Analysis of the Tigers team's priorities ahead of the Winter Meetings.

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Transcript

00:00Alright everyone, let's break down where the Detroit Tigers stand as they head to the winter

00:05meetings in Orlando, the main talking point and top priority. As the Tigers' leadership,

00:10President Scott Harris and GM Jeff Greenberg, prepare for their meetings, they're going to

00:15hear a lot of questions about whether they'll make another push for a star free agent hitter

00:19like Alex Bregman. However, their internal focus is actually on something more critical.

00:24They need pitching. Let's look at why, last season, manager AJ Hinch's pitching chaos approach had

00:32ups and downs, especially when pitchers got tired or injured. The mid-season trades for pitchers

00:38didn't bring much lasting help except for reliever Kyle Finnegan. Also, while their minor league system

00:44is full of promising hitters, most of their top pitching prospects are still a few years away

00:49from being major league ready, so, as the off-season heats up, expect the Tigers to be in the

00:54mix for pitchers. What the club needs? 1. Starting rotation. By the end of last season,

01:01the Tigers were basically using a three-man rotation of Tarek Skubal, Jack Flaherty, and Casey Mize,

01:07with Troy Melton helping out from the bullpen. They plan to have all of them back, with Melton

01:11moving to a full-time starter role, and they expect Reese Olsen to return from his shoulder strain.

01:17That's a solid five-man group, but here's the key issue. The team's record was 66-6 taught to 65,

01:23in games that did not feature Tarek Skubal as the starter. Furthermore, Skubal can become a free

01:30agent after the next season, next winter. This means the Tigers aren't just looking for a temporary fix.

01:37They need to plan for a future rotation that might not have Skubal. This explains their reported

01:45interest in top-tier free agent starters like Ranger Suarez and Michael King, instead of the

01:50shorter-term deals they've done in recent years. 2. Bullpen. The relief corps is facing a lot of

01:57changes. Last season they brought in several pitchers who were about to become free agents to cover for

02:02injuries. Now, key relievers. Kyle Finnegan, Rafael Montero, and Paul Sowald are free agents.

02:11Additionally, Jason Foley, Sean Gwenther, and Alex Lang were removed from the roster last month.

02:17They do have some arms returning. Closer Will Vest, lefties Tyler Holton and Brant Herter,

02:23sinkerballer Breen and Hanafi, and they expect Bo Breeski back from injury. However, last season

02:29proved they need more reliable depth. The Tigers would like to re-sign Finnegan and have been

02:33connected to former Rays closer Pete Fairbanks, but their search seems broader than just finding

02:38one traditional, closer. Potential trade candidates. You'll hear a lot of Tarek Skubal trade rumors.

02:44The Tigers' current stance is to keep their back-to-back Cy Young Award winner for his final

02:49contract year, unless they receive an offer so massive it sets the team up for 2026 and beyond.

02:55That kind of offer hasn't surfaced yet, but the winter meetings are known for surprises,

02:59even without trading. Skubal.

03:02GM. Scott Harris has room to make deals. The Tigers refused to trade their top prospects for

03:08short-term help last July. Now, with a new wave of talent getting closer to the majors,

03:13some current players or prospects could be used in trades for pitching. Could Colt Keefe,

03:18whose move to second base was complicated by Gleyber Torres' return, be traded for a pitcher?

03:24Could Parker Meadows, who faces a crucial year in center field, be available?

03:29Could rising prospects just outside the top tier, like Max Anderson, No More, 9, and How You Lee,

03:37number 6, be valuable pieces in a trade, prospects to know? Kevin McGonigal, their top prospect,

03:44is expected to debut in Detroit sometime next season and take an infield spot, shortstop second

03:49or third base. Any lineup additions they make will likely consider, his, impending, arrival.

03:55The team let Andy Abanas go, believing hitters like Max Anderson and or How You Lee can soon fill a

04:01similar right-handed platoon role. Max Clark, number 2, could be pushing for a call-up to center field.

04:06By the end of the season, once he adjusts to higher minor league pitching. For near-term pitching help,

04:11options are fewer. But Dylan Smith, number 20, showed promise in a mid-season bullpen stint.

04:17Lefty Jake Miller, number 19. Despite limited experience above high A, could rise quickly if

04:23healthy. Rule 5 draft. The Tigers haven't made a Rule 5 pick since 2022. Mason Englert, partly because

04:30their roster is competitive and tight. That probably won't change unless they find a reliever they really

04:35like. Conversely, other teams might be interested in selecting a Tigers prospect like R.J. Petit,

04:40number 30, a massive 6'8", $300 OBD reliever with a great slider and fastball.

04:46The big burning question. After two straight postseason runs that ended in a Game 5 Division

04:51Series loss, will the Tigers make aggressive moves to try for a deeper playoff run?

04:56The organization has consistently focused on building sustained success.

05:00The upcoming arrivals of McGonagall, Clark and others are seen as the start of a new competitive

05:05window. However, with Tarek's skewball potentially leaving next winter, this upcoming season could be

05:10Detroit's last year with a true, game-changing ace leading their rotation. This adds a layer of urgency

05:16to their decisions.

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