Anticipation and excitement, the two words with which I describe the feeling leading into the 2026 season for the Tigers. Coming off of back-to-back playoff runs, the front office loaded up the pitching staff in hopes of returning Detroit to the World Series for the first time since 2012.
Whether a busy offseason will be enough to capture the AL Pennant is to be determined. In what is likely to be Tarik Skubal’s last rodeo in Detroit, it is clear that the Tigers are going for it in 2026.
2025 record: 87-75 (2nd in AL Central)
Playoff results: Wild Card Series win over Cleveland in three games, ALDS loss to Seattle in five games
Tigers Offseason Review
I broke down the Tigers offseason in detail last month, but a quick refresher here.
Retentions:
2B Gleyber Torres
SP Jack Flaherty
RP Kyle Finnegan
An important trio of retentions from the 2025 team. Gleyber Torres re-assumes the starting position at second base, providing a reliable bat atop the lineup. The hope is that Jack Flaherty can regain his 2024 form and become a formidable weapon behind Tarik Skubal and Framber Valdez. Kyle Finnegan proved to be the best trade deadline addition in 2025 for the Tigers and returns to the back of the bullpen again this season.
Key Additions:
SP Framber Valdez
SP Justin Verlander
SP/RP Drew Anderson
RP Kenley Jansen
After a quiet start, Scott Harris spent heavily to bolster the pitching staff this offseason. Shoring up the rotation became the top priority after it fell apart late last season. Framber Valdez joins Tarik Skubal atop the rotation, instantly forming one of the most lethal 1-2 punches in all of baseball. The reunion with Justin Verlander provides stability at the back end of the rotation as well.
Kenley Jansen joins Will Vest and Kyle Finnegan at the back end of the bullpen, giving AJ Hinch three quality options in the later innings. Drew Anderson comes over from a great stint in Korea and offers flexibility as a starter or intriguing long relief option.
Notable Subtractions:
SP Chris Paddack
RP Rafael Montero
RP Tommy Kahnle
RP Chase Lee
UTL Andy Ibanez
OF Justyn Henry-Malloy
None of the above losses are impactful in any way. Paddack, Montero, and Kahnle were all disasters in Detroit, while Ibanez and Malloy could not hit enough to justify roster spots. Scott Harris retained key free agents and smartly let go of dead weight over the winter.
Opening Day Roster
Starting pitchers: Tarik Skubal, Framber Valdez, Jack Flaherty, Casey Mize, Justin Verlander
Relief pitchers: Will Vest, Kenley Jansen, Kyle Finnegan, Tyler Holton, Brant Hurter, Drew Anderson, Enmanuel De Jesus, Connor Seabold
Catchers: Dillon Dingler, Jake Rogers
Infielders: Spencer Torkelson, Gleyber Torres, Kevin McGonigle, Colt Keith
Outfielders: Riley Greene, Kerry Carpenter, Parker Meadows, Jahmai Jones
Utility: Javier Baez, Zach McKinstry, Matt Vierling
No surprises in the starting rotation. Skubal, Valdez, Flaherty, Mize, and Verlander have the potential to be one of the best rotations in all of baseball. Skubal is the odds-on favorite to win the AL Cy Young for the third season in a row, while Valdez is a legit #1 starter with World Series experience.
Connor Seabold is a late addition to the bullpen after Beau Brieske was placed on the 60-day IL. Seabold (30) spent camp with the Blue Jays before signing a $800,000 deal with the Tigers. His track record leaves a lot to be desired (7.79 ERA across 119 MLB innings), but the hope is that he can reign in his control and become a strikeout threat out of the bullpen. He projects to be a low-leverage arm.
Enmanuel De Jesus (29) earned a bullpen spot after a fantastic spring and World Baseball Classic with Venezuela. He did not allow an earned run across nine innings in Tigers camp and only surrendered one in 7.1 innings in the WBC. The Tigers need a lefty arm to emerge out of the pen alongside Tyler Holton, and De Jesus is an interesting option.
