2025-2026 Tigers Off Season Thread

[Tenacious D]

13 minutes ago, casimir said:

I think I’d like to hear Stavenhagen and Chris Brown talking Tigers.  I feel like both are pretty knowledgeable, Stavenhagen has a bit more of an official link with the Tigers while Brown just seems to have a pretty good grip of things from a fan standpoint.

Cody is too negative for my liking.  Agree on Chris Brown—much better away from Rogelio, though Evan is a bit of a stats-wielding tool.  I’d pair Brown up with either Chris Castellani or Tony Paul and that would be my go-to Tigers podcast.

[oblong]

42 minutes ago, casimir said:

We’re cheap entertainment?  I guess there’s a compliment in there somewheres.  😆

It is a compliment.  What possible thing could I learn from a beat writer or columnist  that I couldn’t learn from this group?  I don’t post often in the wings or pistons threads but I read every day. I don’t watch the pistons that often but I do see nearly every wings game.  I don’t post because I have nothing to offer that hasn’t been said. 

[Tiger337]

38 minutes ago, oblong said:

It is a compliment.  What possible thing could I learn from a beat writer or columnist  that I couldn’t learn from this group?  I don’t post often in the wings or pistons threads but I read every day. I don’t watch the pistons that often but I do see nearly every wings game.  I don’t post because I have nothing to offer that hasn’t been said. 

Beat writers can regularly get quotes from players and managers which is something I don't think anybody here can do.  Most quotes are manufactured and uninteresting, but it is still good to have that access.  

[papalawrence]

Imho Cody gives unbiased opinions and I like that. He works for the Athletic and isn't a lifelong Tigers fan. He mentioned that he was told that the Detroit area goes nuts when the Tigers are good, and he hasn't experienced that. He pointed out that the playoff games haven't been sell outs. I wasn't aware of that. I remember in 1984 and 1987 having to enter a lottery to try and get tix, and I never did get to see a game in person. Cody is sort of flat in his expressions so some of the segments are boring to me

 

[Tenacious D]

1 hour ago, oblong said:

It is a compliment.  What possible thing could I learn from a beat writer or columnist  that I couldn’t learn from this group?  I don’t post often in the wings or pistons threads but I read every day. I don’t watch the pistons that often but I do see nearly every wings game.  I don’t post because I have nothing to offer that hasn’t been said. 

Still waiting for a few of you to start your own Tigers podcast.  

God knows you all have the face for it.

[papalawrence]

17 minutes ago, Tenacious D said:

 

God knows you all have the face for it.

 

[Tigermojo]

Tigers Re-Sign Kyle Finnegan - MLB Trade Rumors

JHM DFA for Finnegan.

[Tenacious D]

6 minutes ago, Tigermojo said:

Tigers Re-Sign Kyle Finnegan - MLB Trade Rumors

JHM DFA for Finnegan.

A bit surprised, but speaks volumes about what his trade value was (or wasn’t).

[Tiger337]

5 minutes ago, Tigermojo said:

Tigers Re-Sign Kyle Finnegan - MLB Trade Rumors

JHM DFA for Finnegan.

I liked Malloy's ability to get on base vs LHP, but I don't think he'll ever hit enough to compensate for his lack of defense.  Somebody will give him a shot.  

[Motor City Sonics]

21 minutes ago, Tiger337 said:

I liked Malloy's ability to get on base vs LHP, but I don't think he'll ever hit enough to compensate for his lack of defense.  Somebody will give him a shot.  

We already have Colt Keith.  We didn't need another guy without a real position. 

[IdahoBert]

It looks like Santa isn’t bringing us big gifts this Christmas. Feels like we’re the kid from the wrong side of the tracks in Polar Express.
  

[papalawrence]

I think JHM will have some nice seasons in his career. Probably a 4th OF and DH, but he could be an .800+ ops guy. Good eye at the plate. 

[Stormin]

Who claims Malloy?  Royals, Twins, or Guardians?

[papalawrence]

34 minutes ago, Stormin said:

Who claims Malloy?  Royals, Twins, or Guardians?

I would think Colorado will claim him. If not I don't see him falling past the Twins

[Tenacious D]

Couple of up and coming GOATs at LCA tonight. Skoobs in town to sign a contract?

