The Tigers have moved from the noise of the season into the business of building the next one, and a former Cy Young winner stands out as a name that fits the conversation.
Milwaukee’s title has officially kicked off the offseason, and Detroit is now in the same free-agent market as everyone else. President of Baseball Operations Scott Harris has already said the club plans to build around the players already in the organization, but he also made clear the Tigers will be involved in free agency.
Before they get there, though, they have some housekeeping to do. Detroit has to make decisions on Drew Anderson and Kenley Jansen’s pending club options, and it also needs to get its 40-man roster under control before adding anyone new.
That’s where Shane Bieber enters the picture.
The former American League Cy Young Award winner and former Tigers division rival is back on the market after his last two seasons with the Toronto Blue Jays. Bieber appeared in 18 games for Toronto, and injuries were part of the story in both seasons. Even so, he’s still carrying the kind of résumé that can get overlooked if teams focus too much on recent health concerns.
His 2026 work with the Blue Jays included a 4.37 ERA in 11 starts over 55 innings, along with 44 strikeouts. For Detroit, the appeal is pretty straightforward: more starting pitching never hurts, especially for a rotation that’s being projected with 2027 in mind.
That future group is expected to include Framber Valdez, Troy Melton, River Ryan, Jackson Jobe and a returning Reese Olson. Drew Anderson, if his club option is picked up, and Keider Montero are also in the mix for A.J.
Hinch. If the Tigers want to stay committed to their developing-talent approach, Anderson and Montero could both be pushed into bullpen roles, which would also help address an area that struggled badly in 2026.
Anderson finished the year well as a starter, but he also logged 38 relief appearances in 2026. Montero, meanwhile, has already said he’ll do whatever is asked of him to help the team win.
Bieber’s projected market price only adds to the argument. Spotrac.com has him pegged for a one-year deal worth $13.1 million, a number that would make him a realistic swing for a club looking for a veteran boost rather than a long-term commitment. The comparison to Jack Flaherty in 2024 is an obvious one.
There’s also the Comerica Park angle - now named Fifth Third Park - where Bieber has been sharp in his career. In nine starts there, he owns a 2.14 ERA across 63 innings with 82 strikeouts. He’s also a former Cleveland Guardian and a former AL Central opponent, which means Detroit would be adding a pitcher who knows the division terrain well.
The career numbers still pop, too. Bieber owns a 3.31 ERA in 154 games, covering 939 innings and 1,039 strikeouts. His trophy case includes a Gold Glove, the 2020 ERA title with a 1.63 mark, the 2020 Triple Crown and the 2019 All-Star Game MVP.
Detroit does have some roster trimming to do first. Jace Jung, Matt Vierling and Beau Brieske are among the potential non-tender candidates, while Josue Briceño and Max Anderson are likely to be added to the 40-man roster to avoid the Rule 5 Draft.
If the Tigers clean up the roster and Bieber is still available, a one-year deal would give them a veteran arm with real upside. He finished the year with a 2.59 ERA in four starts, covering 24.1 innings and striking out 22. For a team looking to deepen its rotation without losing sight of its youth plan, that kind of move would make a lot of sense.
In Other News...
Tigers Linked To Another Rotation Arm As Free Agency Pressure Builds
The Tigers are staring at a familiar offseason question as rotation depth becomes a priority, and Clay Holmes has now entered the picture as another possible answer. After Holmes and Matthew Boyd both opted out of their contracts, the market for starting pitching took another turn, and Holmes in particular figures to draw plenty of attention after working for the Mets and Cubs in 2024.
Detroit has already been tied to ways of strengthening the staff, and Holmes fits the kind of arm that can quickly change the conversation around a rotation if the fit is right. With multiple teams expected to chase him, the Tigers will have to decide how aggressive they want to be as the pressure to add proven pitching keeps building. [Read more 🡒]
Tigers Have An Infield Target Fans Will Instantly Debate
A familiar trade-season wrinkle has put a possible infield fit on the board for Detroit, with Barry Jackson of the Miami Herald reporting that shortstop and second baseman Otto Lopez and Xavier Edwards could be available. For a Tigers club looking at ways to sharpen the middle of the diamond, Lopez stands out as the kind of player who can spark debate fast: a defender with enough versatility to move around the infield and a recent track record that suggests there may be more to like than the surface numbers.
The appeal for Detroit is obvious, even if nothing is close to done. Lopez would give the Tigers another option in a part of the roster that always invites scrutiny, and any move for him would come with the usual questions about fit, cost and what it means for the rest of the lineup. For now, it is more a name to file away than a deal to circle, but it is the sort of possibility that tends to linger when a team is trying to upgrade around the edges. [Read more 🡒]
Tigers Bullpen Need Could Put Focus On One Affordable Trade Target
The Tigers bullpen search could lead them to a relatively affordable arm if they decide to shop for help rather than pay a premium. One name surfacing as a fit is Colorado left-hander Brennan Bernardino, who has built a case as a dependable late-inning option with a 2.81 ERA across 74 appearances in 2026 and club control that runs through 2029.
For Detroit, the appeal is obvious: a lefty who can stabilize a relief group without forcing the front office into a long-term commitment. The question is whether the Rockies would move him for a minor league pitching prospect, and whether the Tigers view the price as worth paying once they weigh his fit, value and the kind of bullpen role he could fill. [Read more 🡒]