Kevin McGonigle broke camp with the big league team, an excellent development for the #2 overall prospect in baseball. I wrote a few weeks ago in support of McGonigle skipping Triple-A and making the MLB roster. He is the most exciting Tigers prospect to come through the system in a long time and is incredibly polished at the plate despite being only 21. To make room for McGonigle on the 40-man roster, the Tigers DFA’d reliever Dylan Smith.
Parker Meadows took the final outfield spot over Wenceel Perez. Meadows’ defense and speed were likely the determining factors here as he hit very poorly (.222/.314/.289) in camp. With Javier Baez and Matt Vierling capable of playing center field, Meadows should be on a short leash.
10 questions to answer
1. Can Riley Greene reign in the strikeouts?
Riley Greene is undoubtedly the Tigers best hitter. He possesses legitimate power and gets on base at a high clip. Yet, his 201 strikeouts in 2025 set a franchise record and ranked 2nd-highest in all of baseball. To take the next step, Greene has to cut his 30.7% K rate significantly. He acknowledged this in the offseason and actively worked on a new approach at the plate. A more situational approach should, theoretically, cut his strikeouts down while maintaining 35+ home run potential. If that happens, Greene might find himself in the AL MVP conversation.
2. Does Jack Flaherty rebound after a rough 2025?
The 2024 Tigers version of Jack Flaherty was one of the best pitchers in baseball. A 2.95 ERA and 133 strikeouts across 106.2 innings earned him a trade to the World Series-winning Dodgers. 2025 saw Flaherty take a drastic step back, pitching to an unappetizing 4.64 ERA. The strikeout numbers remained strong (188 across 161 innings), but the game-to-game consistency was not there. With Skubal and Valdez at the top of the rotation, a resurgent Flaherty would give the Tigers a dynamite trio.
3. Who takes control in center field?
Parker Meadows made the Opening Day roster despite continued poor performance at the plate in Spring Training. He figures to be the primary center fielder thanks to excellent defense and speed on the bases. But, if he continues to hit as poorly as he did in 2025, it is unlikely he will stick in the lineup. Javier Baez proved capable defensively in center last season, while Matt Vierling has held his own in previous seasons. Can any of this trio hit enough to take control of the position?
4. What version of Spencer Torkelson shows up?
The #1 overall pick in 2020 entered last season labelled a bust following a dismal 2024 season. Torkelson rebounded with 31 home runs and a .789 OPS across 649 plate appearances. Hot and cold stretches throughout the season have always been a problem, but the overall campaign was directionally positive. Does Torkelson have more to unlock? A 40-home run campaign is a realistic expectation, as is more consistency. At worst, the Tigers need Tork to maintain his production and power from a season ago.
5. Is Kevin McGonigle ready from Opening Day?
McGonigle earned his spot on the Opening Day roster and will see time at both shortstop and third base. While I argue that he is MLB-ready right now, he is still only 21 and has not played above Double-A. Despite being the favorite to win AL Rookie of the Year, it’s very possible that he will experience growing pains early in the season. The Tigers are relying on McGonigle to become a staple in the lineup from the get-go and turn into a star. If that does not happen immediately, it does not mean he is a failure, but it does put a damper on the hopes of an improved Tigers offense. I expect McGonigle to go through some road bumps, but ultimately put up an excellent rookie season. There is a lot riding on him.
6. Can Colt Keith take his offensive game to the next level?
Keith, a former top-25 prospect in all of baseball, has not yet been able to put it all together at the plate. His 2025 season was an improvement from 2024 with 13 home runs, a .256 batting average, and .746 OPS. Those aren’t bad numbers by any stretch, but the Tigers have higher expectations for Keith. 20 home runs and, as with several others, more consistency at the plate are the goals.
