2025-2026 Tigers Off Season Thread

[gehringer_2]

It was an odd decision by Gleyber to demand to stay at 2b because if he had shown he could play 3rd he'd have increased his FA value big time. Everyone needs 3Bs, but most teams have a glut of IF prospects that can hit but have to move off 3B or SS for lack of arm strength and so have a log jam of 2Bs (like the Tigers).  Gleyber came up as a SS, so at least at one point he had a arm that probably could have handled 3rd. Maybe it's gone and he knows it.

[IdahoBert]

29 minutes ago, gehringer_2 said:

It was an odd decision by Gleyber to demand to stay at 2b because if he had shown he could play 3rd he'd have increased his FA value big time. Everyone needs 3Bs, but most teams have a glut of IF prospects that can hit but have to move off 3B or SS for lack of arm strength and so have a log jam of 2Bs (like the Tigers).  Gleyber came up as a SS, so at least at one point he had a arm that probably could have handled 3rd. Maybe it's gone and he knows it.

When I saw him play for the Boise Hawks when he was 17 years old in the NWL - and everyone else on the field was at least four years older - as I recall, he was playing shortstop and over the years with everyone I had ever watched play in the NWL you held your breath when the shortstop went deep and threw to first because it was usually an iffy proposition and he threw right on the button back then.

But I think you’re right and he probably knows his limitations better than the rest of us which is why he doesn’t want to be tested at third base.

[SoCalTiger]

I am curious how the free agent market will be this year considering the labor negotiations before 2027. Will teams bid high to get players locked in before the possibility of a salary cap or will they be conservative taking a wait and see approach. 

If it's the latter there might be an opportunity to grab someone good at an acceptable price. Maybe skip Skubal and pay Tucker ? Who would we rather have given each could be had for say $350 -$400 million over 8 to 10 years ? Or pass on both ?

[RatkoVarda]

Tucker at 400/10 is the safer bet, as pitchers break down. but that is probably the floor for him.

[Tenacious D]

1 hour ago, RatkoVarda said:

with a QO attached, nope. He can bank the $22.5M, get rid of the QO, and hope for a healthier season in 2026. he was not good the 2nd half of the season.

Agree—middling free agents (I.e., Torres and Flaherty) have historically struggled to get a long term deal with a QO attached. If offered, I suspect both would accept.

[chasfh]

2 hours ago, RatkoVarda said:

with a QO attached, nope. He can bank the $22.5M, get rid of the QO, and hope for a healthier season in 2026. he was not good the 2nd half of the season.

OK, that's plausible.

Now the question is whether we want him back even for another year. With top prospects knocking at the door possibly as soon as March, I'm not sure he would be worth the twenty-two five.

[chasfh]

2 hours ago, gehringer_2 said:

It was an odd decision by Gleyber to demand to stay at 2b because if he had shown he could play 3rd he'd have increased his FA value big time. Everyone needs 3Bs, but most teams have a glut of IF prospects that can hit but have to move off 3B or SS for lack of arm strength and so have a log jam of 2Bs (like the Tigers).  Gleyber came up as a SS, so at least at one point he had a arm that probably could have handled 3rd. Maybe it's gone and he knows it.

Arm's gone and he's not the only one who knows it.

Edited October 29 by chasfh

[RatkoVarda]

6 minutes ago, chasfh said:

OK, that's plausible.

Now the question is whether we want him back even for another year. With top prospects knocking at the door possibly as soon as March, I'm not sure he would be worth the twenty-two five.

having him walk for nothing, or signed to long-term deal, both sound not ideal

but having the 35th pick, or getting him for 1 more year at a bit of an overpay, both sound good

he did have i think the 3rd best bb/k ratio in baseball

[chasfh]

1 hour ago, RatkoVarda said:

Tucker at 400/10 is the safer bet, as pitchers break down. but that is probably the floor for him.

I don't think so. Tucker was both injured in September, but also, legit bad during the second half. I mean, like, switch-flipped-along-with-the-calendar-to-July bad.

I think he might be had for as little as seven years and mid-twos.

[chasfh]

Just now, RatkoVarda said:

having him walk for nothing, or signed to long-term deal, both sound not ideal

but having the 35th pick, or getting him for 1 more year at a bit of an overpay, both sound good

he did have i think the 3rd best bb/k ratio in baseball

He's not Skubal, so I would be less butt-hurt to see him walk for nothing.

I'm just a little concerned about signing him for 22.5 and he struggles for the whole year while we're like, hey, we bought him so we gotta use him.

But yeah, there's no riskless choice here.

[Tiger337]

3 minutes ago, chasfh said:

OK, that's plausible.

Now the question is whether we want him back even for another year. With top prospects knocking at the door possibly as soon as March, I'm not sure he would be worth the twenty-two five.

