The Tigers’ path into 2027 looks pretty straightforward on paper: keep letting the young core grow, then patch the biggest holes with the right veterans.
That balance matters, especially with president of baseball operations Scott Harris still looking for his footing in free agency. His track record on the open market hasn’t been strong so far, with Kenley Jansen, Kenta Maeda and Alex Cobb standing out as the most notable additions that didn’t pay off. Cobb, of course, got $15 million in 2025 and never threw a pitch for the club.
Even so, Detroit already has some important building blocks in place. Kevin McGonigle, Riley Greene, Dillon Dingler and Troy Melton are among the names the Tigers can lean on as they try to build something that can compete in 2027. But the roster still has obvious gaps, and they’re hard to ignore.
Second base is one of them. The rotation is another. The back end of the bullpen is a third.
If Gleyber Torres departs in free agency, the Tigers will have choices to make at second. Hao-Yu Lee, John Peck and Max Anderson are all internal options who could step in if the team wants to stay young.
Lee, in particular, has given the Tigers something to think about: he has made four errors in 419.2 innings at second base this season and owns a .979 fielding percentage. At the plate, he’s hit .256 with eight home runs, and at 23, he still looks like a player who can keep trending up.
But there’s also a cleaner short-term answer. Luis Arraez could make a lot of sense on a one-year deal, the same kind of arrangement Torres signed for the 2024 season.
Arraez would let the Tigers plug in an everyday second baseman while giving Lee, Anderson or Peck more time to develop. His bat has long been his calling card, and even with the defensive questions that have followed him, he’s handling second base well this season and is again hitting above .300.
For a team sorting out its long-term plan, that’s a pretty appealing stopgap.
The bullpen could use a similar upgrade. It’s highly likely Detroit passes on Kenley Jansen’s $12 million club option after this season, which would leave the team on the hook for a $2 million buyout and searching for a new closer.
The Tigers have often turned to veterans near the end of their careers for that job, with Joe Nathan and Francisco Rodriguez serving as examples. This time, though, the better move might be to target a closer still in his prime.
David Bednar fits that idea. He would bring immediate credibility to the bullpen, and the two-time All-Star has the kind of success that could stabilize the late innings for a team that needs it.
The rotation also has room for one more established arm. On paper, the 2027 group would include Framber Valdez, Troy Melton, Keider Montero, Jackson Jobe and Reese Olson.
The catch is Olson, who missed 2026 after shoulder surgery, so there’s no guarantee he’ll be ready to open the year. Melton, Montero and Jobe are all 26 or younger and have already shown success over the last two seasons, but the Tigers could still use a veteran to round things out.
With Jack Flaherty headed for free agency, Tyler Mahle is one possible fit on a one- or two-year deal. He’s been in the majors since 2017 and has built a reputation as a dependable starter for multiple teams.
Since joining the Atlanta Braves, Mahle has put up a 1.24 ERA in six starts. This season, he owns a 4.05 ERA, and his career mark sits at 4.06.
He’ll be 32 next year, which is exactly the kind of detail that could put him on Harris’ early free-agent board.
If Mahle isn’t the answer, Detroit could look inward again and hope River Ryan - acquired from the Los Angeles Dodgers in the package for Tarik Skubal - can fill that spot instead.
In Other News...
3 Familiar Tigers Suddenly Look Vulnerable In Detroits Next Roster Shift
The Tigers are heading into an offseason where familiar names no longer look especially safe. As Detroit sorts through its next roster shuffle, the pressure is coming from below, with rookies and younger players pushing harder for everyday roles while some established pieces have started to look more replaceable. Zach McKinstry still gives the club value with his defense, but his offense has dropped off in 2026, and that puts him squarely in the range of a non-tender or a trade candidate as the front office weighs what it wants to keep around.
The same squeeze is starting to show in center field and at first base, where Parker Meadows is now facing real competition from Max Clark and Spencer Torkelson has seen his playing time cut back amid inconsistency and defensive issues. Detroit does not need to decide everything at once, but these are the kinds of decisions that shape the next phase of a roster, especially when Colt Keith and Josue Briceo are emerging as possible answers at first base in 2027. For a club trying to balance present value with future upside, the uncomfortable part is that some once-familiar Tigers may be the ones getting pushed out of the picture. [Read more 🡒]
Tarik Skubal Just Fed A Tigers Debate Fans Wont Ignore
Tarik Skubals move from Detroit to Los Angeles has already produced a few offbeat details that Tigers fans are unlikely to let go. One of the most memorable came from the clubhouse itself, where Skubal apparently packed up his espresso machine before heading west, a small but telling reminder of how personal these transitions can feel for a player who spent his time with the Tigers building a routine around the day-to-day.
Now the conversation has drifted into something bigger than coffee. Max Muncy said Skubal was surprised the Dodgers had their own plane, which only sharpened the contrast with the chatter about Detroits older setup and the way road travel has been discussed around the league. With MLB labor negotiations still hanging over the sport and player-fan relationships under a microscope, even a casual comment like this can land with extra weight in Detroit. [Read more 🡒]
Kevin McGonigle May Have Taken Back Control Of The RoY Race
Kevin McGonigle has spent most of the season in the thick of the American League Rookie of the Year conversation, and the Tigers infielder has made a timely push to reassert himself. After a recent surge in home runs and overall production at the plate, McGonigles case has started to look steadier again, which matters in an award race that can turn quickly when another rookie catches fire.
Parker Messick has kept the debate from becoming a runaway, with the Cleveland Guardians pitcher also turning in a strong stretch of his own. But McGonigles consistency is the part Detroit will like most, especially with the season entering the stage where every good week can shape the vote. The race is still there for the taking, and McGonigle has clearly made himself impossible to ignore. [Read more 🡒]