 

[romad1]

12 minutes ago, Tenacious D said:

Couple of up and coming GOATs at LCA tonight. Skoobs in town to sign a contract?

 

Please let that be true. 

[papalawrence]

Skubal threw t-shirts at LCA today for MSU and then the Pistons. Tomorrow he'll be at the Lions game and the Red Wings. 

[SoCalTiger]

21 minutes ago, papalawrence said:

Skubal threw t-shirts at LCA today for MSU and then the Pistons. Tomorrow he'll be at the Lions game and the Red Wings. 

Boras is working his PR game. Probably wants the Pistons to offer 350 so he can take it to Free agency as a starting bid. I don't trust him.

[papalawrence]

5 hours ago, SoCalTiger said:

Boras is working his PR game. Probably wants the Pistons to offer 350 so he can take it to Free agency as a starting bid. I don't trust him.

I don't trust Boras but Tarik is genuine. He qas at multiple AZ fall league games. He's a very social and community oriented fella. Boras is still working Bregman and others. I doubt he instructed Tarik to go to these games. 

[Edman85]

Malloy's DFA limbo is super long, since the DFA window doesn't count the days between Christmas and New Year's.

I bet he is traded for a low level lottery ticket...

[romad1]

8 hours ago, romad1 said:

Please let that be true. 

In other news (by which I hope to convince myself that the Tigers could spend this money): 

• Little Caesars is the official pizza of the NFL. 
• The rest of Illitch Holdings has between 3-6 Billion in revenue each year in things like casinos, the Red Wings, parking lots.
• The Tigers have a lot of room for spending with only a few large veteran contracts of note on the books
• Illitch Holdings is an important halo leader of Detroit business during a period of great uncertainty. 
  • Illitch family serve on various boards and one is a regent at Michigan
  • They claim they are working as part of the resurgence of the city (other Detroit business leaders are pulling their weight more on this of course) a little confidence in the market would help everyone. 

Meanwhile we have the 2027 labor uncertainty.  I don't think i've convinced myself that the Illitch family will spend this money.  When Dan Gilbert buys the Tigers maybe. 

[Sports_Freak]

I really, really like the bullpen Harris has built for the Tigers. The better arms give Hinch plenty of very good options. Kenley Jansen, Will Vest, Tyler Holton and Kyle Finnegan should shorten games up to 6 innings. Other teams better get to our SP before the bullpen arms take over. Spring Training....hurry up!!

[Motor City Sonics]

10 hours ago, papalawrence said:

Skubal threw t-shirts at LCA today for MSU and then the Pistons. Tomorrow he'll be at the Lions game and the Red Wings. 

I don't want him throwing anything but baseballs for the Tigers.       Can you imagine he blows out an elbow throwing a t-shirt.    Didn't Matt Anderson blow out his arm throwing an octopus?  

[Motor City Sonics]

So the Tigers are not going after Bregman (and I don't want him at this point.  He's good, but he's not THAT good). 

Bo Bichette doesn't seem realistic now. 

Right now we have a ton of questions for 3b / 2b.     Torres is a lock at 2b for probably 75% of the games.    

But, for those two positions they have McKinstry, Lee, Jung, Max Anderson, Keith, and Trei Cruz  with McGonigle lurking

Do one of those guys step up?   Does Jung finally put it all together at the MLB level?   Does Keith starting hitting before mid-May?   Was Max Anderson a one year MiLB wonder like Ryan Kreidler a few years ago?     I guess this is why they won't spend on a 3b - because they want to look at all of the possibilities, but they are painfully close to getting to a World Series.  If they had had just one more competent bat in the Seattle series they get to the ALCS.   I mean, Bichette is a career ..357 OBP and career .806 OPS who has thrived in the postseason.   Exactly what they need.   So sign him and then you can trade Colt Keith and Jace Jung and get a serviceable starting pitcher, since they don't have enough of those right now.    

Is Harris going to sign Cobb again?    I wanted them to sign Jose Quintana last year - then he signs a very affordable deal with the Brewers and has a really good season.   We picked Cobb.   It was a very Randy Smithish signing (Hey, I knew this guy with my old team).  

