3 early free agency moves Tigers can make to address needs and avoid bidding wars

The Detroit Tigers need a few hired hands, and this offseason could either be the beginning to another rebuild or a better run at the Commissioner’s Trophy. For the second year in a row, they bottomed out in Game 5 of the ALDS. They need to eclipse that.

After a rollercoaster season filled with almost everything, the Tigers need a few new faces, especially pitchers. Jackson Jobe was injured early, Reece Olson didn’t finish the season, and Scott Harris failed to acquire usable pitching talent at the deadline.

Harris can start over and acquire a few pitchers to help the squad for 2026. There are plenty of rotation and bullpen options, areas in which Harris reiterated the team must fortify. But there's a catch. The Tigers aren't typically big spenders. So how can they make this work? How can they improve the roster without spending a ton of money? We think we have a solution.

3 early free agency moves Tigers can make to address needs and avoid bidding wars

Justin Verlander

Justin Verlander is a first ballot Hall of Famer, and at age 42 he has a chance to return to the franchise where he began his career. Verlander just recently signed a one-year, $15 million deal with the Giants and went 4-11 with a 3.85 ERA in 2025.

His numbers don’t jump off the page due to the first half of the season. He started 0-7 with a 4.70 ERA and his pitches were a bit flat. Verlander also had limited run support in San Francisco. At the all-star break he tweaked his mechanics, and over the second half of the season he was back to looking like the Cy Young candidate we’re used to seeing. Over his final seven starts, he posted a 1.96 ERA.

While he's an older option, the Tigers need reliable pitching. The rotation has been plagued with injuries over the last few years and Verlander could help to steady the ship, especially with Jobe coming back from Tommy John. He is also a veteran who can help the younger pitchers better understand the game, passing on his wisdom. Verlander may also be a cheap temporary option for the Tigers, and fans would also gladly welcome the reunion.

Walker Buehler

Buehler is a risky option that may pay off. Dominating for the Dodgers in 2021, he posted a 2.47 ERA and went 16-4. Buehler underwent Tommy John in 2022 and didn’t pitch in 2023. He was underwhelming in his return in 2024, and his reason for regression may be his surgery.

Last year, Buehler signed with the Red Sox on a one-year, $21.5 million. He made 22 starts, going 7-7 with a 5.45 ERA before he was . Buehler struggled with strikeouts (which were a career low) and walks which ballooned. The Red Sox moved him to the bullpen before he was eventually released. After his time in Boston, the Phillies signed him to a minor-league deal. He was used as a depth option after the Phillies ace Zack Wheeler was lost for the year due to injury. He only started two games and pitched 13 2/3 innings for the Phillies before he was optioned to Triple-A Lehigh Valley. 

Once an elite starter for the Dodgers, Buehler can be a good option on a one-year prove-it contract as he looks to rebuild his value. While he may not be the old version of himself, he may be a low-risk, high-reward veteran to bring into the fold. A new start in a low-pressure situation could help Buehler get back on track and help the Tigers get over the hump.

Ryan Helsley

Helsley is an interesting free agent this offseason. Traded from the Cardinals to the Mets at the deadline, it was difficult for him to adjust. From being named the Cardinals closer in 2022 to being traded, he had a 2.96 ERA, showing his dominance. He even won Reliever of the Year in 2024 with a 2.04 ERA. This season he finished with a 4.50 ERA and posted a 7.20 ERA with the Mets after the trade deadline. While he doesn’t appear to be a good free agent target, the Tigers desperately need to upgrade the bullpen. Throughout the postseason, Hinch had his hands tied with the options at his disposal. The need for relievers is a necessity if the Tigers want to take a step forward and go beyond the ALDS next season.

Helsley had been a part of the Cardinals system since he was drafted in 2015. He might have lost his closer duties for the near future, but he can still be a high-end reliever helping to set up Will Vest for the ninth. Since his unusual down year, a new change of scenery could help get his career back on track. He's another potential low-cost option with a high ceiling.

The Tigers also desperately need new bats, but most are either not a good option or too expensive to acquire at the beginning of free agency. Scott Harris’ failed trade deadline is a smear on his Detroit legacy, but he has an opportunity to rewrite his story. Harris has a chance to change the trajectory of this team by acquiring some pieces that can potentially show up in next year’s postseason. These three pitchers may not be at the top of everyone’s list but they can provide help to a team that's in need of various upgrades.