2025-2026 Tigers Off Season Thread

[TcFlint]

26 minutes ago, Tenacious D said:

You snooze you lose!  Two decent relievers already off the board.  Harris is snoozing at he wheel!

[chasfh]

1 hour ago, Sports_Freak said:

Is Finnegan worth a $20M, 2 year contract? I say, yes please.

I don't think I would like to pay 2/20 for a guy who will take one year at single digits.

[chasfh]

55 minutes ago, gehringer_2 said:

like all guys over 30, you are just waiting for the bat to drop off a cliff, but since it's almost impossible to guess whether that will be this season or few more seasons into the future, hope for best and have a fall back plan for the worst.

McKinstry's bat was already over the cliff when he got here, and he did so uncommonly well in just two discrete months (April and June) that it lifted his whole season up above average. His second half OPS+ was 81, which I think is about what we can expect from him for the whole of 2026. I think it would be best to find a way to limit him to 300 at bats tops next season, if at all possible. Make him the true utility player where he can eat.

[SoCalTiger]

23 minutes ago, chasfh said:

I don't think I would like to pay 2/20 for a guy who will take one year at single digits.

Do you really think Finnegan will sign for one year and under 10 mil ?

[chasfh]

8 minutes ago, SoCalTiger said:

Do you really think Finnegan will sign for one year and under 10 mil ?

Yes, I do. Although if it is 1/10, even 1/12, I'll be fine with that. Just don't promise him a second year upfront, is all.

[4hzglory]

1 minute ago, chasfh said:

Yes, I do. Although if it is 1/10, even 1/12, I'll be fine with that. Just don't promise him a second year upfront, is all.

I do think he will get the 2nd year.  Especially since Helsley got what he did, and even Williams getting 3.  Finnegan's numbers improved significantly and it was based on real changes, so It gives hope it is sustainable.

[Tiger337]

I think Finnegan will get two years in this reliever market.  

[Tenacious D]

I like Finnegan, but not as a closer. Give him the 7th, Vest the 8th and a real closer for the 9th. 2 years/$15M is probably his ceiling.

Edited Tuesday at 04:33 PM by Tenacious D

[Tiger337]

16 minutes ago, Tenacious D said:

I like Finnegan, but not as a closer. Give him the 7th, Vest the 8th and a real closer for the 9th. 2 years/$15M is probably his ceiling.

I don't believe Harris and Hinch care about a "real" closer.  I think they like the committee approach.  

[Sports_Freak]

28 minutes ago, Tiger337 said:

I don't believe Harris and Hinch care about a "real" closer.  I think they like the committee approach.  

I agree but maybe if they had a real closer they may change their minds?

"Fairbanks would certainly become the Tigers’ new closer as the organization looks to maximize its playoff window with Tarik Skubal."

https://sportsnaut.com/mlb/detroit-tigers-linked-elite-closer-2025-mlb-free-agency

[4hzglory]

14 minutes ago, Sports_Freak said:

I agree but maybe if they had a real closer they may change their minds?

"Fairbanks would certainly become the Tigers’ new closer as the organization looks to maximize its playoff window with Tarik Skubal."

https://sportsnaut.com/mlb/detroit-tigers-linked-elite-closer-2025-mlb-free-agency

I'm hesitant on someone Tampa let go of for a relatively reasonable 1 yr $10 mil (adjusting for the buyout they gave) when his history suggests he's worth more than that.  Even if they held onto him for trade value.  It makes me concerned they know something.

Edited Tuesday at 05:36 PM by 4hzglory

[Sports_Freak]

14 minutes ago, 4hzglory said:

I'm hesitant on someone Tampa let go of for a relatively reasonable 1 yr $10 mil (adjusting for the buyout they gave) when his history suggests he's worth more than that.  Even if they held onto him for trade value.  It makes me concerned they know something.

