2026 DETROIT TIGERS REGULAR SEASON THREAD

[chasfh]

Yeah, I know, this thread is a day early as it relates to our own lid-lifter, but there is an MLB game that counts in the standings later on tonight, so, let's go ahead and declare the 2026 Detroit Tigers regular season to be open.

Let's start off with something I know will thrill so many of the posters in this forum: a confirmation that the Tigers are the team that retained the most players from last season, in term of playing time, of any team in the majors, because razzafrazza Scott Harris something something.

 

[Tiger337]

Thanks for the reminder that the rest of us ingrates are not sufficiently reverent of Harris, but this is an interesting chart.  It's not too surprising that the Tigers have high percentages returning since there was not a lot of turnover.  I think the Tigers had a good off-season retaining their free agents and then finally making the big acquisition everyone has been waiting for with Valdez.  I am also pleased, although not surprised, that they are bring McGonigle north. The off-season went pretty much the way I hoped it would.  The only unexpected (Valdez) was a good one.     

[chasfh]

1 hour ago, Tiger337 said:

Thanks for the reminder that the rest of us ingrates are not sufficiently reverent of Harris

Well, show sufficient reverence for Harris and I’ll stop. 😉

[SoCalTiger]

One of the MLB Trade Rumor writers is picking the Tigers to win the World Series so I will make my first post on this tread with that !

And all of them have the Tigers winning the Central. 

"Go get em Tigers " 

[RatkoVarda]

the organization, writ large, is probably the best it has been in my lifetime.

realistically, reinforcements can come from Toledo or from a trade, and Harris should have a lot of assets for a deal.

they should win the Central, and once you are in the playoffs, then why not just win the World Series?

it's been 42 years!

[Tenacious D]

The team is young and came within an inning of the ALCS.  I wouldn’t expect much turnover, coupled with many legitimate prospects knocking on the door.

[gehringer_2]

1 hour ago, Tenacious D said:

The team is young and came within an inning of the ALCS.  I wouldn’t expect much turnover, coupled with many legitimate prospects knocking on the door.

The question remaining in my mind is whether they have the pitching depth to survive Verlander, Mize and Flaherty all failing to perform, an outcome that I think still has too high a probability to be happy.

[chasfh]

1 hour ago, Tenacious D said:

The team is young and came within an inning of the ALCS.  I wouldn’t expect much turnover, coupled with many legitimate prospects knocking on the door.

So, so many people demanded an impact RH bat, by trade or or free agent. We will see how that works out.

[chasfh]

Watching the annual predictions show on the MLB Network. Verducci has the Mariners over the Phillies in the Series. Al Leiter has Mariners over Dodgers. Brian Kenny has Dodgers over Mariners, although he said could be Yankees, could be Blue Jays, sure. No one as much breathed the word "Tigers" during the segment.

[HeyAbbott]

1 hour ago, chasfh said:

So, so many people demanded an impact RH bat, by trade or or free agent. We will see how that works out.

If Vierling is healthy this year, didn't we, in effect, get an impact RH bat?

[gehringer_2]

1 hour ago, HeyAbbott said:

If Vierling is healthy this year, didn't we, in effect, get an impact RH bat?

His best full season OPS+ has been 106. He should make them better agains LHP but 'impact' might be an optimistic take.

[Tiger337]

3 minutes ago, gehringer_2 said:

His best full season OPS+ has been 106. He should make them better agains LHP but 'impact' might be an optimistic take.

I would say average and average has value, but impact is typically used for someone better than average.  

[Motor City Sonics]

54 minutes ago, gehringer_2 said:

His best full season OPS+ has been 106. He should make them better agains LHP but 'impact' might be an optimistic take.

He's going to have a breakout year.    By the end of it you'll be saying "Parker Who?"

[casimir]

9 hours ago, chasfh said:

Yeah, I know, this thread is a day early as it relates to our own lid-lifter, but there is an MLB game that counts in the standings later on tonight, so, let's go ahead and declare the 2026 Detroit Tigers regular season to be open.

Let's start off with something I know will thrill so many of the posters in this forum: a confirmation that the Tigers are the team that retained the most players from last season, in term of playing time, of any team in the majors, because razzafrazza Scott Harris something something.

 

I don’t know why this is so mesmerizing, but it is.

[casimir]

7 hours ago, RatkoVarda said:

the organization, writ large, is probably the best it has been in my lifetime.

realistically, reinforcements can come from Toledo or from a trade, and Harris should have a lot of assets for a deal.

they should win the Central, and once you are in the playoffs, then why not just win the World Series?

it's been 42 years!

Yup, might as well win the World Series.