe this gives you an angle to retain him long term. 

[4hzglory]

16 minutes ago, Jason_R said:

Totally agree. But let’s be fair that a huge step forward occurred in 2024. Nobody expected that run. 

I may be the only one who thinks this but I think you have to run it back with Skubal next year. Realistically they were a bat away from making it to the ALCS. One FA signing and calling up one or two of the hitting prospects during the year gets you there. Then you’ve demonstrated to Skubal you are willing and able to contend. Maybe this gives you an angle to retain him long term. 

You’re not the only one 😀

[Hart]

As far as controlling the strike zone from a hitters point of view, I get impression the most of the hitters today are guessing a LOT of the time.  They are guessing if it is going to be a strike.  And they are guessing what the pitch it is going to be.  There are not a lot of guys that are really good at identifying a pitch quick enough to swing or not swing after the pitcher releases it.  Gleyber Torres seems like one that can do this to me.  The key for most guys is choosing to shorten up your swing at the appropriate time so you can at least make contact to put the ball in play or foul it off.  Just my opinion.  

Edited October 14 by Hart

[monkeytargets39]

20 minutes ago, 4hzglory said:

It’s easy for some fans to say, trade him for prospects for the future, but do you really think it wouldn’t destroy the morale of the club to know they have a chance to again likely be in the postseason, but the team is trading away their best opportunity for that, especially advancing in the postseason for prospects?

To some extent I agree with you.  On the flip side, trading two of the top 6 prospects away and then Skubal walking away would just as easily nuke any chance of competing after next year.

I’d look to trade Skubal or Greene this year with the goal of getting major league ready help along with a prospect or two.  

I’d at the very least entertain offers for either guy just to get a read of the room this winter

[4hzglory]

7 minutes ago, monkeytargets39 said:

To some extent I agree with you.  On the flip side, trading two of the top 6 prospects away and then Skubal walking away would just as easily nuke any chance of competing after next year.

I’d look to trade Skubal or Greene this year with the goal of getting major league ready help along with a prospect or two.  

I’d at the very least entertain offers for either guy just to get a read of the room this winter

That’s why I said someone like Ryan who is under control beyond 2026.

[gehringer_2]

1 hour ago, Hart said:

As far as controlling the strike zone from a hitters point of view, I get impression the most of the hitters today are guessing a LOT of the time.  They are guessing if it is going to be a strike.  And they are guessing what the pitch it is going to be.  There are not a lot of guys that are really good at identifying a pitch quick enough to swing or not swing after the pitcher releases it.  Gleyber Torres seems like one that can do this to me.  The key for most guys is choosing to shorten up your swing at the appropriate time so you can at least make contact to put the ball in play or foul it off.  Just my opinion.  

Hinch gives off conflicting signals with regard to his advice to his hitters so it's confusing. He did talk about the need for his hitters to be able to switch to 'plan B' within an AB. Assume he's talking about exactly what you mean - hunt/guess/pick a zone/whatever while you are ahead, but then go into protection/extend the AB/at least rattle the pitcher mode once you are behind. But he's also always pushing to only swing at pitches you can drive. So take your pick.

But that isn't even my biggest gripe. They were so pleased about themselves extending pitchers to high counts early in games, but I think they are overboard on the value of that. Some teams have BPs so good it really doesn't do you any good to get there - esp in the playoffs. Sometimes  (like in the one playoff game) you do get a pitcher to 60 in two innings and then you go down two straight innings in 9 pitches. Meanwhile, how many cookies did you take on 1st pitches that put you in a hole for the AB and forced you into 'plan B' before you ever swung at the one good pitch you got? Other than maybe Riley and Gleyber, I think the rest of them need to MORE aggressive on the 1st pitch. Stop giving away strike one.

It has already been documented that early on, when the offense wasn't so hot out of the gate, they were taking more 1st pitch strikes than any other team. They still tend to fall right back into that habit.

Edited October 14 by gehringer_2

[papalawrence]

49 minutes ago, Hart said:

As far as controlling the strike zone from a hitters point of view, I get impression the most of the hitters today are guessing a LOT of the time.  They are guessing if it is going to be a strike.  And they are guessing what the pitch it is going to be.  There are not a lot of guys that are really good at identifying a pitch quick enough to swing or not swing after the pitcher releases it.  Gleyber Torres seems like one that can do this to me.  The key for most guys is choosing to shorten up your swing at the appropriate time so you can at least make contact to put the ball in play or foul it off.  Just my opinion.  

I agree. Watching the pitching ninjas overlays you can see how close to impossible hitting can be. Has to involve guessing, even though it will make you chase and look like a fool at times.

Players have always relied on some guessing with pitches. Now it's likely most of the pitches. How else to you hit some of the pitches that you see today?

[Tiger337]

1 hour ago, Jason_R said:

Totally agree. But let’s be fair that a huge step forward occurred in 2024. Nobody expected that run. 

I may be the only one who thinks this but I think you have to run it back with Skubal next year. Realistically they were a bat away from making it to the ALCS. One FA signing and calling up one or two of the hitting prospects during the year gets you there. Then you’ve demonstrated to Skubal you are willing and able to contend. Maybe this gives you an angle to retain him long term. 

yes, 2024 was a big step forward.  

