Detroit, MI

Where the Detroit Tigers stand heading into the Winter Meetings

Published

1 year ago

December 6, 2024

Where the Detroit Tigers stand heading into the Winter Meetings

DETROIT — Two months after the excitement and noise of the Detroit Tigers’ surprise playoff run, their offseason has been … incredibly quiet.

Such can be the nature of MLB offseasons, particularly in a year when much of the market is in a holding pattern waiting for Juan Soto to sign and other dominoes to begin their tumble.

One thing that’s clear: Rather than pressing down the accelerator, the Tigers front office appears set on remaining patient and opportunistic in constructing its 2025 roster.

But all this does not mean the team won’t make additions before the start of spring training. The Tigers enter next week’s Winter Meetings in Dallas with two key questions coming into focus: How close are they to adding a starting pitcher? And what route will they take to add needed offensive impact?

The pitching market

Here, we have movement across the league. Blake Snell signed with the Los Angeles Dodgers for five years and $182 million. The Los Angeles Angels signed Yusei Kikuchi for three years and $63 million. The New York Mets signed Frankie Montas for two years and $34 million. Old friend Matthew Boyd signed with the Chicago Cubs for two years and $29 million. Just Thursday, the Athletics agreed to terms with Luis Severino for three years and $67 million.

The Tigers are thought to again be seeking at least one starting pitcher on a one- or two-year contract. Although Max Fried and Corbin Burnes remain factors atop the market, more pitchers could begin signing rapidly over the coming days.

After a rough outing in the NLDS, Walker Buehler pitched a combined 10 scoreless innings in the NLCS and World Series. (Harry How / Getty Images)

Detroit’s most interesting options here include Walker Buehler, Michael Soroka and Andrew Heaney, among others. The Tigers might be turned off by the qualifying offers attached to others such as Nick Pivetta and Sean Manaea. Regardless, expect the Tigers to seek another high-upside arm they believe they can optimize like they did with Michael Lorenzen and Jack Flaherty over the past two seasons.

Buehler, a two-time All-Star who slumped to a 5.38 ERA last season, could be the white whale. But can the Tigers get him on a short-term deal? These are the sort of existential questions hanging around the franchise. Despite an estimated $77.6 million on the team’s books, there is little indication the Tigers are preparing to spend like anything more than, at best, a mid-market team.

The hunt for a third baseman?

For as thrilling as their fall postseason run was, the Tigers still have a long way to go. Consider the fact they ranked 29th, above only the dreadful Chicago White Sox, with a .300 team on-base percentage last season.

There is merit to Scott Harris’ previous comments about most of the Tigers’ improvements needing to come from internal development. But it would be a disservice to fans and existing players if the team does not make a meaningful attempt to bolster its lineup.

Harris has previously stated an interest in adding a right-handed bat, either an infielder or outfielder. First and third base look like the most natural fits, and the Tigers are thought to have been looking deeper at their options in recent days.

At third base, some of the options are appealing. What remains murky is whether the Tigers have any desire to compete at the top end of the market, where Alex Bregman looms as perhaps the most perfect match. Of course, courting Bregman’s services could require outbidding the likes of the incumbent Houston Astros, the New York Yankees and perhaps other teams that miss out on Soto.

If Bregman is not a realistic option, where else might the Tigers’ attention turn? There have been rumblings about an interest in Ha-Seong Kim, the San Diego Padres infielder who underwent labrum surgery in October and is expected to miss the early portion of the season. If Kim seeks a one-year pillow deal, he could be a highly interesting option. There’s also smoke surrounding Nolan Arenado, whom the St. Louis Cardinals are actively trying to trade. Arenado seems alluring and risky. The 33-year-old is an eight-time All-Star and 10-time Gold Glove winner who has dealt with minor injuries and hints of regression over the past two seasons. Arenado is due $74 million over the next three seasons, but even in a down year, he was worth 3.1 fWAR in 2024.

For Arenado to become a Tiger, he would first have to waive his no-trade clause, which could be far from a given since the Tigers would also have to believe he could overcome the lurking signs of decline: Arenado’s bat speed ranked in MLB’s 28th percentile last season. His average exit velocity was only 86.3 mph, ranking in the eighth percentile. Although he still hit .295 against fastballs, his 31.6 percent hard-hit rate was the lowest of his career. Arenado has crushed lefties for much of his career, but he has had reverse splits over the past two years, including only a .646 OPS against left-handed pitching last season, something that very much runs counter to the Tigers’ specific desire for a right-handed bat. Detroit had a team OPS of only .660 against left-handed pitching in 2024.

