The Tigers have already made one bullpen move this offseason, but the bigger picture around Detroit’s 2027 plans is starting to take shape fast.
On Wednesday, Nov. 11, the club signed 35-year-old reliever Emilio Pagán to a 1-year, $11 million deal. Pagán posted a 3.38 ERA in 42⅔ innings for the Cincinnati Reds in 2026, giving Detroit an experienced arm as the first notable addition of the winter.
That move came as the Tigers continued to be tied to several bigger names on the market, including a possible reunion with Tarik Skubal. It’s possible Detroit is one of the teams that has met with the left-handed ace, according to reporting from The New York Post’s Jon Heyman. Skubal has also been linked to the Los Angeles Dodgers, the New York Mets, the Toronto Blue Jays and San Diego Padres, and Heyman reported there is also a mystery team in the mix, maybe the Tigers.
Around the league, the Mets are widely viewed as the favorite to land Skubal. The two-time Cy Young Award winner is expected to command the largest free-agent contract ever for a pitcher, a level of money that puts big-market clubs like the Dodgers, Mets and Blue Jays in position to make a run. That makes a Tigers reunion look unlikely, even though Skubal has said before that he would be open to re-signing with the team that drafted and developed him.
Detroit has also been connected to another high-end bullpen arm. Baseball insider Francys Romero reported the Tigers are among several teams with interest in 36-year-old closer Raisel Iglesias.
Since 2023, Iglesias has piled up 130 saves, the most of any MLB pitcher in that span. He also just turned in one of his best seasons, logging a 2.55 ERA over 60 innings while converting 34 saves for the Atlanta Braves.
And there’s rotation help on the radar, too. MLB Network’s Jon Morosi reported the Tigers are interested in left-hander Shota Imanaga.
The 33-year-old was brilliant as a rookie with the Chicago Cubs in 2024, going 15-3 with a 2.91 ERA over 173⅓ innings. Since the start of the 2025 season, though, he has been more ordinary, posting a 3.75 ERA and a 20-18 record.
Morosi said the Tigers met with Imanaga’s representatives over the last week, though he added that he’s not sure “how serious the conversations have become.”
If Detroit’s rotation is fully healthy, it would likely include veteran lefty Framber Valdez along with a wave of younger arms such as Troy Melton, Jackson Jobe, River Ryan and Reese Olson. A dependable veteran starter like Imanaga could deepen that group, even if the Tigers have been burned recently by offseason pitching bets, most notably with right-handers Alex Cobb and Justin Verlander.
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Tigers Linked To Risky Lefty With One Big Rotation Question
The Tigers are still shopping for pitching help, and the search has not been limited to bullpen arms. Detroit has also been tied to the left-handed starter market, where Shota Imanaga has emerged as one of the more interesting names to watch. The Cubs lefty brings durability and, in 2026, some signs of better fastball command, which helps explain why he keeps surfacing as a possible fit for a club looking to deepen its rotation.
Imanaga also comes with a real question attached to his profile, one that has followed him from Japan into his first three major league seasons. He has given up more home runs than any pitcher in that span, and that kind of risk matters for a Tigers team trying to balance upside with stability. Detroit is weighing several options, including David Peterson, but Imanagas mix of reliability and volatility makes him one of the more intriguing names in the conversation. [Read more 🡒]
Tigers Bullpen Move May Reveal Detroits Bigger Roster Plan
The Tigers have added another late-inning arm, agreeing to a one-year deal with Emilio Pagan as they continue to reshape a bullpen that needed help after a 76-86 season. Pagan arrives from the Reds with a track record that suggests Detroit is looking for more than just depth, but for a pitcher who can handle meaningful innings as the club tries to move back toward contention.
The reported $11 million commitment also hints at a broader roster approach, with the front office willing to spend on targeted upgrades rather than wait for the market to sort itself out. Pagans strong finish last season made him an appealing fit, and his arrival could be part of a larger plan that becomes clearer as the Tigers keep working through the rest of the winter. [Read more 🡒]
Tigers Face One Costly Decision In Shota Imanaga Pursuit
Shota Imanaga has quickly become one of the more intriguing names on the pitching market, and the Tigers are among the clubs keeping tabs on him. Detroit and San Diego have both shown interest in the left-hander, whose camp is looking for a multi-year commitment and a chance to pitch in October, which makes the fit a little more complicated than a simple bidding war.
For the Tigers, the appeal is obvious: Imanaga could step into a defined role and give the rotation a boost, but the contract picture is still murky. Analysts have pegged him for a two-year deal in the $34 million to $40 million range, though concerns about his home run rate could shape how long a team is willing to go, leaving Detroit with a decision that is as much about risk tolerance as talent. [Read more 🡒]