[Edman85]

I like this from Woodbery

https://www.mlive.com/tigers/2025/10/critics-say-scott-harris-didnt-do-enough-at-the-deadline-what-if-he-did-too-much.html

Edited October 14 by Edman85

[Sports_Freak]

2 hours ago, Jason_R said:

Totally agree. But let’s be fair that a huge step forward occurred in 2024. Nobody expected that run. 

I may be the only one who thinks this but I think you have to run it back with Skubal next year. Realistically they were a bat away from making it to the ALCS. One FA signing and calling up one or two of the hitting prospects during the year gets you there. Then you’ve demonstrated to Skubal you are willing and able to contend. Maybe this gives you an angle to retain him long term. 

Yes, the Tigers pretty much came out of nowhere after being sellers at the '24 trade deadline.

As for keeping Skubal? I'm all for it, as long as they get some contact hitters for the lineup. Skubal had way too many starts where he had to try to be perfect because of no offense. Win a championship, with or without Skubal. I just would say it would be easier with him and a couple (few) free agents.

[4hzglory]

28 minutes ago, Edman85 said:

I like this from Woodbery

https://www.mlive.com/tigers/2025/10/critics-say-scott-harris-didnt-do-enough-at-the-deadline-what-if-he-did-too-much.html

That is definitely an interesting take and in hindsight may have some validity.  At least in regards to Paddock and Morton

[Sports_Freak]

30 minutes ago, Edman85 said:

I like this from Woodbery

https://www.mlive.com/tigers/2025/10/critics-say-scott-harris-didnt-do-enough-at-the-deadline-what-if-he-did-too-much.html

It wouldn't have cost up any of our top prospects. Scott Harris isn't strong making trades.

[Nate7474]

24 minutes ago, Sports_Freak said:

It wouldn't have cost up any of our top prospects. Scott Harris isn't strong making trades.

I'm not sure this shows what you are trying to show at least to me.  Suarez was not good in Seattle. Montero was better then Helsey and arguably Finnegan was at least equal to Bednar. Kelly was better then Morton and yet was still negative WAR for his new team. I would say this argument should state how good of decisions Harris did make by not giving up anything.

[Sports_Freak]

Just now, Nate7474 said:

I'm not sure this shows what you are trying to show at least to me.  Suarez was not good in Seattle. Montero was better then Helsey and arguably Finnegan was at least equal to Bednar. Kelly was better then Morton and yet was still negative WAR for his new team. I would say this argument should state how good of decisions Harris did make by not giving up anything.

Looking at these players stats at the time of the trades is the key. Using hindsight isn't really fair, it's small sample sizes of these players performing for other teams, against players we weren't facing. I couldn't find much evidence of Paddack ever being good, he was a bad pitcher on a bad team. Morton's best years were way in the rear view mirror. Montero surprised me, he did a pretty good job. Finnegan was an excellent pickup, until he got hurt.

This off-season will show us how good Scott Harris is at making trades and signing free agents. This Tiger team is close to being really, really good. A top contender. We just need a couple (few) pieces to get us over the top. And it may not be fair to call out Harris. We don't know if he's allowed to spend the money that would be needed to acquire top talent.

[Nate7474]

I’d argue that using actual results is the only way to judge the trades. Why would certain players perform better or worse for us just because of a different team? I think it more guesswork to just assume that would’ve performed the same as they were.
 

To me judging on actual results I would say Harris did ok, not great. He alluded to this is his press conference that the starting pitchers acquired were to get us to the playoffs and they did. They weren’t suppose to pitch innings in the playoffs and they didn’t and we didn’t need them to as pitching was not the issue. He also stated as vague as possible what was the ask for Suarez and I agree with him in not paying it. 
 

We didn’t lose in the playoffs because of trades not made. We lost in the playoffs because the players who were hitting at the time of the trade deadline forgot how to have productive at bats at the end of the year. 

[Tigermojo]

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/10/poll-should-the-tigers-consider-a-tarik-skubal-trade.html

[4hzglory]

1 hour ago, Sports_Freak said:

It wouldn't have cost up any of our top prospects. Scott Harris isn't strong making trades.

The Diamondbacks evidently asked for Melton and more for Suarez.  He wasn’t a top 100 prospect either, but provided more present and future value to us than Suarez would have.

[Sports_Freak]

1 minute ago, 4hzglory said:

The Diamondbacks evidently asked for Melton and more for Suarez.  He wasn’t a top 100 prospect either, but provided more present and future value to us than Suarez would have.

Where did you hear that?

[Edman85]

If the Tigers traded Melton for Suarez and acquired Helsley instead of Finnegan, they would have missed the playoffs.

[4hzglory]

11 minutes ago, Sports_Freak said:

Where did you hear that?

He is the one almost everyone believes Harris was referring to at his press conference and it fits as he was our #10 prospect (Seattle gave up their 9, 11, and 17 for him)

[Edman85]

1 minute ago, 4hzglory said:

He is the one almost everyone believes Harris was referring to at his press conference and it fits as he was our #10 prospect (Seattle gave up their 9, 11, and 17 for him)

RIght... Harris was being pretty vague and coy, but eventually slipped it was a pitcher he was talking about when he said the player they would have given up for a bat got some big outs in the postseason. Unless it was Keider...