2025-2026 Tigers Off Season Thread

[gehringer_2]

19 minutes ago, gehringer_2 said:

It could be fixed - and it's probably the thing I most wished could be fixed, but IMHO the players have a lot of counterproductive understandings of what is in their own best interests, so it's not going to happen. Probably time for Clark to make his exit too.

What if all the luxury tax money collected by the league could only be used by teams below the tax limit to sign their own free agents?

[Tenacious D]

28 minutes ago, Tiger337 said:

So, it seems like the Tigers may be following the Tampa Rays model as some of us suspected all along.  It has worked out reasonably well for Tampa but that kind of constant roster turnover is not appealing to me.  I guess it will be somewhat like following a college team which has constant turnover through player graduation.  

I don’t get where this is coming from.  We don’t know anything yet.

All this speculation about what Harris wants to do, but we really don’t know.  We don’t know if they are trying to sign Skubal, plan to, if Skubal is receptive or willing to forego free agency. We don’t know if Ilitch will be cheap this offseason or if it will be Harris’ call not to spend on a big free agent. We don’t know if big free agents will shun us if given the chance. We don’t know if any prospects will get traded or are preventing us from signing or trading for someone.

We can’t say “seems” or anything more conclusive.  It’s Tuesday of the Winter Meetings.  Few players have moved and the offseason has months left.

Let’s check back in mid-February. In the meantime, it’s fun to speculate about things that no one, outside of Harris and his Gerk Squad, knows.

[Tiger337]

2 minutes ago, Tenacious D said:

I don’t get where this is coming from.  We don’t know anything yet.

 

Of course, nobody knows what he will do.  However, I think everything Harris has done in his career may be a pretty good indicator of what we can expect in the future and it may be why Ilitch signed him.  Don't get me wrong. Being a somewhat wealthier version of the Rays is not necessarily a bad thing.  

[Sports_Freak]

56 minutes ago, Tiger337 said:

So, it seems like the Tigers may be following the Tampa Rays model as some of us suspected all along.  It has worked out reasonably well for Tampa but that kind of constant roster turnover is not appealing to me.  I guess it will be somewhat like following a college team which has constant turnover through player graduation.  

Or a minor league team when their better players are moved up in an organization or traded. Its probably easier on those fans these days when it's possible to follow just about any team you want. Back in the day, you could only follow their progress in The Sporting News. But with the internet and streaming capabilities, a fan can follow any them/player they want. We're living in a golden day for sports viewing. 😁

[Tenacious D]

Yes.  Btw, not intending to single you out.  Seeing what I perceive to be conclusions all over the place. Yes, could be the TB model, but I don’t see it.  Skubal’s case is so unusual—he’ll get a record breaking deal, so not sure it will suggest the Tigers won’t always extend their own.

[Sports_Freak]

2 minutes ago, Tenacious D said:

Yes.  Btw, not intending to single you out.  Seeing what I perceive to be conclusions all over the place. Yes, could be the TB model, but I don’t see it.  Skubal’s case is so unusual—he’ll get a record breaking deal, so not sure it will suggest the Tigers won’t always extend their own.

Hopefully, Harris will sign the players he drafted to long term contracts. At least, the ones who become stars. Let all of these Avila picks walk, Al Avila destroyed this franchise anyway. 😆

[papalawrence]

Zumaya is still only 41. Maybe they can help him find something. Maybe a change-up using his deformed thumb.

[Tiger337]

41 minutes ago, Tenacious D said:

Yes.  Btw, not intending to single you out.  Seeing what I perceive to be conclusions all over the place. Yes, could be the TB model, but I don’t see it.  Skubal’s case is so unusual—he’ll get a record breaking deal, so not sure it will suggest the Tigers won’t always extend their own.

Milwaukee Brewers maybe.  I actually like how they are a small market team and has managed to stay afloat without a lot of terrible seasons.  