Once bitten, twice shy. 😆

[4hzglory]

I'm more on board with Bregman also.  This year he wouldn't cost a draft pick like he did last year.  It obviously would potentially limit some of Keith/Anderson/Lee's chances of improving (at the ML level), but would be worth it IMO and Torres is only signed for 1 year.

I'd still be surprised if they are as in as they were last year on him (especially with their publicly stated focus on pitching), but I'd be very happy if they went after him.

I don't know if they'd have the $ for him and Imai (long shot to get) or King as well as a competitive offer for Skubal(next year)  and $15-20 mil for the pen, but if they do I'm all for it.  I think pitching is the bigger need, but Bregman would definitely improve the offense significantly.

[4hzglory]

1 minute ago, Sports_Freak said:

Once bitten, twice shy. 😆

Yes, especially when their decision doesn't make sense.  Fairbanks should have been easily tradeable on the 1 yr $11 mil contract that he would have had if they picked up the option.

[4hzglory]

Another intriguing starter option that should be cheaper (3 yr/$30 mil projection) is Cody Ponce.  His uptick in velocity and added plus splitter make him an interesting option that I'd hope we would be in on.  If they could get him, go after Bregman, and spend $20ish mil on a couple higher caliber, high K pen arms I'd be extremely happy.

[TcFlint]

I would offer a 2nd year, but still pursue Fairbanks..

[casimir]

6 hours ago, 4hzglory said:

Another intriguing starter option that should be cheaper (3 yr/$30 mil projection) is Cody Ponce.  His uptick in velocity and added plus splitter make him an interesting option that I'd hope we would be in on.  If they could get him, go after Bregman, and spend $20ish mil on a couple higher caliber, high K pen arms I'd be extremely happy.

Toronto agrees.

[casimir]

8 hours ago, chasfh said:

I don't think I would like to pay 2/20 for a guy who will take one year at single digits.

I don’t know, I suspect he holds out for an extra year as long as he can.  He’s 34 years old already, so maybe it’s not available.  But I think he can get 2.

[casimir]

6 hours ago, 4hzglory said:

I'm more on board with Bregman also.  This year he wouldn't cost a draft pick like he did last year.  It obviously would potentially limit some of Keith/Anderson/Lee's chances of improving (at the ML level), but would be worth it IMO and Torres is only signed for 1 year.

I'd still be surprised if they are as in as they were last year on him (especially with their publicly stated focus on pitching), but I'd be very happy if they went after him.

I don't know if they'd have the $ for him and Imai (long shot to get) or King as well as a competitive offer for Skubal(next year)  and $15-20 mil for the pen, but if they do I'm all for it.  I think pitching is the bigger need, but Bregman would definitely improve the offense significantly.

I wouldn’t worry much about Keith/Anderson/Lee developing if the Tigers acquire Bregman.  Trade them for similar type pitching returns, young and controlled contracts.

[4hzglory]

50 minutes ago, casimir said:

Toronto agrees.

That’s a bummer.  He was someone I was really interested in.

[papalawrence]

Ponce to Toronto on 3/30 deal. The Jays are all in.

[Edman85]

9 hours ago, TcFlint said:

You snooze you lose!  Two decent relievers already off the board.  Harris is snoozing at he wheel!

I am curious. Is there a study out there that shows off-season acquisitions earlier in the off-season are more succesful?

[Tiger337]

Snoozing is one thing I would not accuse Harris of doing.  He seems to be fully aware of every single player available.  

[Sports_Freak]

1 hour ago, casimir said:

I wouldn’t worry much about Keith/Anderson/Lee developing if the Tigers acquire Bregman.  Trade them for similar type pitching returns, young and controlled contracts.

Harris has done a very good job, quickly rebuilding our minor league talent. But his trades have been underwhelming. And the money he's wasted on free agents...

[casimir]

4 minutes ago, Sports_Freak said:

Harris has done a very good job, quickly rebuilding our minor league talent. But his trades have been underwhelming. And the money he's wasted on free agents...

So then what does he do with those players if he does acquire Bregman?  Anderson and Lee just sit in Toledo?