2025-2026 Tigers Off Season Thread

[CMRivdogs]

Athletic writer Tim Britton projecting  Flaherty receiving a 4 year $78 million dollar package. Putting him between Edwardo Rodriguez and John Gray's pay....

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6774254/2025/11/04/mlb-free-agent-contract-projections/

It just seems a bit steep for me...

 

[Edman85]

1 hour ago, chasfh said:

Dingler's already under control for the next five seasons, so, what kind of extension do you want to see? 

Even an extension that only buys out arb years would reduce AAV in the late years if you are up against the tax then.

[chasfh]

21 minutes ago, Edman85 said:

Even an extension that only buys out arb years would reduce AAV in the late years if you are up against the tax then.

Wouldn't we have to actively plan to be up against the tax in five years in order to make this pay out for us? Otherwise it would look weird for us to give Dingler a substantial premium on the expected payout for his arb years—which is what it would take to get him to sign on the line that is dotted—and then not follow through on the overall spending to get up against the tax that would make that premium arb payout worth it.

Are you aware of any successful real-world examples of this strategy that you can share?

[RatkoVarda]

37 minutes ago, CMRivdogs said:

Athletic writer Tim Britton projecting  Flaherty receiving a 4 year $78 million dollar package. Putting him between Edwardo Rodriguez and John Gray's pay....

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6774254/2025/11/04/mlb-free-agent-contract-projections/

It just seems a bit steep for me...

hmm. that could happen, I suppose

he seems to be taking the Over for all of these deals, which might be correct

Dylan Cease at 6 years, $174 million? yikes

Bregman at 6 years, $171 million, makes sense

I do not think Pete Alonso gets 5 years, $140 million

Michael King at 3/75 I would support

Edit: he has Torres at 3 years, $48 million, which would mean no 1st round comp pick

Edited Tuesday at 04:18 PM by RatkoVarda

[Shinzaki]

Cubs SP Shota Imanaga is opting out and will be a FA

[Tiger337]

16 minutes ago, Shinzaki said:

Cubs SP Shota Imanaga is opting out and will be a FA

King and Imanaga are both interesting options which the Tigers might regard as more affordable.  

[chasfh]

Petriello at MLB thinks Flaherty’s situation is complicated, and he believes there’s a decent chance that Jack simply exercises the player option.

I would be really surprised if Flaherty just exercises the option, and I would be only slightly less surprised if the Tigers offered a QO and he took it. I still think the most likely thing is Flaherty goes to the marketplace and picks up at least three years.

[4hzglory]

6 minutes ago, chasfh said:

Petriello at MLB thinks Flaherty’s situation is complicated, and he believes there’s a decent chance that Jack simply exercises the player option.

I would be really surprised if Flaherty just exercises the option, and I would be only slightly less surprised if the Tigers offered a QO and he took it. I still think the most likely thing is Flaherty goes to the marketplace and picks up at least three years.

Yeah, I think the odds of him just exercising the option are almost 0 as the QO (Which I'd be shocked if the Tigers don't extend) would be a couple million $ increase.  If he wants to stay, I think he at least does that as then he could never have the QO extended again.

[Tenacious D]

If he gets the QO, he’s taking it.  The draft pick comp hanging over him will kill his market.

A $22M one-year deal is not a bad outcome. If he can have a better season in ‘26, he’ll likely end up with a better contract anyway.

[Shinzaki]

Per ESPN..Flaherty not opting out

[gehringer_2]

21 minutes ago, Shinzaki said:

Per ESPN..Flaherty not opting out

Very interesting.

[SoCalTiger]

Jack at 20/ 1 year seems like win to me plus we can still do the qualifying offer after 2026 unless it's gone bye bye with the new labor deal which has  a very good chance of happening. 

[chasfh]

5 hours ago, chasfh said:

Petriello at MLB thinks Flaherty’s situation is complicated, and he believes there’s a decent chance that Jack simply exercises the player option.

I would be really surprised if Flaherty just exercises the option, and I would be only slightly less surprised if the Tigers offered a QO and he took it. I still think the most likely thing is Flaherty goes to the marketplace and picks up at least three years.

Thank you, ladies and gentlemen, I’ll be here all week …

[4hzglory]

1 hour ago, gehringer_2 said:

Very interesting.

I don’t get it but am happy about it as, performance wise, for 1 season he’s comparable to most of the potential FA’s.  
 

Now go get Cease, King, or Ranger Suarez and our rotation is coming together. 🤪

[Tigermojo]

2 minutes ago, 4hzglory said:

I don’t get it but am happy about it as, performance wise, for 1 season he’s comparable to most of the potential FA’s.  
 

Now go get Cease, King, or Ranger Suarez and our rotation is coming together. 🤪

[Tiger337]

Flaherty's career has been inconsistent, but he seems to be a good comeback candidate given his under the hood numbers this year.  They still need another good healthy starter along with a right-handed bat and bullpen help.  

[Motor City Sonics]

Like that Kim Mitchell song

 

GO FOR SHOTA !!!!!

[Motor City Sonics]

I'm fine with the Flaherty thing because I don't think he's washed up.   He's still very capable of getting into a really good groove and being a plus starter -  but, as long as they say "Welp, Jack's back, no need to add to the rotation". 

And I will be apoplectic If they re-sign Cobb.   Re-signing Cobb would be a Randy "I had him with my other team" Smith move.    That's a lazy GM move, there.  

 

[Tenacious D]

Jack and his agent must have PTSD from their non-existent market last offseason. He clearly didn’t want to gamble that the Tigers would give him a QO or how good his prospects would be on the open market.

Welcome back—one less spot to sweat. He’s at least a 4th starter and capable of better.

[Shinzaki]

Flaherty is only 30 years old.  I always think of him as being older.

First year in awhile for where he isn't stressing about where hes going to play the following season. Maybe that will lead to an effective off season

[SoCalTiger]

So was Jack assuming the Tigers would not have made the qualifying offer ? Because if they did he could just accept , bank 2 million more and be done with the qualifying offer going forward. Now he makes less and still has to deal with the QO after 2026 (maybe). I don't get it. What did I miss ?

[4hzglory]

1 hour ago, SoCalTiger said:

So was Jack assuming the Tigers would not have made the qualifying offer ? Because if they did he could just accept , bank 2 million more and be done with the qualifying offer going forward. Now he makes less and still has to deal with the QO after 2026 (maybe). I don't get it. What did I miss ?

I’m thinking the same thing, but am glad he made this decision.

[IdahoBert]

Twenty million dollars 
And they put you on the day shift

Look out kid
They keep it all hid
Better jump down a manhole
Light yourself a candle
Don’t wear sandals
Try to avoid the scandals
Don’t wanna be a bum
You better chew gum
The pump don’t work
’Cause the vandals took the handles

[gehringer_2]

4 hours ago, SoCalTiger said:

So was Jack assuming the Tigers would not have made the qualifying offer ? Because if they did he could just accept , bank 2 million more and be done with the qualifying offer going forward. Now he makes less and still has to deal with the QO after 2026 (maybe). I don't get it. What did I miss ?

well one possibility is that there is something that would show up a a trade physical that both he and team, but no-one else, knows about right now.

[romad1]

When Jack came into the final game in extras I was worried he'd cave but he showed me something.  Happy he's back.