The Detroit Tigers are riding momentum from a strong 2025 campaign that landed them back in the postseason. Despite a valiant effort, they fell short against the Seattle Mariners in the ALDS, ending their playoff run earlier than hoped.
As the offseason draws closer, the front office faces critical decisions that could shape the franchise for years. Chief among them: the future of ace Tarik Skubal.
The 2024 Cy Young Award winner is under team control through 2026 but eligible for free agency afterward. Trade rumors have swirled around the left-hander, and if extension talks stall, Detroit may opt to deal him rather than risk losing him for nothing.
There have been plenty of trade speculations for the 2024 Cy Young Award winner, who is set to become a free agent after the 2026 season. If the club does not feel they can sign him to an extension, getting something in return for him before he leaves for nothing is the best option.
Skubal’s situation isn’t the only priority. The Tigers aim to bolster their roster via free agency to remain AL Central contenders. Bullpen stability emerged as a weak spot last year, with no defined closer for extended stretches. Midseason, they addressed this by swinging a trade with the Washington Nationals for Kyle Finnegan.
He did well in Detroit, securing four saves over 18 innings of work. He is under contract until 2026, but his role as the club’s closer is not set in stone.
Finnegan provided reliability, but Detroit could seek a more dominant arm to lock down the ninth.
MLB insider Mark Feinsand highlights one intriguing free-agent target: Devin Williams. The two-time All-Star reliever endured a rocky 2025 with the New York Yankees, but his track record suggests untapped potential in a new environment.
Fans may not be jumping for joy here after what he showed off this past season with the Yankees, but a change of scenery could turn him back into one of the most dominant closers the game has to offer.
Williams’ struggles with New York could help the Tigers sign him as well. His market will not be as high as it would have been if he had a stellar 2025 season, but he will still demand a decent payday.
Pairing Williams’ elite stuff—headlined by his devastating changeup—with Finnegan could create a formidable late-inning duo. Such a move would signal Detroit’s intent to compete immediately while navigating the Skubal dilemma.
With postseason experience fresh in their minds, the Tigers enter a winter of opportunity. Resolving Skubal’s status and fortifying the bullpen will determine whether 2026 brings another playoff push or a rebuild pivot. For now, contention remains the goal in the Motor City.
