2025-2026 Tigers Off Season Thread

[casimir]

1 hour ago, tiger2022 said:

Why is anyone surprised he is going after Bassett?  

This is what Harris does.  He signs guys for short term contracts hoping they can play above their skill level and those guys are people like Bassett who can never get a long term contract.  If it works out, great.  If not, he goes the way of Charlie Morten.  It might be how he wants to run the team or Ilitch might have given him orders not to spend money.  

I would prefer Harris finds a solid major league pitcher and minor league FA's so he can have starting pitchers at AAA who can come up and make 4 or 5 starts after Olson, Mize, and the others have their annual trip to the IL.  

 

Skubal, Flaherty, Mize, Olson, Bassitt, Melton.

Am I missing any SP on the roster of major consequence?  Do we want to assume all 6 will be healthy on Opening Day?

I agree that Harris needs to fill up Toledo with quality SP as much as possible.  But that’s probably easier said than done via free agency.  They’re going to need to get lucky or make trades if they want to add SP to Toledo this season that might be valuable rotation options for Detroit in 2027.

[casimir]

Let’s do this.  What does the pitching staff look like right now?

SP:  Skubal, Flaherty, Mize, Olson (when available) are going to be in Detroit.  Melton probably?  Anderson possibly?

RP:  Vest, Finnegan, Jansen, Holton are going to be in Detroit.  Where do Melton and Anderson fall in?  Hanifee, Montero?  Brieske, Hunter, Horn?

Where do Gipson-Long, Jobe, or Madden fit in?  Likely on call in Toledo?

It’d be great to add in a Valdez or Suarez type, I have no problem with that.  But there’s room at the other end of the rotation, too.  And there’s room for another RP or two.  So, I have no problem with Bassitt or Giolito on shorter term deals.  Ideally they add a top of and bottom of rotation arm.

[Sports_Freak]

4 hours ago, Motor City Sonics said:

Someone try to help me understand last year's trade deadline and this offseason please. 

 

Is anyone ****ing awake with this organization? 

 

 

The Tigers acquired 4 pitchers right around the trade deadline. Rafael Montero, Charlie Morton, Kyle Finnegan, Chris Paddack. One of them did a good job (Finnegan) and was signed for 2026. 2 of then sucked and were released. And the other one is a free agent. 

There are a few prospects that our POBO is hanging his hat on to save any credibility in many fans eyes. He hasn't helped the Major League team with his trades or free agent signings. If these prospects don't pan out....well, I won't go there. These kids HAVE to make a big impact in the next couple of years.

[Stormin]

I don't understand the level of negativity around Flaherty and Mize.

Flaherty's 2024 was a strong year for a #2 starter. His 2025 era and w/l were not good, but his fip, k rate, and stuff were still good.  Fangraphs projects him at 2.6 war in 2026.

2025 was Mize's best year, he was an all star, and he was still recovering from surgery.  Fangraphs projects Mize at 2.3 war.

Suarez  and Valdez do not project much better than Flaherty or Mize, and neither has raw stuff as good as Flaherty. Either Suarez/Valdez will cost a lot and the Tigers could end up paying them into their late 30s.

Fangraphs currently projects the Tigers 2026 starting rotation as 3rd best in MLB.

Edited 11 hours ago by Stormin

[Tenacious D]

I still think Mize will be dealt this offseason. 

[Stormin]

2 minutes ago, Tenacious D said:

I still think Mize will be dealt this offseason. 

I wouldn't be surprised if both Flaherty and Mize both receive qualifying offers from the Tigers after the 2026 season.

[gehringer_2]

43 minutes ago, Stormin said:

I don't understand the level of negativity around Flaherty and Mize.

