2025-2026 Tigers Off Season Thread

[ToledoBrian]

6 minutes ago, theroundsquare said:

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I like the signing of Verlander now, as the 4th / 5th / double header starter, plus playoff experience.

[chasfh]

Justin Verlander is most definitely going into the Hall in a Tigers cap now!

[Edman85]

Old takes exposed my Verlander and Valdez takes please.

[chasfh]

Holy ****, blind Bowden found a nut!

https://www.nytimes.com/athletic/6719990/2025/10/27/mlb-free-agents-2025-contract-team-predictions/

39. Justin Verlander, RHP

Age: 42
2025 bWAR: 1.2
2025 team: San Francisco Giants
Agent: ISE Baseball

Verlander has made it clear he wants to pitch in his age-43 season, and the way he pitched down the stretch, the future Hall of Famer deserves one more shot at it. His best month of the season was September, when he made five starts for the Giants, posting a 2.08 ERA and allowing two earned runs or fewer in four of his five starts. He made 29 starts in total and threw 152 innings with a 3.85 ERA.

Salary comps: Clayton Kershaw 1-year, $7.5 million

Best team fits: Tigers (so he can retire as a Tiger), Giants

Contract prediction: 1-year, $12 million

[Hongbit]

Only good things happen from having Olson, Melton, Montero, and Jobe around JV everyday.   I still think he’s got something left in the tank to get major league hitters out.  

[Mr.TaterSalad]

What an offseason. In the matter of a week we all went from completely underwhelmed or downright upset to out of our minds excited. What an incredible offseason this has been in the matter of a week's time. First Framber Valdez and then the return of Detroit's favorite son Justin Verlander. Amazing! Great job Scott Harris. 

[ewsieg]

I mean, I'm not going to complain about Verlander finishing up here.  He showed he can still compete last year.  But does this hint that Olsen is hurt more than thought AND the Tigers are done with Jobe?  

Also, not trying to be greedy, but a right handed veteran bat still would be nice.

[chasfh]

Besides retiring as a Tiger, what makes this such a good signing in my view is that we already had arguably the best rotation in the league, so it's not as though this is a desperation signing hoping against hope he can save us. As things stand JV probably won't even make the rotation out of camp, but he could certainly fill the Rafael Montero role when we need a sixth starter. Chances are he will not be much better than league average, but man, wouldn't a league average sixth guy be a great thing to have in our back pocket when we need him.

The other thing that makes it so great is that this is a signing for the fans. Not only for the fans—we will expect a positive contribution out of him, as he will out of himself—but this signing is practically Chris Ilitch and Scott Harris sending us a Valentine.

That Park is gonna be rocking right out of the gate. April in the mother****in' D, bitches! 😃

Edited 14 hours ago by chasfh

[lordstanley]

10 minutes ago, ewsieg said:

But does this hint that Olsen is hurt more than thought AND the Tigers are done with Jobe?  

 

The former maybe, but surely not the latter? Or do you just mean writing off Jobe for ‘26?

[tiger2022]

13 million.  Yikes.  That's a lot for a guy who will be hurt half the season and get shelled in half the games he pitches in. Might as well have brought back Paddack and Morton

And they lowballed Skubal at 19 million.

Edited 14 hours ago by tiger2022

[Tenacious D]

This might just be Reese insurance, but wonder if a trade is forthcoming for another bat?

Mize for ?

[tiger2022]

They aren't going to get much for one year of Mize.

[GalagaGuy]

JV was good the final two months of the season so hopefully that carries over.  His first start at Comerica is going to be huge, right up there with the hype usually reserved for opening day and playoff games.  

[romad1]

Just now, GalagaGuy said:

JV was good the final two months of the season so hopefully that carries over.  His first start at Comerica is going to be huge, right up there with the hype usually reserved for opening day and playoff games.  

Now go get JD Martinez to hit a HR off Chris Sale. 

[CaliforniaDreaming]

I'm guessing this is his farewell tour...all of his home starts will be sellouts...the Tigers more than recoup their $13 million.

 

[alex]

4 minutes ago, tiger2022 said:

They aren't going to get much for one year of Mize.

I like the JV signing (andof course Framber). I do not think they should trade Mize at all - however, they could do so for a 'one' year bat.

[papalawrence]

2025 3.85 era and fip. And it brings home JV. Icing on the SP rotation cake and I dig it!

Edited 14 hours ago by papalawrence

[Edman85]

Still don't know CBT number for Verlander or Valdez until we know the deferral schedule.

[tiger2022]

I'm hoping they can sign Tom Brookens and Johnny Grubb for the upcoming season.  Those guys never got their retirement tour.

Edited 14 hours ago by tiger2022

[Tigermojo]

Offseason 

 

[papalawrence]

4 minutes ago, tiger2022 said:

I'm hoping they can sign Tom Brookens and Johnny Grubb for the upcoming season.  Those guys never got their retirement tour.

Johnny Grubb, the sweetest swing in baseball

[lordstanley]

 

[Motor City Sonics]

I am in the camp of Olson, maybe not being hurt still, but the team believing that he's not durable enough for a full season and also that they really are going to monitor Melton's innings.    I kind of have mixed feelings on Melton.   Because if the issue is that they think he's going to need TJ surgery (a rite of passage for MLB pitchers now), to just go ahead and get it done now and maybe he's ready to be tip top in 2028, when baseball returns after the lost year in 2027.    Verlander is insurance for that.   I am sure they told him that he's not promised one of the five slots.  Or maybe - just maybe - the Tigers are going to a 6-man rotation at some point.  

I didn't expect this.  I actually did last year.    I guess he's pretty stoked about this.    A return to the Halcyon days of his prime.   Let's win this all and if Skubal walks, who cares? 

Edited 14 hours ago by Motor City Sonics

[kdog]

 

[Motor City Sonics]

1 minute ago, kdog said:

 

Without looking it up - what was his UNI number that day?