2026 DETROIT TIGERS REGULAR SEASON THREAD

[casimir]

1 minute ago, Tenacious D said:

Not unless we get Trey Sweeney back.

Who?

[casimir]

41 minutes ago, chasfh said:

They dug out of a similar hole in August 2024.

Would you count on a repeat performance?  

[gehringer_2]

3 minutes ago, casimir said:

Would you count on a repeat performance?  

But we'd need to have a different cast of bad players having their one good year - it's too much to ask for multiple bad players to have multiple good years, if they could they wouldn't be bad players.

[lordstanley]

2 hours ago, chasfh said:

They dug out of a similar hole in August 2024.

And another team in this very same division came from 15 games back last season. Too bad the '26 Tigers aren't chasing the late '25 Tigers. 

[SoCalTiger]

2 hours ago, Tenacious D said:

Let’s agree this was a pretty flawed team even before the onslaught of injuries.  Those only made things worse.  The team’s record over the last 100 games or so, going back to last season is one of the 3 worst.

Player development at both the major and minor league levels has taken a setback.  Colt Keith is a prime example.  The kid is huge and a good contact hitter, with zero homers through 1/3 of the season. That’s hard to accomplish and probably something mechanical.

Our minors are a mess, too.  A handful of healthy, promising pitchers and many positional players who have regressed (though many have moved up a rung so could be adjustment periods).

Here’s our organizational team records through 5/29: 
 

 

Good summation of the season so far. Focus should be on development going forward even at the major league level and even at the cost of wins. The season is burnt toast..time to scape off the burn, add some butter and jam and make the best of it.

[chasfh]

My guess is that the first step to change will be at least a mini-overhaul of development and coaching staff at more than one level. I would also think training staff will experience some turnover as they identify some shortcomings in the process of keeping guys from getting hurt and going on the list.

[monkeytargets39]

5 hours ago, chasfh said:

My guess is that the first step to change will be at least a mini-overhaul of development and coaching staff at more than one level. I would also think training staff will experience some turnover as they identify some shortcomings in the process of keeping guys from getting hurt and going on the list.

I think the move, at least in the pitching side, is getting away from starters altogether.  Too much money being spent on starters who miss significant time and whose absence ends up being a major burden to the organization.

[Tiger337]

9 minutes ago, monkeytargets39 said:

I think the move, at least in the pitching side, is getting away from starters altogether.  Too much money being spent on starters who miss significant time and whose absence ends up being a major burden to the organization.

What do mean getting away from starters altogether?  

[buddha]

The tigers have been very unlucky with injuries and bullpen implosions.  i suspect that will change in the second half of the season and give them a chance if skubal comes back and they dont trade him.

then again, im sure harris is out scouting 40 year old 5th starters who have great "underlying numbers" and will turn the tide once they get to detroit...

[monkeytargets39]

8 minutes ago, Tiger337 said:

What do mean getting away from starters altogether?  

Going to a 13 man pitching roster that is used fluidly and without defined roles.  Essentially, mass pitching chaos.  

[Tiger337]

21 minutes ago, monkeytargets39 said:

Going to a 13 man pitching roster that is used fluidly and without defined roles.  Essentially, mass pitching chaos.  

That sounds pretty extreme.  How about three regular starters and two bullpen games? The 3-3-3 rotation.  3 regular starters and 2 games where 3 pitchers pitch 3 innings apiece.  That leaves 4 full-time bullpen guys and the 6 3-inning starters can also pitch in relief in another game.   

[Tiger337]

31 minutes ago, buddha said:

The tigers have been very unlucky with injuries and bullpen implosions.  i suspect that will change in the second half of the season and give them a chance if skubal comes back and they dont trade him.

 

They were 18-17 before the injuries piled up and they can get back to being that kind of team.  However, I think they have fallen so far that it's going to be really hard to recover.  

[gehringer_2]

33 minutes ago, Tiger337 said:

They were 18-17 before the injuries piled up and they can get back to being that kind of team.  However, I think they have fallen so far that it's going to be really hard to recover.  

Torres and Carpenter both played for the Hens tonight - Carpenter a walk in 2 PA, Torres 0-4. Sounds like we can't count on Javy for a long time yet. But with the BP a mess and Mize questionable Torres and Carpenter are not enough. If Mize doesn't come off the 15 on time and stay off it the rest of the way (neither seems likely)  I don't see them having any chance to catch up.