I would say yes, depending on his health.  The healthy version of Torres was at or near all-star caliber last year and it's just one year, so I don't care about the amount.  

[Tiger337]

If WAR is still worth 8 million as estimated a few years ago, the the QO would not be an overpay based on his full 2025 season.  

[4hzglory]

16 minutes ago, chasfh said:

I don't think so. Tucker was both injured in September, but also, legit bad during the second half. I mean, like, switch-flipped-along-with-the-calendar-to-July bad.

I think he might be had for as little as seven years and mid-twos.

Everything I'm seeing (of course from writers) is still expecting him to get in the 10/$400 mil range. Prior to the collapse, they were up to $500 mil.

[chasfh]

2 hours ago, Tiger337 said:

If WAR is still worth 8 million as estimated a few years ago, the the QO would not be an overpay based on his full 2025 season.  

Agreed, if we'd be paying him for his performance during the 2025 season.

[Sports_Freak]

 

[chasfh]

2 hours ago, 4hzglory said:

Everything I'm seeing (of course from writers) is still expecting him to get in the 10/$400 mil range. Prior to the collapse, they were up to $500 mil.

If Kyle Tucker were 100% healthy and hitting on all cylinders, he'd be worth 10/400.

[chasfh]

1 minute ago, Sports_Freak said:

 

Not exactly a brooming of incompetent nincompoops.

I wonder whether we'll get any insight on why. Beauregard may not mesh with the system so well, or maybe he himself is simply a weak link among the three.

[1984Echoes]

5 hours ago, RatkoVarda said:

with a QO attached, nope. He can bank the $22.5M, get rid of the QO, and hope for a healthier season in 2026. he was not good the 2nd half of the season.

On that basis, they might have to pass on the QO and try to get him back on a 2-3 year contract at the going rate.

And only as a fallback option.

I don't want Torres "guaranteed" back... 

I want Flaherty back on a QO if he accepts it. ALWAYS need pitching. 

But we have too many options at 2B.

IMO, 3B is the priority so chase Bregman. If we can't get Bregman, then Plan B's and C's...

If Torres says he will play 3B for us does he become a Plan B or C?

Or should we just skip both Bregman and Torres and let Anderson/ Keith/ Vierling/ (or others?) compete for playing time at 3B... and just live with the results?

[Edman85]

https://x.com/TheRealPJClark/status/1981731627005775956?t=UC8EYPD6NH5etgO-womOdA&s=19

[1984Echoes]

2 hours ago, RatkoVarda said:

having him walk for nothing, or signed to long-term deal, both sound not ideal

but having the 35th pick, or getting him for 1 more year at a bit of an overpay, both sound ...

But per your logic, which I think you are correct...

We are NOT getting the 35th pick.

The only choice is to overpay him or let him walk.

Nice player...

But I'm not interested.

Let Max Anderson, McGonigle, Hao Yu Lee, Keith, and others hash out who plays where next year. I have no interest in Torres being in the middle of that.

Bregman, yes.

Torres, no.

IMO.

[Dan Gilmore]

Bo Bichette, what does the forum think of him as a potential FA acquisition?

What kind of contract do you think he’ll get? He’s never played 3B in the majors, but I could see him as an option if the term and dollars aren’t too large. My assumption is Bregman won’t be coming here.

[Sports_Freak]

43 minutes ago, Dan Gilmore said:

Bo Bichette, what does the forum think of him as a potential FA acquisition?

What kind of contract do you think he’ll get? He’s never played 3B in the majors, but I could see him as an option if the term and dollars aren’t too large. My assumption is Bregman won’t be coming here.

The starting price for Bregman is whatever he would walk away from that he has with Boston. That makes him way too expensive for Detroit. I really don't see the Tigers competing for high quality free agents, Scott Harris prefers quantity over quality. Bring in 5 or 6 bargain free agents and hope to hit on one or two. I'm not sure if that's his choice or not, he may not be allowed the spend millions of dollars over long term contracts. IDK.

[Tiger337]

1 hour ago, chasfh said:

Agreed, if we'd be paying him for his performance during the 2025 season.

He could do better.  He could do worse.  Given his track record you'd expect about 3 WAR if he's healthy.  

Edited October 29 by Tiger337

[Screwball]

The WAR thing caught my eye. Heard of it here over the years but never really understood it. Love the stats, and the stat guys. Would take any advantage I could from that if I was running a baseball organization. Every little bit helps.

But I'm old, simple, and stupid. WAR is what my old eyes tell me. I think we are on the same page.

[IdahoBert]

I am looking forward to the off-season for the Detroit Tigers through the double vision of an elated child on Christmas morning, and of an adult who wants to see his enemies guillotined.

If I can experience a little of both as soon as possible, I will be rejoicing.