2025-2026 Tigers Off Season Thread

[Tiger337]

53 minutes ago, Edman85 said:

Here's a little trivia.

The Tigers have a winning record since Scott Harris took over baseball operations. Who is the last GM (since all his predecessors had that role name) under whom the Tigers had a winning record during his tenure?

The guy that was GM for just one year?  

[Motor City Sonics]

I think most of us believe the Tigers still need one more starting pitcher - especially because we are all pretty certain they are going to limit Troy Melton's innings in 2026. 

The strongest candidates -  who would you want out of these

 

Framber Valdez

Zac Gallen

Lucas Giolito

Chris Bassitt

Max Scherzer

Justin Verlander

Jose Quintana

Nick Martniez

Zach Littell

Walker Beuhler

 

 

Of all these guys, the one I'd want is the one I wanted last year - and he had a really good year and that's Jose Quintana. Seems like they could use another lefty starter. 

 

My top rankings would be

1. Jose Quintana  (seems like they could get him for a year or two)

2. Lucas Giolito  (year or two, great bounce back last year)

3. Framber Valdez  (does he want too much length?)

4. Nick Martinez  (I would have liked him last year, he's a solid 4 or 5)

5. Chris Bassitt  (fine for a year, as long as he is healthy)

 

The rest, I don't care for.    Seems like Littell and Buehler are warm bodies.  I don't need any sort of emotional goodbye tour for Max or JV.    Not a big fan of Zac Gallen, but he has been fairly healthy in recent years, he could eat some innings.  

 

They've got to come away with something better than Alex ****ing Cobb this year, right?    Kind of pisses me off that on his Baseball Reference page he's in a Tigers hat.   Not his fault, but that was a dumb signing.   Like trading for Paul Sewald and Charlie Morton (hey look - we did something !!!)

 

 

 

 

[tiger2022]

If the limit Melton's innings, let's hope they don't take the Nationals philosophy with Strausburg...pitch him right away and then shut him down for the playoffs.  Maybe the dumbest way of ever handling a player in mlb history 

[Dan Gilmore]

I suspect that what Ed said about roster limits, and there being eased in a few weeks are what’s keeping them from a formal signing. They may have an unofficial agreement with one of those SPs.

[Edman85]

2 hours ago, Dan Gilmore said:

I suspect that what Ed said about roster limits, and there being eased in a few weeks are what’s keeping them from a formal signing. They may have an unofficial agreement with one of those SPs.

Jobe can be moved to the 60 Day IL and free up a 40 man spot the day pitchers and catchers report.

Just to add some specificity...

[1984Echoes]

5 hours ago, Motor City Sonics said:

... The strongest candidates -  who would you want out of these

Valdez, Gallen, Giolito, Bassitt, Scherzer, Verlander, Quintana, Martniez, Littell, Beuhler...

Which ones cost a draft pick?

And which ones do NOT.

Because... I'm just guessing here... that that is a very high consideration for Harris.

And on that basis... he may very well go after Gallen instead of Valdez... just as an example.

IMO... I think that should be something we consider, even in our conjecturing...

[Stormin]

 Rangers traded 5 prospects for Mackenzie Gore.  None were top 100: 50 FV, 45 FV, 45 FV, 45 FV, 40 FV.  Jordan Yost and four lower ranked prospects would be a similar Tiger prospect package.

Gore seems like a lefthanded version of Casey Mize with one more year of club control.  Highly touted prospect that has not reached projected ceiling but had a strong first half in 2025.

Edited yesterday at 03:21 AM by Stormin

[Edman85]

10 hours ago, 1984Echoes said:

Which ones cost a draft pick?

And which ones do NOT.

Because... I'm just guessing here... that that is a very high consideration for Harris.

And on that basis... he may very well go after Gallen instead of Valdez... just as an example.

IMO... I think that should be something we consider, even in our conjecturing...

Gallen and Framber cost a pick. It would be their third rounder unless they acquire a Comp Balance pick in a trade, in which case it would be their second rounder or that acquired pick depending.

Basically, it is their third pick, but your own competitive balance pick cannot be forfeited, but if you acquire one the acquired one can be. The Tigers competitive balance pick is after the second round next year.

[SoCalTiger]

3 hours ago, Edman85 said:

Gallen and Framber cost a pick. It would be their third rounder unless they acquire a Comp Balance pick in a trade, in which case it would be their second rounder or that acquired pick depending.

Basically, it is their third pick, but your own competitive balance pick cannot be forfeited, but if you acquire one the acquired one can be. The Tigers competitive balance pick is after the second round next year.

Where does the pick for losing Skubal slot in ?

[Tenacious D]

3 hours ago, Edman85 said:

Gallen and Framber cost a pick. It would be their third rounder unless they acquire a Comp Balance pick in a trade, in which case it would be their second rounder or that acquired pick depending.

Basically, it is their third pick, but your own competitive balance pick cannot be forfeited, but if you acquire one the acquired one can be. The Tigers competitive balance pick is after the second round next year.

I would prefer not to burn a pick to sign a guy for one season or allow for an early opt-out, but would be worth it to get a good starter committed for a few seasons. Especially since we could lose Skubal, Mize and Flaherty after next season.

[1984Echoes]

OR...

Harris goes shopping in the "less-than-the-cost-of-a-draft-pick" bin...

[Edman85]

1 hour ago, SoCalTiger said:

Where does the pick for losing Skubal slot in ?

Well that wouldn't be til 2027. And that depends on whether or not the Tigers are a revenue sharing recipient in 2026. They have been 2019-2025, but were not prior to that. It is a three year moving average and it is possible the success of the last two years could spike attendance enough.

