The 2025 Tigers season ended in heartbreaking fashion with a 15-inning marathon loss in Game 5 of the ALDS to the Mariners. It marked the end of a season that saw the Tigers hold the best record in baseball for much of the season before blowing a historic 15.5 game division lead down the stretch. It left fans with a bitter taste in their mouths, particularly after a passive approach as the trade deadline. An offense that ranked in the top third of the league from Opening Day through the end of August went into freefall in September. Trade deadline acquisitions on the pitching side were a net negative, outside of Kyle Finnegan. And it all resulted in a premature end to the season.
At his end-of-season press conference, Tigers President of Baseball Operations Scott Harris said ‘we’ve got to get better in a whole lot of areas.’ Much of that improvement is expected to come internally, but the Tigers spent the 8th-most money this offseason at $165 million. That is a serious investment into winning. Here is a look at every Major League roster move the Tigers made and how each is expected to impact the 2026 team.
Jack Flaherty
The offseason began on November 4th with starting pitcher Jack Flaherty declining to opt-out of his contract and stay with Detroit in 2026 for $20 million. Flaherty first signed with the Tigers in 2024, pitching to a 2.95 ERA and 133 strikeouts in 106.2 innings before being traded to the Dodgers. He returned last offseason with high expectations, but struggled in 2025. His ERA jumped to 4.64 across 161 innings. He surrendered 23 home runs as well, contributing to a very up-and-down campaign.
He maintained excellent strikeout numbers despite other struggles. He finished with 188 K’s, good for 19th overall in the league. The Tigers are counting on a bounce-back campaign in 2026 from Flaherty, who will need to be more consistent start to start in order to be trusted. He will slot into the middle of the rotation to start the year.
Gleyber Torres
On November 18th, Gleyber Torres accepted a one-year, $22,025,000 qualifying offer to return to Detroit. In a weak free agent market at second base, Torres’ return was the best thing the Tigers could’ve hoped for. Before a sports hernia injury late in the season tanked his production, he was in the midst of an All-Star season. His .358 on-base percentage was a career high while posting the second-lowest strikeout rate of his career.
Torres offered a spark atop the Tigers lineup, setting the table for Riley Greene, Spencer Torkelson, and Kerry Carpenter. Expect nothing different in 2026 with Torres hitting first or second in the lineup every night. A healthy Gleyber Torres in 2026 will look similar to what we saw for the first ⅔ of 2025- a reliable bat that makes consistent contact, gets on base, and does not strike out. Exactly what the Tigers need.
Drew Anderson
Right-handed pitcher Drew Anderson signed a one-year, $7 million with the Tigers on December 8th. The deal includes a $10 million team option for 2027. Anderson, 32, has a career 6.50 ERA in only 44.1 innings of MLB time. He last pitched in the big leagues with the Rangers in 2021. He spent the last two years pitching in South Korea, with 2025 being a standout season. He threw 171.2 innings to the tune of a 2.25 ERA, 35.3% strikeout rate, and 7.3% walk rate.
Other offseason moves have left Anderson’s role to be determined. With the starting rotation seemingly full, it is likely he will crack the big league roster in the bullpen. Middle relief was a big weakness for the Tigers a season ago, and the front office did not sign any free agent arms to fill the gap. That suggests that Anderson’s role is likely to come in relief as a multi-inning arm. If his improved numbers in the KBO hold against MLB hitting, Anderson could be a versatile piece of the pitching staff. If injuries strike the rotation, he could slide in to start as well.
Kyle Finnegan
The gem of the 2025 trade deadline for the Tigers, Kyle Finnegan re-signed in December with a two-year, $19 million deal. He allowed only three runs in 18 innings with the Tigers after the deadline, striking out 23 and walking only four. Pitching coach Chris Fetter worked to change Finnegan’s pitch mix to more heavily feature his splitter, a decision that reaped immediate rewards.
