3 biggest steals among Tigers' arbitration-eligible players, 2 not worth the money

MLB Trade Rumors, the foremost source in the arbitration realm, released their predictions for 2027 on Friday. The Tigers have 11 arb-eligible players — not quite as much as, say, the Brewers or Red Sox (16 and 17), but enough that they could make up the largest part of the 2027 roster in comparison to contracted and pre-arb players.

Before factoring in arbitration salaries, the Tigers will have less than $100 million on the books coming into the offseason. MLBTR predicts they'll add $42 million more between everyone from Parker Meadows ($1 million) to Riley Greene ($9.3 million), which would still give them a lot of wiggle room should Scott Harris have a change of heart and sign a big free agent.

Among this crop of 11 are a few players the Tigers should be more than happy to pay, but also a few they could take off the books for a little more flexibility.

3 biggest steals among Tigers' arbitration-eligible players

Reese Olson: $1.5 million

It's no surprise that Olson is this cheap, seeing as he didn't pitch at all in 2026. Injuries have been a problem for him throughout his career, but if he's healthy enough to join the 2027 rotation by Opening Day and can stay that way, the Tigers are still getting a very promising pitcher in his prime years for a marginal amount of money.

Tyler Holton: $2.4 million

Holton has had his in-season up-and-downs and has never quite gotten back to the dominant form of his 2023-2024 years, but he's still arguably the most dependable arm in the Tigers' bullpen these days. He posted a career-worst 1.250 WHIP this season but still had the capacity to get himself out of trouble. After shakier performances in April and May, he bounced back in June and remained a ringer through the rest of the season.

Riley Greene: $9.3 million

Sure, one of these things is not like the other, but the Tigers are going to have to relish the time when they'll be able to get away with paying Greene below his market value. His offensive maturation this season was one of the quieter positive developments, and although Scott Harris declined to answer whether or not the team was interested in a contract extension, they should be considering it right now.

2 not worth the money

Parker Meadows: $1 million

Meadows is the projected lowest-earner among the Tigers' 11 arb-eligible players. $1 million is barely above league minimum, and it might encourage Detroit to keep him on to maintain some depth. He does still have a minor league option.

However, the Tigers need to do some closing of ranks this offseason. The outfield is still mostly a weakness for them outside of Max Clark. However, Brett Callahan and Ben Malgeri were both at least a little promising in their own ways, Kerry Carpenter is going to get another chance to become an everyday player, Wenceel Pérez should be back by Opening Day, and Zyhir Hope is in the hopper.

It's more likely than not that the Tigers keep Meadows on the roster as a fourth outfielder, but they could consider dealing or cutting him altogether.

Matt Vierling: $3.7 million

Unlike Meadows, Vierling might not even be cheap enough to justify keeping around. The Tigers have always loved him and he was instrumental to their 2024 run, but after two years filled with injuries and underperformance, it might be time to move on.

Detroit is taking the emphasis off of their older players and shifting responsibility to the kids. Callahan, Malgeri, Carpenter, Pérez, Hope, and even Meadows should be considerations over Vierling, who seems most in danger of a non-tender this offseason.

Add us as a preferred source on Google