***Official 2026 Detroit Tigers Thread***

[regularp]

Originally Posted by hairysasquatch

I couldn't believe Jansen was still in the league. More Harris dumpster-diving to come?

Probably trade for Blake Treinen next and then sign David Robertson.

[JustinVerlander07]

Man act like Jansen sucks or sucked even last year....No surprises from regularp!

[JustinVerlander07]

Boras has already won the 2026 idiiot agent of the year award for this Skubal arbitration nonsense.

[dantheman514]

Originally Posted by JustinVerlander07

Boras has already won the 2026 idiiot agent of the year award for this Skubal arbitration nonsense.

I think it's crazy that the Tigers lowballed him at $19 million. It's disrespectful, and I think it ensures he won't sign long-term with the Tigers, even if the money is equal. Why would he want to stay here???

[JustinVerlander07]

Originally Posted by dantheman514

I think it's crazy that the Tigers lowballed him at $19 million. It's disrespectful, and I think it ensures he won't sign long-term with the Tigers, even if the money is equal. Why would he want to stay here???

He's projected through arbitration to make $22 million, so they were slightly under at $19 million, not widly in another stratosphere at $32 million, which would be a record $12 million increase for the highest arbitration payout to a pitcher (Price) and $12 million increase for highest year-to-year raise through arbitration for a pitcher (DeGrom).

Boras can kick rocks, he doesn't want Skubal in Detroit and he's doing what he's doing because of reactions like yours. (and you are definitely in the majority)

[Scottish Punk]

Yep, this is Boras setting the narrative in the media. I do think this is an indication that the Tigers don't have an intention on signing Skubal long term. Especially, if you pair with the rumored low offer from before (if true). Arbitration just sets his salary for next year and has no bearing on protentional trades, correct? I guess it sets what the team would be paying next year in an event of a trade. I would assume the any team trading for him will work out a long term deal anyways.

I still would hate to see Skubal go. You just can't replace the best pitcher in baseball. Tigers record in non-Skubal games last year was no more than .500. I also completely understand not giving a 31 year old pitcher an 9 year 360 million deal or whatever.

[dantheman514]

Originally Posted by JustinVerlander07

He's projected through arbitration to make $22 million, so they were slightly under at $19 million, not widly in another stratosphere at $32 million, which would be a record $12 million increase for the highest arbitration payout to a pitcher (Price) and $12 million increase for highest year-to-year raise through arbitration for a pitcher (DeGrom).

Boras can kick rocks, he doesn't want Skubal in Detroit and he's doing what he's doing because of reactions like yours. (and you are definitely in the majority)

I just want the Tigers to trade him. The writing has been on the wall for two years that he would not re-sign here. They need to get more for him than just a compensatory draft pick.

[JustinVerlander07]

Originally Posted by Scottish Punk

Yep, this is Boras setting the narrative in the media. I do think this is an indication that the Tigers don't have an intention on signing Skubal long term. Especially, if you pair with the rumored low offer from before (if true). Arbitration just sets his salary for next year and has no bearing on protentional trades, correct? I guess it sets what the team would be paying next year in an event of a trade. I would assume the any team trading for him will work out a long term deal anyways.

I still would hate to see Skubal go. You just can't replace the best pitcher in baseball. Tigers record in non-Skubal games last year was no more than .500. I also completely understand not giving a 31 year old pitcher an 9 year 360 million deal or whatever.

Yes, all arbitration does is set his contract for 2026.

Originally Posted by dantheman514

I just want the Tigers to trade him. The writing has been on the wall for two years that he would not re-sign here. They need to get more for him than just a compensatory draft pick.

I think this may be a lynch point of a trade, because it just feels nasty (and I'm sure behind the scenes it's worse). Are the Tigers on the cheap end? Yes. They're still offering the highest arb contract ever to a pitcher and highest increase. So it speaks to how insane the proposal from Boras is.

[bub838]

Originally Posted by JustinVerlander07

Boras has already won the 2026 idiiot agent of the year award for this Skubal arbitration nonsense.

Seems to me he's trying to get his client traded and paid more elsewhere by setting the narrative. I don't know if Skubal truly wants to stay here or get traded, but financially his agent is doing him right.

