Top Tigers offseason questions: Skubal

FAN BOTS

Thank you for watching the video     Link:https://www.mlb.com/tigers/news/tigers-offseason-plans-begin-with-tarik-skubal-s-contract-situation     Important warning⚠️⚠️   My friend, please check the accuracy of the information. The information I provide may be  incorrect, late, or outdated.   #Tigers#Skubal#OffseasonInquiry#DetroitTigersBaseball#MLBOffseason#BaseballQuestions#TarikSkubal#TigersNews#MLB

Transcript

00:00Welcome to an in-depth look at the Detroit Tigers' critical off-season decisions.

00:05The Tigers have transitioned from being a team in constant rebuilding mode

00:09to becoming contenders for the postseason in consecutive years.

00:12The next challenge they face is determining how to advance further

00:16and enhance their chances for a deeper playoff run.

00:19A more immediate concern is how their off-season decisions will influence this goal.

00:24The situation surrounding Tarek Skubal is expected to be a major topic of discussion this winter,

00:29but there are additional matters that Scott Harris, the president of baseball operations,

00:34must address as the Tigers approach a significant off-season.

00:37Here are five key questions the Tigers need to consider.

00:411. What should be done regarding Skubal?

00:44The ongoing uncertainty surrounding Skubal, which has been a quiet concern for the Tigers over the past 18 months,

00:50is now more pronounced.

00:52With Skubal set to become a free agent after the upcoming season,

00:56the Tigers find themselves at a crucial juncture with essentially three potential paths to consider.

01:02A. Offer Skubal a contract extension.

01:06This option seems unlikely given the current circumstances surrounding Skubal.

01:11Al can, choose to wait, enter the open market next winter,

01:15and engage in a bidding process that could potentially increase his value.

01:18However, it is worth noting that the Blue Jays recently made a similar move

01:23with first baseman, Vladimir Guerrero Jr., just six months ago, so it is not out of the question.

01:31On the other hand, there is the option to trade Skubal,

01:34a scenario that many fans may not want to consider.

01:37If the Tigers believe that there is little chance of signing him now or during the next off-season,

01:42it becomes a situation that Harris must evaluate to determine what other teams might be willing to offer.

01:47A comparable situation occurred when the Brewers decided to trade Corbin Burns, two years ago,

01:54sending him to the Orioles in exchange for infielder Joey Ortiz, pitcher D.L. Hall,

01:59and the 34th overall pick in the 2024 draft, which was used to select slugging first baseman,

02:06Blake Burke, now ranked as the Brewers' number 29 prospect.

02:11Similarly, the Padres traded Juan Soto and received a five-player package from the Yankees,

02:17which included starter Michael King, catcher Kyle Higashioka, and several prospects,

02:22allowing the Padres to remain competitive. Last off-season, the Astros also traded Kyle

02:28Tucker to the Cubs. Before the contract year for players like Isaac Paredes, Cam Smith,

02:33and Hayden Wesneski, there are a few strategies to consider. One option is to hold on to the player,

02:39similar to what the Tigers did with Max Scherzer in 2014 under previous management.

02:44If the team finds itself out of playoff contention by mid-season,

02:48general manager Harris can reassess the possibility of trading the player as the trade deadline

02:53approaches. If the team remains competitive, they can continue to utilize the player through October,

02:59potentially making a qualifying offer to Scooball in the following off-season.

03:02If Scooball decides to sign with another team, Detroit would receive a compensation pick towards

03:07the end of the first round in the 2027 draft. While this may seem like a modest return,

03:13it's worth noting that Detroit's top prospect, Kevin McGonigal, was essentially a compensation pick,

03:18selected 37th overall in 2023, which is comparable to a competitive balance pick in the same range of

03:25the first round. Harris, however, is not revealing any specific plans at this time. I've learned over

03:31time, especially regarding this question, that general inquiries often get distorted and shaped

03:38into narratives. Harris stated on Monday, I cannot comment on the potential trades of our players,

03:44nor can I discuss free agents. When it comes to discussing players from other teams, I prefer to

03:49refrain from making comments. However, I would like to express my admiration for Tarek. He is a valuable

03:56member of the Tigers, and I sincerely hope he secures the Cy Young Award for the second year in a row.

04:02His talent as a pitcher is remarkable and we are fortunate to have him on our team. That's all I

04:07have to say about that. Regarding Jack Flaherty's future, his two-year contract, which he signed in

04:13February, essentially functions as a one-year agreement with a player option for 2026. The

04:18second year valued at $10 million serves as a safety net in case of injury. However, since Flaherty has made

04:24over 15 starts, his salary has increased to $20 million making the situation more interesting,

04:30despite his struggles, which resulted in a 4.64 ERA. Flaherty has until five days after the World

04:38Series to decide if he wants to opt out of his contract. Should he choose to opt out, the Tigers

04:43have the option to extend a qualifying offer of just over $22 million. Flaherty would then have 10 days

04:50to either accept that offer or explore the free agent market in search of a longer-term contract,

04:56which could also provide the Tigers with compensation. The upcoming summer draft

05:00will significantly influence the Detroit Tigers' offseason strategies, particularly regarding the

05:05focus on their pitching rotation. Both Tarek Skubal and Casey Mize are entering contract years,

05:11which adds urgency to their situations. Additionally, Reese Olsen is recovering from a

05:16right shoulder strain that limited him to only 13 starts this past season. Jackson Jobe is expected to

05:21miss the entirety of next season as he undergoes rehabilitation following Tommy John's surgery.

