2026 DETROIT TIGERS REGULAR SEASON THREAD

[Edman85]

Assuming they get healthy and can get some guys back on minor league splits and get under the tax, in addition to the immense prospect cost I am seeing proposed here, you are also giving the competitive balance draft pick in 2027 as well as moving the comp pick for Skubal (and maybe one for Mize... and doubtful but possibly one for Flaherty) from after the first round to after the fourth. You are also losing the pool money allowing you to spread that money through what many are calling one of the strongest draft classes.

[gehringer_2]

3 hours ago, casimir said:

I’m not against dealing guys, but that sort of deal creates holes now and takes away the best CF option for the future.  I’m not sure they have much else in terms of CF prospects.  I’d like to see the Tigers build up their prospect base via up the middle guys that can move to corners as they age in the majors.

If they had better options to bring up and take some spots on the major league roster, it’s a different story.  If Clark were closer, and/or Perez  & Jung were better, and/or Lee were a but further along, and Meadows hadn’t flamed out, then I think Alvarez as an addition to put the lineup over the top is a more reasonable move.

 The org is too short of starting pitching to think about including Jobe in a trade for a position player.

[diaspora04]

On 5/1/2026 at 9:37 AM, CMRivdogs said:

Washington and Baltimore share a large portion of Virginia and I think parts of North Carolina as their "Broadcast Market". I can't find a good map to show the territory, but Mama Googles says the teams share DC, Maryland,Virginia, Delaware, Central and Eastern North Carolina, South Central Pennsylvania (surprising because you'd think there would be a dividing line between Pittsburgh and Philadelphia) and West Virginia.  

The Nationals joined the MLB.com group this year so I'm not sure this still holds. They and Baltimore shared MSN as provider for their games

Most of South Central PA is closer to Baltimore than Philly, and the Orioles seem as popular as the Phillies there.

[gehringer_2]

Freep report says MRI on Vest showed no damage. Still when a guy goes the DL with pitching forearm issues, you can't help but brace for the worst.

[NorthWoods]

 

[NorthWoods]

Better be on the phone to Tyler Anderson or Frankie Montas if they're still out there.

Edited 19 hours ago by NorthWoods

[Sports_Freak]

I was optimistic before reading this but even more so now. Tarik is a bulldog. He'll be back very quickly;

 

[casimir]

20 minutes ago, Sports_Freak said:

I was optimistic before reading this but even more so now. Tarik is a bulldog. He'll be back very quickly;

 

I'm no expert on anything, but I have thought that the way pitching has been going, max effort on nearly every pitch, cannot be good for the human body.

[Tiger337]

1 hour ago, Sports_Freak said:

I was optimistic before reading this but even more so now. Tarik is a bulldog. He'll be back very quickly;

 

A pitcher trying to bulldog his way back from an elbow injury asking for big trouble. 

Curt Schilling? Maybe, Skubal can put ketchup on his sock when he gets back.   😀

Edited 4 hours ago by Tiger337

[Sports_Freak]

24 minutes ago, Tiger337 said:

A pitcher trying to bulldog his way back from an elbow injury asking for big trouble. 

Curt Schilling? Maybe, Skubal can put ketchup on his sock when he gets back.   😀

Still, it wouldnt surprise me one bit if he was back in 3 weeks or so. Whatever Schilling want thru is meaningless, IMO. I'm not expert but it seems like every case would be different. With millions of dollars on the line, Skubal needs to be as close to 100% before competing again. Again, just an opinion.

[Sports_Freak]

15 hours ago, NorthWoods said:

Better be on the phone to Tyler Anderson or Frankie Montas if they're still out there.

It's time for Harris to swing a trade for a quality SP, or two. I've seen enough of these AAA arms, they're literally costing up games.

[4hzglory]

14 minutes ago, Sports_Freak said:

It's time for Harris to swing a trade for a quality SP, or two. I've seen enough of these AAA arms, they're literally costing up games.

We don't have the $ in CBT Tax space to do it.  As @Edman85 has said any more $ without trading away $ will drop the comp pick for Skubal to a 4th rounder (same potentially for Mize) and cost us our competitive balance pick. They aren't taking on any extra $ this year.  Every $ in is going to have to have $ going back out with means players on the 40 man.