Edited Sunday at 04:16 AM by gehringer_2

[chasfh]

10 hours ago, Tiger337 said:

That sounds pretty extreme.  How about three regular starters and two bullpen games? The 3-3-3 rotation.  3 regular starters and 2 games where 3 pitchers pitch 3 innings apiece.  That leaves 4 full-time bullpen guys and the 6 3-inning starters can also pitch in relief in another game.   

Well, we have Framber and Keider now, Flaherty to eat innings, and Melton stepping into rotation. That’s four. Skubal is said to be back soon, and if you believe that, that’s five. If we get lucky and get Casey back within a month, that’ll be six. Then we can have Flaherty come to Jesus.

I know everyone thinks it’s certain everyone gets traded at the deadline, but if not, that’s what we have.

[gehringer_2]

2 hours ago, chasfh said:

Well, we have Framber and Keider now, Flaherty to eat innings, and Melton stepping into rotation. That’s four. Skubal is said to be back soon, and if you believe that, that’s five. If we get lucky and get Casey back within a month, that’ll be six. Then we can have Flaherty come to Jesus.

I know everyone thinks it’s certain everyone gets traded at the deadline, but if not, that’s what we have.

Loving Casey as a pitcher, at wits end with him as an athlete.

[gehringer_2]

Wenceel goes 80 PA without a HR, hits 3 in his next twenty. You knew he'd start playing better once the need to play him looked like it would decrease.

[monkeytargets39]

21 minutes ago, gehringer_2 said:

Wenceel goes 80 PA without a HR, hits 3 in his next twenty. You knew he'd start playing better once the need to play him looked like it would decrease.

It still needs to decrease.  A lot.

[Sports_Freak]

3 hours ago, chasfh said:

Well, we have Framber and Keider now, Flaherty to eat innings, and Melton stepping into rotation. That’s four. Skubal is said to be back soon, and if you believe that, that’s five. If we get lucky and get Casey back within a month, that’ll be six. Then we can have Flaherty come to Jesus.

I know everyone thinks it’s certain everyone gets traded at the deadline, but if not, that’s what we have.

Jobe may be back in August and JV will get some starts. Justification for trading Skubal and Mize. .if Harris were to buy a book...

[chasfh]

Anyone thinking that McGonigle might be regretting his decision? 😉 

[SoCalTiger]

6 hours ago, chasfh said:

Anyone thinking that McGonigle might be regretting his decision? 😉 

I think he's up for the challenge and happy to have 150 million.

[Tenacious D]

10 hours ago, chasfh said:

Anyone thinking that McGonigle might be regretting his decision? 😉 

With the right moves, this team can be good again soon.  I suspect both Skubal and Mize will be dealt this deadline and we should get some good players in return.  We also will clear a ton of salary this offseason (Skoobs (regrettably), Flaherty, Jansen, Verlander and Torres). The rotation will include Valdez, Montero, Melton, Jobe and some combination of pitcher(s) we get in trade return, Reese and a free agent or two.

McGonigle, Keith, Greene and Dingler will be back.  Hopefully the Max’s will be ready. I can see a free agent or trade upgrade at 1B and/or RF.

The pen is a mess—can really only count on Vest at this point, but Holton and Finnegan will likely be back, too.

There is a foundation, but Harris is going to have to be more aggressive than he has previously been to acquire impact players.

Edited yesterday at 03:40 AM by Tenacious D

[Tigeraholic1]

 

 

[kdog]

By design, this team has no bad contracts and should be flexible for all kinds of deals. Let's see if the gm who hasn't made a meaningful baseball trade can pivot into a soft rebuild.

[Shelton]

I don’t think Mize will be traded. For one thing, putting him on the market alongside Skubal gives people a backup option to trade a mid tier package for a decent SP rather than pay up for Tarik. 
 

But that’s minor. The larger aspect is that I don’t think the potential return is going to be much higher than the comp pick, and I do think Mize is right in that sweet spot where he accept a QO and we would be happy if he did. And if he didn’t, I think he’s good enough to get the FA deal needed to net the good draft pick. 
 

That said, if a team out there wants to trade a top 50 prospect for him, then he’s gone. But I don’t see it. 

[RatkoVarda]

we don't know what Harris is thinking; but keeping Skubal and Mize, and losing them after making a QO, sets the Tigers up for maybe 6 of the top 40 picks in the 2027 draft. that means we are looking at another shiny plaque from Baseball America for having the best farm system in 2029.