The reunion makes perfect sense for both parties. For Finnegan, more time working with Chris Fetter should further unlock his game. For the Tigers, it gives the back end of the bullpen another experienced arm to rely on. Given how volatile MLB bullpens are year-to-year, it is important to have as much quality depth as possible.
Kenley Jansen
The active MLB saves leader with 476, Kenley Jansen inked a one-year, $9 million deal, with a team option for 2027, on December 17th. Now 38, Jansen brings 16 years of MLB experience to the back end of the bullpen. Excluding the shortened 2020 season, he has recorded at least 25 saves for 13 consecutive seasons. He spent 2025 with the Angels, recording 29 saves with a 2.59 ERA and 0.95 WHIP. The latter number was his best mark since 2017, but a 24.4% strikeout rate was the lowest of his career.
AJ Hinch does not structure his bullpen to feature one closer, making it likely that Jansen will see time outside of the 9th inning. The trio of Jansen, Will Vest, and Kyle Finnegan gives Hinch flexibility to mix-and-match every night. Regardless of his exact role, Jansen is still a high-leverage arm at this point in his career. It’s a low-risk, high-reward signing by Scott Harris that adds depth to the back of the bullpen.
Framber Valdez
The Tigers shocked the baseball universe on February 10th by signing starting pitcher Framber Valdez to a 3-year, $115 million contract.
Valdez, the top remaining free agent SP, spent 8 seasons with the Houston Astros. He made the All-Star team in 2022 and 2023, and finished top-10 in AL Cy Young voting in 2022, 2023, and 2024. He has a career 3.36 ERA across over 1,000 innings.
Valdez pitched to a 3.66 ERA across 31 starts in 2025. He threw 192 innings and had 2 complete games. Since 2022, he has thrown 192+ innings in 3/4 seasons, giving the Tigers a durable arm with high upside.
This is the first big signing under Scott Harris. For the 2026 season, it gives the Tigers a two-headed monster at the top of the starting rotation with Tarik Skubal and Valdez. In an offseason where there were no external upgrades to the lineup, Harris opted to spend big on an elite starter to take the rotation to the next level. He has taken heat for not making aggressive moves to get the Tigers to the next level. This move is exactly that… a signing that rushes the Tigers closer to a championship contender.
Justin Verlander
Justin Verlander is back. A Tigers legend returns to Detroit on a one-year, $13 million deal. JV spent 13 seasons with the Tigers from 2005-2017. His accolades include 2006 AL Rookie of the Year, 2011 AL Cy Young and pitching Triple Crown, 2011 AL MVP, and 6 All-Star appearances.
After being traded to the Astros in 2017, Verlander has gone on to win the World Series twice, make the All-Star Game three additional times, and win the Cy Young Award in 2019 and 2022.
He spent the 2025 season with the San Francisco Giants, pitching to a 3.85 ERA and 137 strikeouts across 152 innings and 29 starts. Verlander is now 43 years old and not the generational ace he once was. What will his impact be on the 2026 Tigers? I don’t know what he has left in the tank, but if he can come close to his 2025 season, then he will be very productive at the back of the rotation.
The Tigers rotation with Verlander is now among the best in Major League Baseball. Tarik Skubal, Framber Valdez, Jack Flaherty, Casey Mize, and Verlander are as deep of a group as there is in baseball. With Troy Melton, Keider Montero, and Drew Anderson as depth SP options, the Tigers are positioned to withstand an inevitable injury.
Final thoughts
As Spring Training begins, the Tigers busy offseason should be wrapped up. Scott Harris went out and spent serious money in a move to contend for the World Series in 2026. With the expectation of internal improvement on the offensive side, coupled with a shallow free agent class, Harris focused resources to bolster the pitching staff. With Valdez as the headliner, the Tigers should have one of the best staffs in all of baseball. It was a busy offseason, but an encouraging one. The Tigers are going for it in 2026.