[Tiger337]

18 minutes ago, Sports_Freak said:

Still, it wouldnt surprise me one bit if he was back in 3 weeks or so. Whatever Schilling want thru is meaningless, IMO. I'm not expert but it seems like every case would be different. With millions of dollars on the line, Skubal needs to be as close to 100% before competing again. Again, just an opinion.

Yes, every case is different and it's impossible for us to make a timeline.  I am just always pessimistic about pitching injuries.  If something can go wrong, it will.  

[gehringer_2]

12 minutes ago, Tiger337 said:

Yes, every case is different and it's impossible for us to make a timeline.  I am just always pessimistic about pitching injuries.  If something can go wrong, it will.  

If they manage to hang on and get to the playoffs this season after these pitching losses it should go down as one of the most unlikely seasons ever. The starting staff that won 87 games last season has now had injuries to Jobe, Skubal, Mize, Olson and a potential starter in Melton while adding Valdez and Verlander, with the latter being a non-factor. To that add that Flaherty has been bad. Valdez was a great add but it's still +1 against -5, which isn't good math.

[casimir]

42 minutes ago, Sports_Freak said:

It's time for Harris to swing a trade for a quality SP, or two. I've seen enough of these AAA arms, they're literally costing up games.

Or maybe Flaherty starts pitching rather than throwing?

[gehringer_2]

37 minutes ago, casimir said:

Or maybe Flaherty starts pitching rather than throwing?

You look at Flaherty's pitch charts and not much jumps out, velo and break on his pitches are all similar to last season, but the pitch value of his FB is way down. The only thing I noticed is that he is throwing the curve less, probably because he's landing it for strikes less, which I suppose reduces the amount of change of speed that batters are seeing. It is the only pitch he throws that gets him to a 10mph delta from his FB. Without good change of speed life is gonna be harder.

Edited 2 hours ago by gehringer_2

[oldeenglishd]

I've been surprised at how lackluster the Royals have been this year, so far.  Cleveland is being Cleveland, but no one is running away with this division.  If we stay near .500 and get a few of Mize, Melton, Verlander and Skubal back to competitive+ form by August 1, we should be in a good position to win the division.

At least that's what I hope . . . we'll see.

[Tenacious D]

2 hours ago, Sports_Freak said:

It's time for Harris to swing a trade for a quality SP, or two. I've seen enough of these AAA arms, they're literally costing up games.

Holton/Madden literally put together 6 innings comparable to what Skubal would have yesterday. Montero has been consistently effective.

I agree as it applies to the pen, but the only weak link in the rotation has been Flaherty.

[Tenacious D]

Too soon?

 

[oblong]

Posted this in the minor league thread too... Gabe Alvarez fired in Toledo for violating club policy

[Sports_Freak]

1 hour ago, gehringer_2 said:

You look at Flaherty's pitch charts and not much jumps out, velo and break on his pitches are all similar to last season, but the pitch value of his FB is way down. The only thing I noticed is that he is throwing the curve less, probably because he's landing it for strikes less, which I suppose reduces the amount of change of speed that batters are seeing. It is the only pitch he throws that gets him to a 10mph delta from his FB. Without good change of speed life is gonna be harder.

Falling behind hitters forces him to groove fastball and hitters are mostly squaring him up. You're correct, his curve isn't landing for strikes. That makes him very hittable.

[Sports_Freak]

29 minutes ago, Tenacious D said:

Holton/Madden literally put together 6 innings comparable to what Skubal would have yesterday. Montero has been consistently effective.

I agree as it applies to the pen, but the only weak link in the rotation has been Flaherty.

The last few losses are all from AAA arms that Hinch is forced to use. During Sunday's game, Jason mentioned the heavy use of the BP meant Skubal would have to go deep in his start. And yes, Madden did a fine job but it was the next AAA pitchers who lost the game for us. Hinch really is limited with what he can do. Young pitchers who are inconsistent will drive managers (and fans) crazy.

[Tenacious D]

25 minutes ago, Sports_Freak said:

The last few losses are all from AAA arms that Hinch is forced to use. During Sunday's game, Jason mentioned the heavy use of the BP meant Skubal would have to go deep in his start. And yes, Madden did a fine job but it was the next AAA pitchers who lost the game for us. Hinch really is limited with what he can do. Young pitchers who are inconsistent will drive managers (and fans) crazy.

Agree that the “dumpster diving” arms in the pen aren’t working—was reacting to your comment about the starters.