7. Will Tyler Holton regain his 2024 form out of the bullpen?
Holton was one of the best relievers in the league in 2024, throwing 94.1 innings of excellent baseball out of the bullpen. Last season saw a major step back from the lefty, a particular detriment to the bullpen considering the lack of other trustworthy lefties. Kenley Jansen, Will Vest, and Kyle Finnegan are all right-handed. AJ Hinch loves to mix and match relievers based on the situation, making Holton a critical piece. For the bullpen to fully flourish, he needs to be successful in high-leverage situations.
8. How much does Justin Verlander have left in the tank?
The reunion with Justin Verlander has Tigers fans rightfully feeling nostalgic. While Verlander is not the pitcher he once was, he found success last season with the Giants to the tune of a 3.85 ERA in 152 innings. He pitched better and better as the year went on, suggesting there is still gas in the tank. The Tigers signed him to round out the rotation. If JV can replicate his 2025 numbers, mission accomplished.
9. Will the back end of the bullpen need reinforcements?
On paper, the Vest, Jansen, Finnegan trio is solid. But we know how finicky relievers are, and this group is no different. Kenley Jansen is now 38, and while he looked like his old self with the Angels, age is certainly a concern here. Kyle Finnegan pitched well late in the season for the Tigers, but will his numbers regress to his career 3.55 ERA? Will Vest seems to be the safest bet of the trio to have a strong season, but nothing is guaranteed. Bullpens are fickle creatures, and nothing is guaranteed year-to-year.
10. Do any other top prospects make an appearance in Detroit?
The farm system is loaded, particularly with position players. Max Clark, the other blue-chip prospect in the system, is starting the season in Toledo. With potential center field struggles mentioned above, a strong few months to begin the season from Clark could earn him a look over the summer.
Infielders Max Anderson, Trei Cruz, Jace Jung, and Hao-Yu Lee all project to land in Toledo. All four are close to being MLB-ready and could be in line for a promotion should an infielder land on the injured list. Jung is a former top prospect who struggled mightily in previous big league stints, but put together a strong spring. Anderson and Lee are borderline top-100 MLB prospects. Also watch for catcher/first baseman Eduardo Valencia, a lefty who can really mash the ball.
A few pitchers to keep tabs on are Ty Madden, Dylan Smith, Jake Miller, and Andrew Sears.
10 predictions for the 2026 Tigers
1. Matt Vierling becomes the regular center fielder, and Parker Meadows is sent to Toledo
This is not the Tigers team of previous seasons that is willing to wait it out with young players. Meadows’ defense can only carry him so far. Meadows is now 26; if he doesn’t hit, he won’t stay on the roster. Vierling, when healthy, has hit .261 in 2023 and .257 in 2024. Injuries derailed his 2025 campaign as he played in only 31 games. With a better supporting cast, Vierling can hit towards the bottom of the order and gives the lineup better depth.
2. Colt Keith has a breakout season
2026 is the year Colt Keith lives up to his pedigree as a former elite prospect. His on-base and slugging numbers improved modestly from 2024 to 2025. Scott Harris did not externally upgrade the offense this offseason, placing the burden on the current roster to improve. Keith is the most obvious candidate to make a jump. He did not have a solidified spot defensively a season ago, but now projects to be the everyday starter at third base. Keith’s power numbers ticked up last season and have room to grow now. He will hit over 20 home runs in 2026 and establish his place in the middle of the order.
3. Riley Greene cuts down the strikeouts, finishes top-5 in AL MVP race
Coming off of season with 36 home runs and 111 RBI’s, Riley Greene is one adjustment away from being an MVP frontrunner. He MUST cut down the strikeouts. A new two-strike approach will reduce the K’s, but not his otherwise outstanding numbers. Greene will hit 40 home runs, drive in around 110, but cut the punchouts from 201 down to 165. In doing so, he will finish top-5 in AL MVP voting.
