The Tigers’ offseason is set to be shaped by pitching again, with Scott Harris expecting players already in the organization to take on bigger roles in 2027. But once the 2026 World Series wraps up, a few familiar names from Detroit’s recent past are headed right back onto the free-agent market.
The headliner is Tarik Skubal, a former Tiger who remains one of the biggest names in the mix. Skubal won the AL Cy Young Award in 2024 and 2025 and led Detroit’s pitching staff to back-to-back playoff appearances, making him a treasured figure in the city.
He was dealt to the Los Angeles Dodgers for three prospects, and now that the Dodgers have been eliminated from the playoffs, his next move is wide open. The Tigers are expected to come up in the conversation, and both the team and the player have spoken well of each other.
Still, after the struggle the franchise went through in Skubal’s final year of arbitration, another big-market club may be the likelier landing spot.
Casey Mize is also entering free agency after being traded this season, this time to the San Diego Padres. The former first overall pick never carried over his first-half production from Detroit, and his year ended with an injured-list stint.
While he had been viewed as a possible extension candidate during his Tigers tenure, a return to Detroit looks unlikely. Spotrac.com projects Mize for a three-year deal worth nearly $50 million, a price tag that probably lands elsewhere.
Matthew Boyd is another ex-Tiger to watch. Since 2021, he has settled in as a dependable back-end starter and has played meaningful innings for playoff clubs.
His time in Detroit wasn’t especially strong - he posted a 4.92 ERA in eight seasons there - but his recent surge has raised his stock. Boyd spent two seasons with the Cubs and made $17.5 million in 2026.
Chicago has a mutual option for one year at $15 million this offseason, and if that isn’t picked up, Spotrac projects him for two years worth just north of $40 million.
On the catching side, Tucker Barnhart is hitting free agency for the first time in his career. After being designated for assignment in 2026 and with Eduardo Valencia emerging, a Detroit return appears unlikely.
Barnhart later moved around before landing with the Chicago White Sox, where he helped them make the playoffs and nearly knock off the Cleveland Guardians. At this stage, he looks like a steady backup catcher who should find a one-year deal.
Gregory Soto is also back on the market. It has been four years, going on five, since he was with Detroit, but the left-hander still brings the kind of bullpen arm teams want.
He posted a 3.63 ERA in 67 innings with the Pittsburgh Pirates this past season, which should keep him in demand. A reunion with the Tigers does not look likely.
James McCann rounds out the group of former Tigers worth noting. Detroit does not need another catcher on its MLB roster, but McCann put together enough production in 2026 to show he still has value.
He hit .282 for the Arizona Diamondbacks in 51 games, with seven home runs and 28 RBIs, though his work behind the plate was slightly below average. A lower-half injury may have affected him defensively.
McCann can still fill multiple roles, handling catcher and first base and even serving as a designated hitter, and Spotrac projects him for a one-year, $4.1 million contract.
In Other News...
Framber Valdez Put Detroits Rotation Plans In A Tough Spot
Framber Valdez arrived in Detroit with the kind of contract that signaled immediate rotation expectations, a three-year, $115 million deal before the 2026 season that was supposed to stabilize the Tigers on the mound. Instead, his first year in the organization brought a step back from the version of Valdez that had built his reputation, with a 4.03 ERA and a career-low strikeout rate that made him less of a bat-misser than the Tigers likely anticipated.
The issues went beyond one rough stretch. His walk rate climbed, his groundball rate dropped and his curveball was less effective, leaving Detroit with a starter whose trademark profile was harder to trust. With roster changes already shaping the staff picture, the Tigers need a better version of Valdez in 2027, and the pressure on him figures to be a major part of how their rotation takes shape. [Read more 🡒]
Former Tigers Prospect Is Forcing His Way Into Detroits Plans
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Pacheco is still not sitting near the top of Detroits prospect rankings, but he is starting to look like the kind of player organizations value once the depth chart gets tested. His versatility gives the Tigers options, whether that means a future role in the majors or a profile that could make him useful in a trade, and the recent run is making it harder to ignore that possibility. [Read more 🡒]
Javier Baez Is Forcing A Tough Tigers Infield Decision
Javier Baezs contract has remained one of the biggest lingering items on the Tigers ledger since he signed the six-year, $140 million deal in 2021, and the organization is still trying to sort out how to make the rest of it fit. With $24 million left for 2027, Detroit has to weigh not just the money, but what Baez can realistically provide as his playing time has shrunk and his offense has fallen off in 2026.
The bigger issue is what comes next. The Tigers are now looking at whether Baez can settle into more of a supporting role in 2027 or whether the club has to consider a trade or even a release, all while younger infield options push for their own chances. However it plays out, his contract is still shaping the way Detroit thinks about the rest of the roster and how aggressively it can pursue other additions. [Read more 🡒]