2025-2026 Tigers Off Season Thread

[Tiger337]

6 minutes ago, chasfh said:

I agree, I don’t really want to contemplate that either, but it is a strong consideration to plan for. A number of one-year contracts might be beneficial to a team that is loaded at certain positions in their system, such as we are at dirt positions.

Are they really that loaded in the infield?  McGonigle is a super prospect who is very close.  Rainer is another big time prospect a couple years down the road.  Lee and Anderson are interesting, but they aren't guys I'd plan around especially if there was a chance to sign an established star.   

[Tenacious D]

11 minutes ago, Tiger337 said:

Are they really that loaded in the infield?  McGonigle is a super prospect who is very close.  Rainer is another big time prospect a couple years down the road.  Lee and Anderson are interesting, but they aren't guys I'd plan around especially if there was a chance to sign an established star.   

Bichette is interesting—wouldn’t block  anyone for another 2-3 years until Rainer is ready at SS.  At that point you could probably move Bichette to either 2B or 3B, depending on where McGonigle lands. Or maybe Rainer goes to 3B. 
Agree that neither Anderson or Lee should factor into committing to an external upgrade.  Not sure Colt Keith, should either.

[IdahoBert]

People keep talking about Bichette coming to Detroit as a live possibility. I haven’t thought of Detroit as a free agent destination city in a long time. Has he in someway indicated that Detroit is on his map as a prospective destination? 

[Tiger337]

4 minutes ago, IdahoBert said:

People keep talking about Bichette coming to Detroit as a live possibility. I haven’t thought of Detroit as a free agent destination city in a long time. Has he in someway indicated that Detroit is on his map as a prospective destination? 

I think there is a near zero chance of Tigers signing Bichette.  I just wouldn't avoid signing him because he's blocking Anderson, Lee or even Keith.  

[IdahoBert]

44 minutes ago, Tiger337 said:

I think there is a near zero chance of Tigers signing Bichette.  I just wouldn't avoid signing him because he's blocking Anderson, Lee or even Keith.  

Thanks. So people are merely being playfully talkative so that’s cool.

[Tigermojo]

I prefer they sign the best pitchers they can get. Most of the young talent they have are hitters. They should be adding value on the hitting side just from guys entering their primes. Plus I don't like the idea of paying someone like Bregman for his decline. Adding talented pitchers should be more valuable to the roster.

[Tiger337]

40 minutes ago, IdahoBert said:

Thanks. So people are merely being playfully talkative so that’s cool.

The India Times did say that the Tigers are prepared to make a blockbuster trade for Bichette.  

[papalawrence]

16 minutes ago, Tiger337 said:

The India Times did say that the Tigers are prepared to make a blockbuster trade for Bichette.  

The happy farmer said something similar

[Tenacious D]

A blogger at Lawn & Landscape thinks we’ll be in the mix for Kyle Schwarber.  

They also  added that they think Heather Nabozny is smokin’ hot.

[Edman85]

I havent listened to the Tiger Territory that dropped this morning yet, but given how quickly some things they say get parroted here, I assume there is some Bichette talk?

[papalawrence]

17 minutes ago, Edman85 said:

I havent listened to the Tiger Territory that dropped this morning yet, but given how quickly some things they say get parroted here, I assume there is some Bichette talk?

Yep. They don't make any predictions or even where they are leaning. They do throw out options and how this fits in with the current roster. They like adding Kim. They're not sure about Bichette long term at ss. They didn't stick on Bichette long. They're not sure about a Bregman fit. But they also stress that Detroit has to upgrade, even if it means logjam at positions. They stressed there is not much to speculate now because Harris keeps quiet. But they think we'll all know more after the GM meetings next week. 

[Tenacious D]

21 minutes ago, Edman85 said:

I havent listened to the Tiger Territory that dropped this morning yet, but given how quickly some things they say get parroted here, I assume there is some Bichette talk?

‘Cause Kieran is so influential? 🤣

[Edman85]

44 minutes ago, Tenacious D said:

‘Cause Kieran is so influential? 🤣

Apparently? People were taking his Skubal to the Mets idea seriously a couple weeks ago despite the fact that one of the guys he suggested was already traded. Tell tale sign that was a half assed proposal with no more legitimacy of random Twitter dude.

[Tenacious D]

I think everyone here recognizes that podcasts and Twitter are only amateurs speculating without any true access or intel.  

[Edman85]

Minor league free agents hit the transactions log. There are some missing, so I don't necessarily know if that means they are back. I can't easily copy and paste my cross checked list at the moment, but will later.

