The Detroit Tigers head into this offseason with a clear to-do list. After showing flashes of promise in 2025, the club knows it’s not far off from making a serious push-but to get there, they’ll need to shore up a few key areas.
Third base remains a question mark, and the catching position could use a jolt of offensive production. But perhaps the most pressing need?
Finding another dependable starting pitcher to slot in behind Tarik Skubal.
Skubal has emerged as the ace of this staff, and while trade rumors have swirled around him, the expectation is that he’ll remain in Detroit. That makes the Tigers’ mission simple: find a quality arm to complement him and stabilize the rotation.
And the good news? The market is full of intriguing options.
From big names like Ranger Suárez and Framber Valdez to mid-tier arms such as Lucas Giolito and Griffin Canning, the Tigers have plenty of directions they could go. But one name that might not be generating the buzz he deserves-yet-is Zac Gallen.
Gallen’s 2025 campaign with the Arizona Diamondbacks didn’t live up to his usual standards. He finished the season with a 13-15 record and a 4.83 ERA over 192 innings.
Not terrible, but certainly not the ace-level performance we’ve seen from him in the past. His fastball command wavered at times, and his curveball, typically one of his best weapons, didn’t have the same bite.
Still, there were signs of life late in the season. Gallen managed to finish the year on a stronger note, and that’s not something to overlook. For a pitcher with his track record, a bounce-back year is well within reach-especially if he finds himself in a new environment.
The Tigers could be that fresh start.
According to former GM Jim Bowden, Gallen is a candidate for a change of scenery, and Detroit is one of several teams that could be in the mix. The Tigers join the Astros, Orioles, Braves, Mets, and Cubs as potential landing spots if Gallen doesn’t return to Arizona.
From Detroit’s perspective, this would be a high-upside play. Gallen has shown he can be a frontline starter when he’s on, and pairing him with Skubal would give the Tigers a formidable one-two punch atop the rotation. It’s the kind of move that signals a team is ready to compete-not just fill holes.
The Tigers have options this winter. But if they’re serious about taking the next step, targeting a pitcher like Zac Gallen-someone with proven upside and something to prove-might be exactly the kind of swing worth taking.