4. Offense outperforms expectations
Despite the late collapse, the 2025 Tigers finished 11th in the league in runs scored at 4.63 per game. The 2026 group comes with a lot of questions, but ends up outperforming expectations. Riley Greene’s big season is the catalyst while Colt Keith and Kevin McGonigle provide more stability around Greene, Carpenter, Torkelson, and Torres. A healthy Torres should produce a .260 average and 15-20 home runs at the top of the order. I won’t go as far as to say that the Tigers will be among the MLB elite in scoring, but a borderline top-10 offense is in the cards.
5. Dillon Dingler and Zach McKinstry take a step back at the plate
Dingler produced a .278 average and .752 as a rookie last season, and McKinstry’s hot start landed him on the AL All-Star team. A dip at the plate would not be a surprise for Dingler. FanGraphs projections have hit hitting .260 with a .719 OPS. That would still be a productive season, especially considering how excellent he is behind the plate. As for McKinstry, his defensive versatility makes him a valuable plug-and-play asset. But, he regressed closer to his career .231 average after the break last season.
6. Tarik Skubal and Framber Valdez form the best 1-2 punch in the American League
Tarik Skubal will do Tarik Skubal things. The back-to-back Cy Young winner may very well put up a three-peat. The difference this year is that he doesn’t have to do it alone. Framber Valdez is a proven top-of-the-rotation arm poised for another excellent season. The duo will both post sub-3.00 ERA’s and roll through the American League en route to All-Star bids and appearances on the AL Cy Young ballot.
7. Will Vest, not Kenley Jansen, becomes the primary closer
Kenley Jansen is 24 saves short of 500 and will get plenty of chances to hit that milestone. His peripheral numbers indicate regression is in order from a strong 2025 campaign. Relievers are a fickle group and often get hit hard by age. We’ve seen it in Detroit before with Francisco Rodgriguez and Joe Nathan. Jansen will put up a solid season, but cede the role to the higher-performing Will Vest. Kyle Finnegan will see minimal save opportunities and instead be deployed in leverage situations earlier in games.
8. The Tigers make two impactful trade deadline additions
Come the trade deadline, Scott Harris will have work to do if the Tigers want to make a deep October run. The farm system is flush with talent, particularly in the infield ,with no room for all of them in Detroit. In a go-for-it season, the front office has chips to push in. The obvious place for an upgrade is in the outfield, particularly center. With question marks around the lineup, I find it unlikely they all resolve themselves before the end of July. Recognizing the shortcomings of the 2025 squad, Scott Harris lands one of the best bats at the 2026 deadline and lets AJ Hinch figure out the fit.
On the pitching front, a high-end bullpen upgrade is in play. There is enough starting depth to withstand an injury or poor performance from one of the current rotation arms. Keider Montero and Drew Anderson could start now. Troy Melton is on the IL, but ideally will be ready by the summer. Adding a swing-and-miss arm to the back end of the pen will take the bullpen to the top of the AL.
9. Tigers finish 91-71, win the AL Central
The 2026 Tigers have a high variance of outcomes. The lineup is full of question marks, as is the back end of the rotation. Yet, I believe the answers to those questions will net out positively. The Royals are a legitimate threat, but the rest of the AL Central is weak. Behind a big campaign from Riley Greene and Cy Young-worthy efforts from Tarik Skubal and Framber Valdez, the Tigers will win the division for the first time since 2014.
10. Tigers win AL Pennant, fall in the World Series to LA
Call me a homer if you so choose, but this is going to be a magical season for the Tigers. Winning the division is the baseline expectation. How far they go in October hinges on two things: 1) how much improvement does the offense make as the season goes on, and 2) whether or not a reliable third starter emerges behind Skubal and Valdez. We painstakingly watched the offense end the 2025 season in Seattle. Skubal and Valdez at the top of the rotation is a recipe for postseason success, as is a deep bullpen. If one of Flaherty, Verlander, or Mize becomes a reliable #3 starter, it’s going to be hard to beat this team in a postseason series. Couple that with a more stable offense and deeper bullpen, and the 2026 Detroit Tigers have everything they need to emerge from a chaotic American League and return to the World Series for the first time in 14 years.
