The Cubs’ offseason churn has already created one more name for the Tigers to keep on the board.
Clay Holmes opted out of the deal that would have paid him $12 million in 2027, and Matthew Boyd also chose free agency rather than take the $15 million he was due. Holmes, in particular, looks like a pitcher who should cash in after putting together a strong season split between the Mets and Cubs.
He logged 101 1/3 innings and posted a 3.29 ERA overall, then added a bigger workload in his first full run as a starter. After signing with the Mets in the 2024-25 offseason, Holmes made 31 starts and threw a career-high 165 2/3 innings with a 3.53 ERA. Chicago’s stretch was less clean, but that came after he missed nearly three months with a fibula fracture.
That profile is why Holmes is drawing attention as a possible rotation fit for teams looking for help. Jim Bowden of The Athletic projected a two-year, $44 million deal, a number that lands in the neighborhood of what the Tigers gave Jack Flaherty before the 2025 season - two years, $35 million - even if Holmes brings a stronger resume.
For Detroit, the appeal is obvious if the club wants another starter without getting reckless. Holmes would not come cheap, but he could be a workable add for a rotation that is still very young outside of Framber Valdez. He should have plenty of teams chasing him as one of the top right-handed arms available, and the Tigers ought to be in that mix.
The age and term matter here, too. Holmes is headed into his age-34 season, so a long deal seems unlikely. A two-year contract feels much more realistic, and Detroit could potentially make that work with escalators in the second year.
At the same time, the Tigers are not exactly desperate to force the issue. They already have Valdez, Troy Melton, Jackson Jobe, Keider Montero, River Ryan, and Drew Anderson, with Reese Olson also in the picture if he is healthy enough. That gives them room to be selective.
Still, they’re opportunistic by nature. If Holmes or another starter comes available at the right price, the Tigers will take a hard look.
In Other News...
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 🡒]
Reese Olson Could Still Change Detroits 2027 Pitching Picture
Reese Olsons path back gives the Tigers one more reason to think beyond the immediate season and toward 2027, when the right-hander is expected to be available again after February shoulder labral repair surgery. Olson has already shown steady improvement since his MLB debut in 2023, and even without a full season on his rsum, he has done enough to stay in the conversation as a meaningful part of Detroits pitching plans.
What makes Olson such an interesting name in the long view is the flexibility he could offer once he returns. The Tigers see him as a possible starter or bullpen piece in 2027, a decision that will hinge on how his recovery goes and what the roster looks like by then. For a club always balancing present needs with future depth, Olson remains one of those arms worth watching closely. [Read more 🡒]