 

I'm fine with Casey. He'll compete almost every outing and give you an occasional really good outing. That's fine. I really like Olson's stuff. If he can stay on the field I think he would be their number 2, but that's a huge "IF". Flaherty is just too unpredictable for me to be comfortable with, and when he loses it he give up runs so fast it's tough for a manager to react fast enough. Tigers would like to believe Anderson has turned a major corner and is now MLB ready. Hard to prove that until we we him against MLB bats. Melton hasn't pitched enough to prove anything either. So like a lot of years, plenty of potential, a big chunk unproven, and not necessarily great depth after the those 5 - whom you know will not all make it through the season unhurt.

[Motor City Sonics]

55 minutes ago, Stormin said:

I don't understand the level of negativity around Flaherty and Mize.

Flaherty's 2024 was a strong year for a #2 starter. His 2025 era and w/l were not good, but his fip, k rate, and stuff were still good.  Fangraphs projects him at 2.6 war in 2026.

2025 was Mize's best year, he was an all star, and he was still recovering from surgery.  Fangraphs projects Mize at 2.3 war.

Suarez  and Valdez do not project much better than Flaherty or Mize, and neither has raw stuff as good as Flaherty. Either Suarez/Valdez will cost a lot and the Tigers could end up paying them into their late 30s.

Fangraphs currently projects the Tigers 2026 starting rotation as 3rd best in MLB.

Flaherty had such a weird season.  He'd have games where he'd be dealing, looking great and then one inning would blow it up.  He'd stay in the game - and look great again.   Just a bizarre season.    

[casimir]

4 minutes ago, Motor City Sonics said:

Flaherty had such a weird season.  He'd have games where he'd be dealing, looking great and then one inning would blow it up.  He'd stay in the game - and look great again.   Just a bizarre season.    

Maybe 2024 was his weird season?

[Motor City Sonics]

1 hour ago, casimir said:

I don’t know.  Personally I like the chances of Bassitt going a full season over Mize or Olson.  I’ll be proven otherwise when I get proven otherwise.

Additionally, I think I probably like the odds of Bassitt pitching deeper into a game than 5 innings Flaherty.  Those innings off of the bullpen can add up over the course of a season.

Acquiring Bassitt or Giolito solidifies the rotation in 2026 and takes pressure off of expecting a guy like Melton to go the full length of the season as a SP.  He’s probably ready to push to 150 IP himself.  They’ll use up as many IP from Flaherty and Mize as they can before the next offseason.  But what about Olson or Anderson?  What is reasonably expected out of Gipson-Long or Montero?

I feel like they will baby Melton and hope that he doesn't end up getting TJ surgery, like every other pitcher (seemingly).   I just get the feeling the Gipson-Long is destined for the bullpen and Montero will always be that guy waiting around for a doubleheader or injury.   Drew Anderson is this year's Cobb.   Olso is a bit of a wild card.  Stay healthy please.   Beyond that I think we're kind of hoping for an Out-Of-Nowhere story like Melton again.     I just feel like they have to get an established starter to add.   Skubal-Flaherty-Mize-Olson-New Guy..........then use Melton in a 6-man rotation or spot start with regular relief intervals.     Are you guys believing that Jobe will pitch in 2026, toward the end of the season, even if it's only to shake off the rust and start 2027 (when or if it starts) 100 %.    I am getting the sense that the whole TJ recovery process is getting shorter now.  

Edited 11 hours ago by Motor City Sonics

[Tiger337]

I don't trust Olson to stay healthy.  I'm not even sure he's healthy now.  Anderson is going to be 32 and has never done anything in the Majors, so I'm not expecting a lot from him despite his big season in Korea.  Bassitt is old, but has consistently pitched 170+ solid innings per year.  He's not exciting, but I like his chances this year better than Anderson.

[casimir]

I kind of wonder if Olson might have a healthier career as a RP?  It’s probably lazy thinking, but maybe he’s just not going to be able to have a SP career.

[SoCalTiger]

IIRC Bassitt is also quite good out of the bullpen. Harris is probably trying to get him for one year with an option as Bassitt looks for two years.

[Tenacious D]

1 hour ago, Stormin said:

I wouldn't be surprised if both Flaherty and Mize both receive qualifying offers from the Tigers after the 2026 season.