If the Tigers still seek a corner infielder, the Miami Marlins’ Jake Burger is another player to watch. The high-power, low-contact third baseman could add thump to the Tigers lineup but was worth only 1.4 fWAR last season.

Detroit could just as easily pursue a first baseman. Christian Walker could be the best free-agent fit. Carlos Santana or Justin Turner might be cheaper alternatives. And Yandy Díaz also exists as a potential trade target.

Even if Soto signs with a team in the coming days, the hitting market might play out slower as big names such as Bregman and Pete Alonso seek lucrative deals of their own.

But as the Tigers increase conversations with agents and opposing executives at the Winter Meetings, we might leave Dallas with a clearer picture of the team’s plans.

(Top photo of Scott Harris, A.J. Hinch and Jeff Greenberg: Junfu Han / Imagn Images)

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Detroit, MI

Vigil, protest held for Renee Nicole Good at Detroit’s Clark park

Published

1 hour ago

January 9, 2026

Press Room

Vigil, protest held for Renee Nicole Good at Detroit’s Clark park

The name Renee Nicole Good bounced off the buildings of southwest Detroit as hundreds marched on the evening of Friday, Jan. 9, following Good’s fatal shooting by an immigration agent in Minneapolis earlier in the week.

A candlelight vigil was held at 6 p.m. at the city’s Clark Park in memory of Good, before attendees took off marching down Vernor Highway.

As of 7:30 p.m., the mass crowd had reached Cavalry Street, about half a mile away from the park, and turned, yelling “What do we want? Justice ” and calling for ICE’s ousting from communities.

Good, 37, was in her car when she was shot in the head on Wednesday, Jan.7, by a federal immigration officer in south Minneapolis. She leaves behind three children, ages 6, 12 and 15.

The shooting was recorded by witnesses and heightened political and community tensions over federal immigration enforcement as part of President Donald Trump’s nationwide immigration operations. The Trump administration has since said the shooting was done in self-defense, USA TODAY reports.

Protests have occurred in cities across the U.S. since Good’s death, including gatherings in Michigan, and additional demonstrations are scheduled throughout the weekend.

This is a developing story.

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Detroit, MI

Debating Mike McDaniel’s fit for Detroit Lions OC job

Published

13 hours ago

January 9, 2026

Press Room

Debating Mike McDaniel’s fit for Detroit Lions OC job

But we also can’t ignore the drastic fall-off from the Dolphins’ offense. Partially because of injuries to Tua Tagovailoa and Tyreek Hill over the past two seasons, the Dolphins have finished 22nd and 25th in scoring offense in 2024 and 2025, respectively. Injuries can be used as an excuse, but the greatest coordinators find a way through the adversity.

Beyond that, there are questions about his philosophical and schematic fit. While the Lions have built their offenses on grit and physicality, McDaniel seems to favor speed and finesse. But maybe that’s exactly what the Lions need. Detroit has two speedy players in Jameson Williams and Jahmyr Gibbs, who could probably be utilized more creatively, and it’s hard to imagine anyone better than McDaniel to do so.

McDaniel also has a very long coaching history with a lot of different coaching influences and schemes—including his closest coaching guru: Kyle Shanahan. The 49ers head coach has a scheme that is both more congruent with what the Lions do and much more adaptable.

On this EMERGENCY PODCAST, our crew debates the fit of McDaniel in Detroit, along with our thoughts on the Lions’ other known candidate: Commanders quarterbacks coach David Blough.

Before that, Erik Schlitt, Ryan Mathews, and I discuss our biggest takeaways from Lions general manager Brad Holmes’ end-of-season press conference, including the future of David Montgomery, whether Holmes really took accountability for his mistakes, and our confidence in him moving forward.

You can catch our discussion in the embedded podcast below or on any podcasting platform you’d prefer. Just search “Pride of Detroit.”

You can also catch video of the show over on our YouTube pages. Here are the links:

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Detroit, MI

Tarik Skubal, Tigers can’t agree on 2026 salary. Here’s what happens

Published

1 day ago

January 8, 2026

Press Room

Tarik Skubal, Tigers can’t agree on 2026 salary. Here’s what happens

The Detroit Tigers and left-hander Tarik Skubal did not agree to terms on a one-year contract for the 2026 season before the 8 p.m. deadline Thursday, Jan. 8, to exchange salary figures in the arbitration process.

