The Tigers’ 2026 season ended with a thud, and the roster reset that follows is already taking shape. Detroit is headed back to the drawing board after a year that was supposed to end with an AL Central crown and another trip to October, only to finish below .500 instead. There were bright spots - basically all of June, Kevin McGonigle’s debut, Max Clark’s debut, Justin Verlander’s last game - but the full 162-game picture was a rough one.
That means the payroll is coming down, the bullpen needs work, and several familiar names are on the way out. Some departures feel obvious, but a handful are locked in for different reasons. These six Tigers are not coming back for Detroit’s bounce-back push in 2027.
Gleyber Torres is one of the clearest cases. His decision to take the Tigers’ qualifying offer last offseason gave Detroit a boost, and the club got value from his steady presence during his All-Star 2025 season, even if he faded late while dealing with a sports hernia.
This year, though, he spent more time on the injured list, and the team’s direction kept shifting toward younger infielders. In the final weeks of 2026, Torres and Javy Báez saw more bench time as Hao-Yu Lee and John Peck got opportunities, with Max Anderson also pushing toward the majors.
Torres should have a market in free agency, but not in Detroit.
Justin Verlander’s exit is less about roster construction and more about the natural end of the road. His final start at Comerica was an emotional one for everyone involved, from the fans in the park to the players in the dugout and, probably, even Don Kelly on the visitor’s side.
The weekend had a fitting feel to it, with Verlander hinting that he’ll go into the Hall of Fame as a Tiger in five years’ time and then turning in a 5 1/3-inning outing that looked a lot like the old version of him. A return isn’t the point here.
He’s earned retirement, and then some.
Kenley Jansen is a different kind of goodbye, but it feels just as inevitable. He has a $10 million club option for 2027 and sits two saves shy of 500 for his career, which might tempt a team to keep him around for the milestone.
Detroit shouldn’t bite. That’s a steep price for a pitcher whose age and 2026 performance make him too risky, and the Tigers have already learned enough about free-agent relievers to know better.
Jansen, along with Kyle Finnegan, has been one of the clearest examples of that problem.
Jack Flaherty is also headed out after another frustrating run in Detroit. He made what should be his final Tigers appearance this weekend after a long stint on the injured list.
Since his half-season with the club in 2024, when he became one of the hottest arms available at the trade deadline, things have gone sideways. He led the AL with 15 losses in 2025, picked up his $20 million player option, and then in 2026 threw fewer than 100 innings with an ERA above 4.50.
Detroit’s rotation doesn’t need him anymore, with Troy Melton, Jackson Jobe, and River Ryan leading the next wave.
Burch Smith’s case is much simpler. He came in on a minor league deal, put together 10 strong innings at Triple-A, and was called up in late April when Enmanuel De Jesus was optioned.
For about a month, he gave the Tigers solid work out of the bullpen before right shoulder inflammation sent him to the injured list. A rehab assignment was cut short in late July, and he later underwent arthroscopy.
Even with the bullpen needing a full teardown, Smith is more of a fringe depth piece than someone worth a real contract.
Tyler Kinley rounded out the list after arriving as a late-August addition, with the Braves having DFA’d and then released him. By then, Detroit’s season was basically finished, but the Tigers still got a useful stretch out of him: a 1.84 ERA in 14 2/3 innings.
Even so, the warning sign is right there in front of them. Small samples can fool a team, especially with relievers, and Detroit has already seen enough of that.
If Kinley is still available near Opening Day and the Tigers need one more bullpen arm, he could be in the conversation for depth. But the first look should be elsewhere.
In Other News...
Lions Just Reopened A Roster Spot With A Familiar Return
The Lions made a familiar practice-squad swap Tuesday, parting ways with cornerback Natrone Brooks and bringing back tight end Miles Kitselman. Kitselman is returning to Detroit after previously being waived with an injury settlement, a transaction that had temporarily taken him off the teams roster picture but left the door open for a reunion down the line.
Kitselmans return gives Detroit another look at a player the organization already knows, while the move also keeps the tight end room in motion after a series of roster adjustments at the position. The broader backdrop includes the injury settlement process, which can create an opening for a later return, and it comes amid other recent moves involving tight ends and defensive end Ahmed Hassanein. [Read more 🡒]
Dan Campbell Just Made Derrick Moores Path To Playing Time Clear
Derrick Moore has spent the early part of his Lions career a step behind, a familiar place for a rookie defensive end trying to climb a crowded depth chart while also dealing with lost practice time because of injury. For a Detroit defense that is still sorting through adjustments, the development curve has been especially important, and head coach Dan Campbell made it clear Moores next step is all about getting more work and turning those reps into trust.
Campbell said Moore needs those chances to keep growing, and that the expectation inside the building is he will improve and push for more playing time as he gets comfortable. Campbell also noted he has been spending extra time in defensive meetings to help with the ongoing adjustments on that side of the ball, which only adds to the sense that Detroit is trying to steady the group while waiting for younger pieces like Moore to catch up. [Read more 🡒]
Lions Suddenly Have A Tough Center Decision Before Division Games
Juice Scruggs has handled the center job well through the first three games, giving the Lions something they needed in the middle of the offensive line after moving him into the role. He has graded out strongly and looked comfortable enough that Detroit now has a real decision to make as the schedule turns tougher, with divisional games looming against the Packers and Vikings.
Dan Campbell said Cade Mays is making progress in his recovery, but a Week 4 return may still be a stretch, and the Lions may choose to wait until after the bye before bringing him back into the mix. That leaves Detroit weighing continuity against the possibility of getting Mays back in place at center, a choice that could shape how the line holds up in the games that matter most for the division race. [Read more 🡒]