[JustinVerlander07]

Originally Posted by bub838

Seems to me he's trying to get his client traded and paid more elsewhere by setting the narrative. I don't know if Skubal truly wants to stay here or get traded, but financially his agent is doing him right.

Oh absolutely I agree with you. He's playing a long game here. He won't win the battle, but he probably wins the war. He wanted to make the Tigers look bad, just like he's done all offseason and for the casual person it's absolutely working.

[base set]

In probably related news, the Tigers cut ties with the FanDuel “network” yesterday after they failed to make on-time payments to two other clubs. They could still end up back with FanDuel for the season however, or possibly go with the internal MLB option a few clubs have already been essentially forced into (by simple market realities, no single explicit bad actor dictating that). The almost certain outcome is a decline in TV revenue — though perhaps that depends on re-signing Skubal? Chicken, or Egg?

The reality here, in my opinion, is that Skubal is “worth” whatever the team with the highest amount of TV subscribers can pay him. Which is probably 40+ annually. 30 is now just chump change; just ask Cody Bellinger.

The solution is for all the real fans to sign contracts agreeing to pay $3 to watch every game. Get in early and you get October also, for just 5 Benjamins a season. Otherwise, Tarik starts speaking Californian.

[JustinVerlander07]

Framber Valdez is a Tiger!

[crownand]

So… paying Framber double Skub’s offer a couple months ago, lol. Epic fail.

[JustinVerlander07]

Originally Posted by crownand

So… paying Framber double Skub’s offer a couple months ago, lol. Epic fail.

Arbitration isn't free agency.

[base set]

Skubal’s here for the season unless the offense craters or too many arms fall off -before- late July. Let’s Go Tigers!

[JRX]

Good for Tigers actually doing something. Who knows how the cba will play out, but it does seem like the trend is more towards high dollar short term deals and more teams can tolerate those. Its the Rendon style contracts that cripple a team.

[Fulmer4MVP]

Its never been about the AAV with Skubal, its the years. For once I am with Harris on this. 10 years for a soon to be 30 year old pitcher with 2 TJ surgeries is insane, especially with the unknowns with the new CBA. The only pitcher I would even think of signing that long would be Skenes. Lets go try to win this year, and if the Dodgers want to sign him to that contract after this season, more power to them.

[bub838]

Framber Valdez stats against CLE
5-0, 2.3 ERA, 22k in 5 appearances.

[JRX]

Originally Posted by Fulmer4MVP

Its never been about the AAV with Skubal, its the years. For once I am with Harris on this. 10 years for a soon to be 30 year old pitcher with 2 TJ surgeries is insane, especially with the unknowns with the new CBA. The only pitcher I would even think of signing that long would be Skenes. Lets go try to win this year, and if the Dodgers want to sign him to that contract after this season, more power to them.

Skubal will probably end up taking something stupid like 75M a year for 3 years from either Mets or Dodgers unless they blow up the league with the cba. They were both willing to go 55-60M for Tucker so I imagine the short term deals are going to get more absurd without a salary cap.

[regularp]

Nice to see the team finally do something. Another starter was a must. They still need a consistent right handed bat but they have enough to win this pathetic division again.

I will once again be clamoring for a trade for legitimate help before the deadline and not the usual Harris dumpster diving because every prospect in the system is a Hall of Famer in waiting to him.

[Stifle]

All in? Detroit may not see this type of pitcher on the roster for a decade and then where is Detroit. I don’t see Detroit having the hitting to score the runs needed in the playoffs.

[JustinVerlander07]

Originally Posted by regularp

Nice to see the team finally do something. Another starter was a must. They still need a consistent right handed bat but they have enough to win this pathetic division again.

I will once again be clamoring for a trade for legitimate help before the deadline and not the usual Harris dumpster diving because every prospect in the system is a Hall of Famer in waiting to him.

You are clamoring for a move in the summer, but you don't know what it is...on February 9th?

Sounds right for you.

[regularp]

Not mad at rolling the dice on Verlander. Probably a good chance his second half last season was the last hurrah of quality pitching out of him but it's worth a dice roll and the fans will be happy. At the very least, he will give them more than Alex Cobb and Maeda.

[btimm]

I think it is awesome for JV to come home.

I don't think the expectations are high and I do not think they need to be high. If nothing else, the depth will help eat innings to help during a long season.

[Fulmer4MVP]

Reese Olson out for the year.