Who's left starting-pitcher wise?   Tatsuya Imai,   Zac Gallen, Ranger Suarez, Luca Giolito, Chris Bassitt, and the Verlander/Scherzer long goodbye tour?          Right now it's Skubal/Flaherty/Olson/Mize/Melton/Montero.    Isn't Gipson-Long transitioning to the bullpen?    They need more.   You know they are going to really limit Melton and probably 3 of those guys in the rotation are going ton the injured list at some point.  They just need more.   Sorry if Drew Anderson doesn't impress me.   Plus - when is Melton getting his TJ surgery.  Feels like it's only a matter of time for all those young pitchers. 

I'm just annoyed by this offseason.   They can spend without being stupid about it.  They are close to WS contention right now.  They can make this better without sacrificing the future.    Plus there's a chance that Skubal, Mize and Flaherty will all be gone after this season. 2027 (if it happens) and 2028 might be total resets.    Come on, man.   This offseason has been weak, very weak.   They are just a couple players away.   

I know, I know..........just be good enough to sell tickets and fill those lucrative parking lots, right? 

[Sports_Freak]

3 minutes ago, Motor City Sonics said:

So the Tigers are not going after Bregman (and I don't want him at this point.  He's good, but he's not THAT good). 

Bo Bichette doesn't seem realistic now. 

Right now we have a ton of questions for 3b / 2b.     Torres is a lock at 2b for probably 75% of the games.    

But, for those two positions they have McKinstry, Lee, Jung, Max Anderson, Keith, and Trei Cruz  with McGonigle lurking

Do one of those guys step up?   Does Jung finally put it all together at the MLB level?   Does Keith starting hitting before mid-May?   Was Max Anderson a one year MiLB wonder like Ryan Kreidler a few years ago?     I guess this is why they won't spend on a 3b - because they want to look at all of the possibilities, but they are painfully close to getting to a World Series.  If they had had just one more competent bat in the Seattle series they get to the ALCS.   I mean, Bichette is a career ..357 OBP and career .806 OPS who has thrived in the postseason.   Exactly what they need.   So sign him and then you can trade Colt Keith and Jace Jung and get a serviceable starting pitcher, since they don't have enough of those right now.    

Is Harris going to sign Cobb again?    I wanted them to sign Jose Quintana last year - then he signs a very affordable deal with the Brewers and has a really good season.   We picked Cobb.   It was a very Randy Smithish signing (Hey, I knew this guy with my old team).  

Who's left starting-pitcher wise?   Tatsuya Imai,   Zac Gallen, Ranger Suarez, Luca Giolito, Chris Bassitt, and the Verlander/Scherzer long goodbye tour?          Right now it's Skubal/Flaherty/Olson/Mize/Melton/Montero.    Isn't Gipson-Long transitioning to the bullpen?    They need more.   You know they are going to really limit Melton and probably 3 of those guys in the rotation are going ton the injured list at some point.  They just need more.   Sorry if Drew Anderson doesn't impress me.   Plus - when is Melton getting his TJ surgery.  Feels like it's only a matter of time for all those young pitchers. 

I'm just annoyed by this offseason.   They can spend without being stupid about it.  They are close to WS contention right now.  They can make this better without sacrificing the future.    Plus there's a chance that Skubal, Mize and Flaherty will all be gone after this season. 2027 (if it happens) and 2028 might be total resets.    Come on, man.   This offseason has been weak, very weak.   They are just a couple players away.   

I know, I know..........just be good enough to sell tickets and fill those lucrative parking lots, right? 

The problem is, they made the playoffs with a pretty small payroll, which maximized their profits. Baseball is a business and payroll is pure overhead. Keeping payroll low increases the bottom line. And the goal of every business is to make as much money as possible. So if young kids can play a position for $600 grand or so, why spend $20 to $30 million for the same position?

As for pitching? Last off-season, I wanted them to sign Matthew Boyd. He ended up with the Cubs at $30 million for 2 years, $15 million per season. And he was an All Star, helping lead the Cubbies into the playoffs. We gave Cobb $15 million for one year to vacation in Toledo.