2025-2026 Tigers Off Season Thread

[Tiger337]

4 minutes ago, 1984Echoes said:

Yeah, ummm...

I don't think Olson wins a rotation spot based on "we need to get as many innings out of him in Detroit before he goes on the IL again...".

He has the ability to win the 5th spot outright. Heck, he could with the 4th spot or push Flaherty down to the 4th spot...

I just think the 5th starter is an open competition and I won't rule out any possibility.

Plus... Spring Training injuries so, who knows... ?

If healthy, he is their second best starter.  

WOW, I have been working all night long and had no idea they signed Valdez!!!

Edited 2 hours ago by Tiger337

[4hzglory]

1 minute ago, Tiger337 said:

If healthy, he is their second best starter.  

Exactly.  This is why they will not waste his innings in Toledo. 

[Tiger337]

3 minutes ago, Tiger337 said:

I am very confident this will work itself out. 

YOU CAN NEVER EVER HAVE TOO MUCH STARTING PITCHING  

Even with Valdez!!!

[1984Echoes]

7 minutes ago, Tiger337 said:

If healthy, he is their second best starter.  

WOW, I have been working all night long and had no idea they signed Valdez!!!

No he isn't.

[Tiger337]

5 minutes ago, 1984Echoes said:

No he isn't.

3rd best now

[gehringer_2]

21 minutes ago, 1984Echoes said:

Yeah, ummm...

I don't think Olson wins a rotation spot based on "we need to get as many innings out of him in Detroit before he goes on the IL again...".

He has the ability to win the 5th spot outright. Heck, he could with the 4th spot or push Flaherty down to the 4th spot...

I just think the 5th starter is an open competition and I won't rule out any possibility.

Plus... Spring Training injuries so, who knows... ?

Olson is going to win a rotation spot based on being able to get guys out better than anyone other than Skubal. The question is can he keep it.

Edited 2 hours ago by gehringer_2

[1984Echoes]

I think Melton is better than him.

But experience may win out in that battle.

I think Flaherty is better too... when he's pitching well. I don't know what happened last year...? He seemed fine one game and then off the next. I still think he has another 2024 in him. If he does, Olson is 5th best. 

But if he (Flaherty) pitches like last year, then I would consider Olson 4th best (3rd best in Detroit as I'm just going to guess Melton gets stuck in Toledo).

He won't push Mize further down the rotation even though he's proven to be the better pitcher than Mize, when healthy. Just guessing here... but I think Hinch will put Mize higher up in the rotation and keep him there. No matter what Olson does. But again... just guessing.

And if Hinch decides Melton has "IT" and keeps him in the Detroit rotation... all bets are off IMO.

[Tenacious D]

It won’t happen, but Flaherty would help a ton in the pen.

[Tenacious D]

11 minutes ago, 1984Echoes said:

I think Melton is better than him.

But experience may win out in that battle.

I think Flaherty is better too... when he's pitching well. I don't know what happened last year...? He seemed fine one game and then off the next. I still think he has another 2024 in him. If he does, Olson is 5th best. 

But if he (Flaherty) pitches like last year, then I would consider Olson 4th best (3rd best in Detroit as I'm just going to guess Melton gets stuck in Toledo).

He won't push Mize further down the rotation even though he's proven to be the better pitcher than Mize, when healthy. Just guessing here... but I think Hinch will put Mize higher up in the rotation and keep him there. No matter what Olson does. But again... just guessing.

And if Hinch decides Melton has "IT" and keeps him in the Detroit rotation... all bets are off IMO.

Could be a trade forthcoming.  I still contend that Mize could be dealt. Very team friendly contract.

[Sports_Freak]

The Tigers pitching staff may be one of the best in the AL. Fetter has some high quality arms to work with. Harris signing 2 really good BP arms to go along with Vest gives us 3 pitchers who had 20+ saves last season. And we have about 7 or 8 pitchers who could start. Which is good because we probably used at least 8 starters last season.

[IdahoBert]

I am so happy to be wrong about my expectations. 

[Tigermojo]

"Detroit also forfeits draft capital because Valdez rejected a qualifying offer from the Astros. They’re a revenue sharing recipient so it’s the lowest penalty, their third-highest pick in the 2026 draft. That’s currently slated to be their Competitive Balance Round B selection, which is 69th overall. The Tigers could look to trade that pick — Competitive Balance selections are the only ones that can be traded — rather than losing it as the compensatory pick. They’d then forfeit their third-round selection (#98 overall), but another team might be more willing to give up something of value for the higher draft choice and accompanying slot value that makes it worthwhile for Detroit to lose the third-rounder."

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2026/02/tigers-framber-valdez-agree-to-three-year-deal.html