Edited Wednesday at 03:54 AM by Tiger337

[papalawrence]

40 minutes ago, Tenacious D said:

Yes.  Btw, not intending to single you out.  Seeing what I perceive to be conclusions all over the place. Yes, could be the TB model, but I don’t see it.  Skubal’s case is so unusual—he’ll get a record breaking deal, so not sure it will suggest the Tigers won’t always extend their own.

It's not just a handful if us posting here that are griping. All of the guys in foul territory and other podcasts are saying the same. As close as Det got last season, maybe one better bat would have made the difference at the deadline. You have Skubal. Bringing in a better bat makes sense. Bringing in a better SP makes sense. Signing a top tier reliever who gets Ks makes sense. 

[RatkoVarda]

looks like Finnegan is coming back

 

 

[Tiger337]

Just now, RatkoVarda said:

looks like Finnegan is coming back

 

 

The devil we know! I am happy that Torres, Flaherty and Finnegan are coming back.  They basically have the same team coming back plus hopefully McGonigle is ready.  I'd still like to see more.   

[papalawrence]

Finnegan to begin again. 2/19. Like it!

Now go get King and Kim

Edited Wednesday at 04:35 AM by papalawrence

[Tiger337]

2 years $19 million according to Petzold.

 

[Tigermojo]

Plus $1 million in potential bonuses for Finnegan.

[gehringer_2]

47 minutes ago, Tiger337 said:

The devil we know! I am happy that Torres, Flaherty and Finnegan are coming back.  They basically have the same team coming back plus hopefully McGonigle is ready.  I'd still like to see more.   

I like to see to see a little more turnover, Usually in team sports, if you aren't upgrading you are getting passed. The Tigers are young enough they may still have some upgrade built in, but more is better.

[IdahoBert]

Glad Finnegan’s back. He was a pleasant surprise. 

[casimir]

7 hours ago, papalawrence said:

Finnegan to begin again. 2/19. Like it!

Now go get King and Kim

Add in another RP or two.

[casimir]

Its rule 5 draft day.  Shoutout to @Jim Cowan.

[RatkoVarda]

I am so thrilled they are not picking people anymore in the Rule 5 draft; it was like trying to get excited over dumpster diving

[kdog]

Additionally, there are too many GM's like Harris with parallel team building and valuation philosophies. 

Now they have the nuclear winter lockout looming so nobody wants to do anything.

[chasfh]

17 hours ago, Tiger337 said:

I think traditional fans are skeptical of him because they want the Tigers to make big moves to improve the team and he hasn't made any (big moves) since he has been here.  I think it has little to do with being a stat nerd or a college boy or whatever.   

I wasn't talking about traditional fans.

[chasfh]

15 hours ago, SoCalTiger said:

I don’t think he is any of that just seems a bit uncomfortable in the spotlight. He is new I guess. 

If this is true, then he is a lot more articulate when he is uncomfortable than I could ever be when I am totally comfortable.

[chasfh]

15 hours ago, SoCalTiger said:

For the most part yes but a certain amount of swagger does play when influencing people and wooing fans. I mean James Bond did pretty well. 

The best way to woo fans is to put a winner on the field, and Scott Harris has done that in two of his first three years after inheriting an organization that got flattened by a hurricane.

[chasfh]

15 hours ago, papalawrence said:

Like I said, I will be disappointed as a fan knowing the Tigers, in that model, will not be keeping any home grown superstar players long-term. There will never be another Al Kaline, Alan Trammell or Lou Whitaker in that model. And that sucks. 

TBF, that's a problem for at least sixteen other franchises as well.

[chasfh]

14 hours ago, kdog said:

Tampa, Cleveland, and Milwakee are rigid and disciplined...they move guys before they need to pay them. The Tigers are trying to middle it without adding any risk to their portfolio. I don't care about signings..make a trade; All of these guys can't play in the majors.

How hard would it suck if we ended up having to trade the guys who can play in the majors to get those deals done and we end up having to keep the guys who can't?