05:26Troy Melton had a limited presence, making just five starts, including postseason appearances,

05:31while Keiter Montero has yet to secure a permanent spot in the rotation. Another critical question for

05:36the Tigers is how they will enhance their offensive performance. The team's struggles at the plate,

05:42especially with strikeouts, were clearly on the mind of GM Scott Harris during his recent

05:46discussions with the media. He emphasized the need for the team to develop a lineup capable of making

05:52consistent contact over the course of the season to ensure a productive offense. However, the specific

05:58actions the Tigers can take to address these issues remain uncertain. Both Harris and manager A.J.

06:04Hinch acknowledge the challenges ahead. Most of the team's improvements are expected to come from

06:09internal sources, including offseason training with players and contributions from their minor league

06:14system. However, if the Tigers are aiming for a more significant enhancement, they might consider

06:19making additional moves in free agency. Their previous short-term acquisition of Glaber Torres proved

06:25beneficial, even though they missed out on some larger signings. One notable player they pursued, Alex

06:31Bregman, is likely to re-enter the free agent market after opting out of the final two years of his

06:36three-year, $120 million deal with the Red Sox. Given that the Tigers had their six-year, $171.5 million

06:44offer rejected last winter, it raises the question of whether they would be willing to pursue Bregman again,

06:51especially since he is now a year older and coming off a productive season that was marred by injuries.

06:57This consideration is particularly relevant in light of general manager Harris's emphasis on acquiring players

07:03who were eager to join the team in Detroit. Alternatively, the Tigers might explore the possibility of signing a

07:10younger infielder such as shortstop Beau Bichette, or they could find merit in making smaller, incremental

07:15improvements like adding shortstop Haseong Kim. Where do the prospects fit in? The offense is set to see

07:21some new players next year, as top prospects McGonagall, Max Clark, and Josue Briseño are expected to join

07:28the team. Harris expressed confidence in the players who had outstanding performances in AA, stating,

07:33I anticipate that those who had dominant seasons will play a significant role in our major league team next

07:38year. They have truly earned their place. He highlighted that these young athletes all around

07:4320 years old achieved remarkable success at a challenging level, and he expects their development

07:48to continue, with the likelihood of them making it to Detroit at some point in the upcoming season.

07:52When asked if this would influence the team's plans for the winter, he affirmed,

07:56Absolutely. It's impossible for it not to. McGonagall, currently ranked as MLB Pipeline's second

08:03overall prospect, is working on his skills at third base during the Arizona Fall League.

08:07In addition to his experience at shortstop and second base, this suggests he will soon be

08:13integrated into Detroit's infield lineup. Meanwhile, Clark is seen as the future center

08:18fielder for the Tigers, which may prompt the team to reassess the situation with current center

08:23fielder Parker Meadows, especially after Meadows' season was cut short due to injury.

08:28Briseño is also expected to contribute significantly. It may take additional time for him to refine his

08:35batting skills and establish his ideal defensive position, yet his impressive raw power offers an

08:41exciting opportunity for him to contribute as a designated hitter, first baseman, or catcher as

08:47the season progresses. 1. Is it time to rethink the bullpen?

08:52The Tigers have relied on their bullpen for a year and a half, but signs of fatigue became evident as

08:58the season wound down and continued into the playoffs. Tyler Holton experienced significant

09:03increases in his hit rate, home runs allowed, earned run average, ERA, and hard hit rate, as he began to

09:10rely more on a combination of cutters, sinkers, and sweepers. Meanwhile, Will Vest found renewed energy

09:17in October after facing challenges in the latter part of the season. Tommy Conley transitioned from being a

09:22potential closer early in the season to pitching in the 15th inning during Game 5 in Seattle.

09:27Brant Herter's second season was inconsistent. Kyle Finnegan emerged as a reliable pitcher after

09:33joining from the Nationals, but other players acquired at the trade deadline, Rafael Montero,

09:38Paul Seewald, and Cody Hoyer, had minimal impact. Although the bullpen remains a competent unit,

09:44it did not perform at the same level as before. The Tigers maintained a similar level of strength

09:49compared to the previous year. Last winter, they made some modest adjustments to their relief,

09:54pitching, and this year they might pursue more significant changes. Finnegan, now a free agent,

09:59has shown interest in rejoining the team. Additionally, Chase Lee and Dylan Smith,

10:03who made their debuts in April and June respectively, may compete for larger roles within the team.

10:09However, the Tigers are in need of another left-handed pitcher and could benefit from adding one or two

10:14high strikeout options to their roster. What move do you believe would most significantly

10:18push the Tigers closer to a World Series run?

Category

Transcript

Be the first to comment

Recommended