The Tigers’ offseason can get complicated fast if Detroit tries to chase one headline solution. The cleaner path is already in front of them: keep a useful arm, shore up the bullpen, and make room for young position players to actually play.
That starts with Drew Anderson. Detroit should pick up his $10 million club option, banking on the value he provides in a few different pitching roles. He can start, he can cover multiple innings, and that kind of flexibility cuts down the number of holes the Tigers have to fill elsewhere.
The rotation still needs help, though. Detroit should go after another established starter, and Nick Martinez is the kind of name worth checking on if his 2027 mutual option doesn’t keep him in Tampa Bay.
He threw 180 innings for the Rays in 2026, and his price tag and availability would decide whether he fits. The larger point is simple: the Tigers need a veteran who lightens the load on younger pitchers instead of asking them to do too much too soon.
The bullpen needs a reset too, and Kenley Jansen is the clearest decision point. Detroit should decline his $12 million option and take the $2 million buyout.
Keeping him would mean another $10 million on top of that buyout, and he turns 39 in 2027. That money makes more sense spread across a broader relief overhaul.
A better approach would be to target two reliable big-league relievers. A cheaper Jansen reunion can stay in the mix if the market breaks that way, but it shouldn’t be the plan.
JoJo Romero is one possible fit on the left-handed side. The Tigers need one late-inning arm and another pitcher who can handle meaningful middle innings to make the staff sturdier.
The infield also needs a clearer lane. If Gleyber Torres departs, Hao-Yu Lee should get a real run at second base, especially with Kevin McGonigle at shortstop helping define the middle of the diamond. Lee still has to get better defensively, so Detroit should build in affordable insurance rather than forcing the roster to lean on wishful thinking.
There’s also a need for a right-handed bat who can play a corner spot and bring both power and defensive value. That kind of addition should not block the designated hitter spot, which needs to stay available for the current roster.
What Detroit should not do is make the whole winter revolve around Tarik Skubal. Yes, his status among the top former players approaching free agency makes him the obvious temptation.
Yes, a competitive offer deserves consideration. But the roster still has to function if he signs somewhere else.
The same caution applies to the idea of simply plugging in a familiar right-handed name as the answer. George Springer shows why that is risky.
In 2026, he hit .249/.321/.405 and logged only 16 innings in left field. Against left-handers, he hit .213/.285/.376.
At 37, that doesn’t justify handing him an everyday designated hitter job.
That matters because Kerry Carpenter and Eduardo Valencia already need offensive opportunities. Adding another bat whose main value is tied to DH could jam up the lineup instead of cleaning it up.
Detroit should also avoid using a top prospect as the cost of moving Javier Báez. His final guaranteed year still carries a $24 million commitment, but that does not mean he should be handed a starting spot. The right move is to bring him to camp as a reserve option and let performance decide the rest.
And above all, the Tigers need to leave real development space for the next wave. Every projected prospect arrival should still have to win a job and have a clear assignment path. If Detroit treats those players like finished products too early, the pitching depth and bench will get thin in a hurry.
Scott Harris doesn’t need a winter built on one dramatic swing. He needs targeted spending that makes the staff deeper and the lineup decisions cleaner. That’s the foundation Detroit should be building for 2027.
In Other News...
Tigers Quietly Made A Depth Move That Puts Focus On Who's Next
The Tigers kept busy with a low-key round of minor league business, bringing back veteran catcher Carlos Prez along with several relief arms on new minor league contracts. Prez had served as the Triple-A depth option behind the plate and was swinging the bat well before an ankle injury ended his season, making his return a sensible move for a club that values catching depth and familiarity in the system.
Detroit also re-signed relievers Moises Rodriguez, Marco Jimenez and Wandisson Charles, each of whom has flashed potential at different minor league levels. Moves like these rarely draw much attention, but they matter in an organization that is always trying to stock enough arms for the long grind, and they also raise the usual question around this time of year: which of these pitchers can force their way into the picture next? [Read more 🡒]
Scott Harris Faces A Quiet Tigers Roster Squeeze This Winter
The winter roster crunch is already showing up on the Tigers calendar, and it starts with the Rule 5 draft. Several prospects could need a 40-man roster spot to stay out of reach, which forces Detroit to weigh long-term development against the risk of losing useful depth for nothing. It is the kind of decision that does not always grab headlines, but it can shape the back end of a roster and expose how a front office values its own pipeline.
Scott Harris and the Tigers also have to navigate a layer of uncertainty beyond their own board, since the Collective Bargaining Agreement expiration could affect whether the draft even happens. In the meantime, Detroits roster strategy remains tied to the broader flexibility created under owner Chris Ilitch, giving the club some room to maneuver if it wants to protect the right players without boxing itself in. Even so, this is the sort of quiet squeeze that can force hard choices sooner than expected. [Read more 🡒]
Tigers Have A Buy-Low Rotation Target Fans Should Notice
Foster Griffin is the kind of free-agent arm the Tigers have reason to keep on the radar if theyre looking for value rather than headline-grabbing money. The left-hander just finished a postseason run with the Guardians that quietly checked a lot of boxes, turning in a 3.48 ERA over 10 innings with 15 strikeouts and no walks while giving Cleveland another useful option out of the bullpen.
What makes Griffin especially interesting from Detroits perspective is the winding path that brought him back here. After Tommy John surgery in 2021, he spent time in Japan with the Yomiuri Giants before returning to MLB with the Nationals in 2026 and later being traded to Cleveland, a journey that suggests both resilience and adaptability. For a Tigers club that could still benefit from adding pitching depth without overextending itself, Griffin fits the profile of a buy-low target worth a closer look. [Read more 🡒]