Skubal filed at $32 million; the Tigers filed at $19 million.

It’s a difference of $13 million.

An arbitration panel will review the case during a hearing scheduled for late January or early to mid-February. The arbitrators must determine whether Skubal is worth more or less than the $25.5 million midpoint. If he’s worth more, they will select his $32 million proposal; if less, they will select the Tigers’ $19 million proposal. The panel isn’t allowed to choose a salary in between $19 million and $32 million.

The Tigers operate as a file-and-trial club in salary arbitration under president of baseball operations Scott Harris, meaning there won’t be further negotiations with Skubal regarding a one-year contract. A multi-year contract could still be negotiated, but it’s highly unlikely.

Skubal – represented by agent Scott Boras – reaches free agency after the 2026 season. The 29-year-old is positioned to become the first pitcher in MLB history to receive a $400 million contract.

If the two sides were to reach an agreement before a hearing, it would likely be a one-year contract with a player option, thus maintaining Skubal’s path to free agency in the 2026-27 offseason.

The reigning back-to-back American League Cy Young winner was projected by MLB Trade Rumors to receive $17.8 million in his third and final year of salary arbitration. He previously earned $2.65 million in 2024, then $10.15 million in 2025.

Why couldn’t the Tigers and Skubal agree on a salary for 2026?

The arbitration case for Skubal is unusually complex, thanks to a rarely used provision highlighted by ESPN’s Jeff Passan. Because Skubal has more than five years of MLB service time, he isn’t limited to comparing himself only to past arbitration-eligible players. Instead, he can compare himself to any player in baseball.

Those unique rights allow Skubal – who has five years, 114 days of service time – to point to MLB’s highest-paid pitchers (such as Max Scherzer’s $43.3 million per year from 2022-24 or Zack Wheeler’s $42 million per year from 2025-27), arguing that his elite performance warrants a salary in that range – not in the $17.8 million range, as projected by MLB Trade Rumors.

That’s what pushed the Tigers and Skubal to an arbitration hearing.

[ MUST LISTEN: Make “Days of Roar” your go-to Tigers podcast, available anywhere you listen to podcasts (Apple, Spotify) ]

The current record for the largest one-year arbitration contract belongs to outfielder Juan Soto, who agreed to $31 million with the New York Yankees for the 2024 season.

If Skubal wins the arbitration hearing, he will surpass Soto and claim the new record with his proposed $32 million salary. If Skubal loses, then he will earn the $19 million salary proposed by the Tigers.

There are two other arbitration records on the line.

The highest-paid arbitration-eligible pitcher belongs to right-hander David Price, who earned $19.75 million with the Tigers in 2015 – his fourth year in the arbitration process as a Super Two qualifier. The largest raise for an arbitration-eligible pitcher belongs to right-hander Jacob deGrom, who surged from $7.4 million to $17 million – an increase of $9.6 million – with the New York Mets in 2019.

Those records for pitchers will belong to Skubal – but only if his proposed $32 million salary is selected by the arbitration panel. He will fall just short of the records if the panel selects the Tigers’ proposed $19 million.

Skubal is the best pitcher in baseball.

More notably, he is on a Hall of Fame trajectory.

In 2025, Skubal registered a 2.21 ERA with 33 walks (4.4% walk rate) and 241 strikeouts (32.2% strikeout rate) across 195⅓ innings in 31 starts. He made the All-Star Game for the second time in his six-year MLB career.

Skubal became the first back-to-back AL Cy Young winner since right-hander Pedro Martínez in 1999-2000, leading the AL with a 2.39 ERA in 2024 and a 2.21 ERA in 2025.

The Tigers haven’t been to an arbitration hearing since right-hander Michael Fulmer in 2019.

Fulmer lost the case, receiving the Tigers’ proposed $2.8 million salary rather than his requested $3.4 million. Before that hearing, the Tigers hadn’t participated in an arbitration hearing since 2001 – and the Tigers haven’t lost a case since 2000.

Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.

Listen to our weekly Tigers show “Days of Roar” every Monday afternoon during the season and Tuesday afternoon during the offseason on Apple, Spotify or wherever you listen to podcasts.

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