If they are still a revenue sharing recipient, the pick for losing Skubal would be after the first round if he signs for more than $50M total (as it would be if they offer a QO to Flaherty or Mize). They would also get a competitive balance A pick after the comp pick and before the second round. Also, if Clark or McGonigle is on the opening day roster and wins the Rookie of the Year, that would be another pick between the first and second rounds.

If they are not a revenue sharing recipient or Skubal doesn't get $50M, the pick would be after he second round after the Comp B picks, and the Comp A pick would be no more if no longer receiving revenue sharing.

[Tenacious D]

If it plays out that we end up getting a Comp pick for a Skubal exit, the poor player that gets selected will be unfairly scrutinized by podcasters, local radio personalities and casual fans. 

[RatkoVarda]

2 minutes ago, Tenacious D said:

If it plays out that we end up getting a Comp pick for a Skubal exit, the poor player that gets selected will be unfairly scrutinized by podcasters, local radio personalities and casual fans. 

someone noted that they selected AAA All-star Christin Stewart with the pick they were awarded when Max Scherzer left, so that's something to look forward to to 2031

[Edman85]

30 minutes ago, Tenacious D said:

If it plays out that we end up getting a Comp pick for a Skubal exit, the poor player that gets selected will be unfairly scrutinized by podcasters, local radio personalities and casual fans. 

If it plays out they get multiple (ie Mize or Flaherty too), they would be consecutive and these waters would be muddied.

[SoCalTiger]

1 hour ago, Edman85 said:

Well that wouldn't be til 2027. And that depends on whether or not the Tigers are a revenue sharing recipient in 2026. They have been 2019-2025, but were not prior to that. It is a three year moving average and it is possible the success of the last two years could spike attendance enough.

If they are still a revenue sharing recipient, the pick for losing Skubal would be after the first round if he signs for more than $50M total (as it would be if they offer a QO to Flaherty or Mize). They would also get a competitive balance A pick after the comp pick and before the second round. Also, if Clark or McGonigle is on the opening day roster and wins the Rookie of the Year, that would be another pick between the first and second rounds.

If they are not a revenue sharing recipient or Skubal doesn't get $50M, the pick would be after he second round after the Comp B picks, and the Comp A pick would be no more if no longer receiving revenue sharing.

Thanks for the detailed information. Skubal will surpass $50 million ..maybe yearly 😂

[Tenacious D]

1 hour ago, Edman85 said:

If it plays out they get multiple (ie Mize or Flaherty too), they would be consecutive and these waters would be muddied.

Would be interesting to see if they gave Mize a QO.  If he had a similar season to this, he’d likely accept.

[Tigermojo]

13 minutes ago, Tenacious D said:

Would be interesting to see if they gave Mize a QO.  If he had a similar season to this, he’d likely accept.

I like one year deals.

[gehringer_2]

Just now, Tigermojo said:

I like one year deals.

can only do the QO once though, sadly.

[Tenacious D]

Flaherty still has his remaining.  We could end up with both Mize and Flaherty in ‘27.

[Edman85]

On 1/22/2026 at 9:43 AM, Edman85 said:

Here's a little trivia.

The Tigers have a winning record since Scott Harris took over baseball operations. Who is the last GM (since all his predecessors had that role name) under whom the Tigers had a winning record during his tenure?

Well, the answer isn't who I thought when I posted this.

BR and Wikipedia are wrong about who the GM was in 1992. Joe McDonald was interim in 1991 after LaJoie abruptly resigned, but Jerry Walker was hired after the season for the full time job. Those sites like McDonald in 1992. If Walker was in the job in 1993 only, he was the answer, but he wasn't.

So the answer is Bill LaJoie, since I am not counting McDonald's interim stint for a team that LaJoie mostly built. 2002-2003 was a big hole for DD to dig out of.

Edited 5 hours ago by Edman85

[Stormin]

7 hours ago, RatkoVarda said:

someone noted that they selected AAA All-star Christin Stewart with the pick they were awarded when Max Scherzer left, so that's something to look forward to to 2031

Aaron Judge was a comp pick.

[1984Echoes]

6 hours ago, Tenacious D said:

Would be interesting to see if they gave Mize a QO.  If he had a similar season to this, he’d likely accept.

They should.

[1984Echoes]

7 hours ago, RatkoVarda said:

someone noted that they selected AAA All-star Christin Stewart with the pick they were awarded when Max Scherzer left, so that's something to look forward to to 2031

Austin Riley was selected with the 41st pick (Stewart the 34th pick) in the same draft.

I'm pretty certain we all hope that Harris can tell the difference between Christin Stewart and Austin Riley.

I'm 100% certain he can. And will (draft a multi-tool Riley over a zero-tool but has power Stewart).

Just my 2 cents.

[gehringer_2]

50 minutes ago, 1984Echoes said:

Austin Riley was selected with the 41st pick (Stewart the 34th pick) in the same draft.

I'm pretty certain we all hope that Harris can tell the difference between Christin Stewart and Austin Riley.

I'm 100% certain he can. And will (draft a multi-tool Riley over a zero-tool but has power Stewart).

Just my 2 cents.

Lol- It's not like Christin Stewart had "Fail" tattooed on his forehead at UT. He still looked like a pretty good pick up through high A. You'd like to believe your system can tell those things before a guy has ever come close to seeing MLB pitching, but it's not always that easy. 

You probably can fault the Tigers for hanging on to him too long after it had become clear his bat wasn't going to play in the majors though.

Edited 1 hour ago by gehringer_2