I don’t see the Tigers paying Mize $22M for even one season.  They only let him go 3 innings in the playoffs—confidence doesn’t appear to be high. 

Once the free agent starters finally sign, I think Mize’s market will materialize.  The Mets and Padres are viable options.

[Tenacious D]

58 minutes ago, Motor City Sonics said:

Flaherty had such a weird season.  He'd have games where he'd be dealing, looking great and then one inning would blow it up.  He'd stay in the game - and look great again.   Just a bizarre season.    

He’d make a great reliever. Seemed to struggle after the first time through the lineup.

 

[chasfh]

I like Bassitt. He posts up and looks like he still has something left in the tank. Giolito might be the backup plan if Bassitt doesn't came aboard. Our rotation is in pretty decent shape without either of them.

[chasfh]

1 hour ago, Tenacious D said:

I still think Mize will be dealt this offseason. 

I don't. We wouldn't get much for him, and he would do more good for us in our rotation than whatever we get back would anywhere else for us—unless Harris pulls a rabbit out of his hat, and I don't think anyone here thinks he would on a Mize trade.

[RatkoVarda]

2026 Tigers are better with Giolito or Bassitt than without, so I am all in on either

[Tenacious D]

20 minutes ago, RatkoVarda said:

2026 Tigers are better with Giolito or Bassitt than without, so I am all in on either

Agree.  Would prefer Valdez or Suarez, of course, but Bassit or Giolito would make the team better.

[Tenacious D]

36 minutes ago, chasfh said:

I don't. We wouldn't get much for him, and he would do more good for us in our rotation than whatever we get back would anywhere else for us—unless Harris pulls a rabbit out of his hat, and I don't think anyone here thinks he would on a Mize trade.

Not sure that’s true,  Had a good season and only making $6M.  A cash strapped team like the Padres should be interested.  The Mets would likely surrender Vientos for him. A cost-effective way to get 160-170 quality innings.

[Motor City Sonics]

1 hour ago, casimir said:

I kind of wonder if Olson might have a healthier career as a RP?  It’s probably lazy thinking, but maybe he’s just not going to be able to have a SP career.

I'm started to wonder if we are headed to an era where teams have 2 or 3 SP and the rest is pitching chaos as the norm, possibly with expanded pitching rosters that carry 15.    Might be something discussed in the CBA a year from now.  

[Motor City Sonics]

1 hour ago, Tenacious D said:

He’d make a great reliever. Seemed to struggle after the first time through the lineup.

 

But then he'd come back the third time through the lineup and be fine.   It's almost like "Hey Jack, go play LF this inning and we'll put you back on the mound after that". 

With Karate I'll kick your arse

Edited 9 hours ago by Motor City Sonics

[Stormin]

1 hour ago, Tenacious D said:

I don’t see the Tigers paying Mize $22M for even one season.  They only let him go 3 innings in the playoffs—confidence doesn’t appear to be high. 

It is difficult to find a SP who can pitch the type of innings Mize and Flaherty pitched for much less than 22M on a one year deal - the Tigers love short term FA contracts.  SP will likely be a greater need for the Tigers prior to 2027.

[chasfh]

37 minutes ago, Tenacious D said:

Not sure that’s true,  Had a good season and only making $6M.  A cash strapped team like the Padres should be interested.  The Mets would likely surrender Vientos for him. A cost-effective way to get 160-170 quality innings.

I don't know, I don't think a back-of-the-rotation pitcher controllable for only one more year would get us much more than a team's #10-#20 prospect as the headliner in a volume return. Is that OK with you?

[Tenacious D]

52 minutes ago, chasfh said:

I don't know, I don't think a back-of-the-rotation pitcher controllable for only one more year would get us much more than a team's #10-#20 prospect as the headliner in a volume return. Is that OK with you?

As is always the case, we don’t agree on your assessment.  He’s not a back half of the rotation starter (‘25 All Star).  He’d yield more than a Max Anderson-type, especially for a team trying to manage their budget.