[Tiger337]

46 minutes ago, Tenacious D said:

I think everyone here recognizes that podcasts and Twitter are only amateurs speculating without any true access or intel.  

We make our own amateur speculations instead.  

[roarintiger1]

Anyone interested in kicking the tires on Munetaka Murakami?

Edited 16 hours ago by roarintiger1

[papalawrence]

1 hour ago, Tenacious D said:

I think everyone here recognizes that podcasts and Twitter are only amateurs speculating without any true access or intel.  

Cody what's his name from the Athletic has good insights sometimes

[papalawrence]

35 minutes ago, roarintiger1 said:

Anyone interested in kicking the tires on Munetaka Murakami?

I don't think he is Harris' type of player. Hi K rate. Cody talked about him on Tiger Territory today. His contact rate on fastball 93+ is low in Japan. Maybe he could adjust? Seems like a risk with potential hi ceiling and low floor.

[papalawrence]

Today my gut is telling me that Harris will go after Michael King, as most will go hard after Cease. 

[papalawrence]

Read a bosox page suggesting they give up their farm all in for Skenes. Won't happen, but they'd be instant contenders

[gehringer_2]

6 hours ago, Tiger337 said:

Are they really that loaded in the infield?  McGonigle is a super prospect who is very close.  Rainer is another big time prospect a couple years down the road.  Lee and Anderson are interesting, but they aren't guys I'd plan around especially if there was a chance to sign an established star.   

I wonder if Anderson is one of those cases - sort of like Christin Stewart, where the org know/feels he has a bottom line weakness that MLB pitchers are going to exploit not matter what he shows against lower level pitching. They did ultimately give Stewart a shot, and of course as Microline and others had warned,  he wasn't an MLB caliber bat despite his MiLB success. A more hopeful take would be that they think his bat to ball skill is there but until he shows better power he can't be productive enough. At least under that reading there is a level of reasonable hope some power can develop.

[Dan Gilmore]

Remember when we included Jung in our list of prospects? It seems longer ago than it actually is…

[Edman85]

Players I had eligible for free agency, not reported as having a successor contract, who were not on the list.

Omari Daniel

Haden Erbe

Pedro Garcia

Ryan Harvey

Marco Jimenez

Travis Kuhn

Bligh Madris

Tyler Owens

Yosber Sanchez

Matt Stil

Yoan Valdez

Ricky Vanasco

[Edman85]

Here's your minor league free agents:

https://www.baseballamerica.com/stories/minor-league-free-agents-2025/

RHP Jordan Balazovic (AAA)
RHP Austin Bergner (AA)
RHP Ryan Boyer (AA)
RHP Blair Calvo (AA)
RHP Jhoan De Los Santos (DSL)
RHP Randy Dobnak (AAA)
RHP Woo-Suk Go (AAA)
RHP Richard Guasch (AA)
RHP Wilkel Hernandez (AAA)
RHP Jesus Mejia (DSL)
RHP Freddy Pacheco (A+)
RHP Esmerlin Peguero (DSL)
RHP Erinson Reyes (DSL)
RHP Nick Starr (AA)
LHP Andrew Magno (AA)
LHP Nick Margevicius (AAA)
LHP Carlos Pena (AA)
C Eliezer Alfonzo (AA)
C Brian Serven (AAA)
1B Jake Holton (AA)
2B Kevin Newman (AAA)
3B Carlos Mendoza (AA)
SS Andrew Navigato (AAA)
SS Riley Unroe (AAA)

And your McCosky/Woodbery All Stars:

• Eddys Leonard (Braves)
• John Brebbia (Red Sox)
• Trayce Thompson (Red Sox)
• Corey Joyce (Cubs)
• Dixon Machado (Cubs)
• Andre Lipcius (White Sox)
• Geoff Hartlieb (Royals)
• Spencer Turnbull (Royals)
• Julio Rodriguez (Royals, catcher)
• Isan Diaz (Royals)
• Ben Gamel (Angels)
• Kyle Funkhouser (Dodgers)
• Ty Adcock (Mets)
• Jose Azocar (Mets)
• Jeimer Candelario (Yankees)
• Matt Manning (Phillies)
• Brewer Hicklen (Phillies)
• Beau Burrows (Pirates)
• Nick Solak (Pirates)
• Jake Higginbotham (Padres)
• Alex Faedo (Rays)
• Jamie Westbrook (Rays)
• Joe Mantiply (Blue Jays)
• Buddy Kennedy (Blue Jays)