3 moves Tigers must make after disappointing 2025 Winter Meetings

The Tigers sleepwalked through Winter Meetings and only woke up very briefly to re-sign Kyle Finnegan to a two-year deal.

It was an underwhelming few days for almost everyone — only three major free agents signed — and fans will have to be on high alert until spring training as the rest come off the board.

As for Detroit, they accomplished almost nothing that they've supposedly set out to do. Fans are still hopeful that they'll kick things into high gear over the next few months, even if Scott Harris' comments from the Meetings aren't a ringing endorsement of the Tigers' ability or willingness to do much of anything.

The good news is that not much went down at all, so Detroit can very much still make their mark ahead of the 2026 campaign.

3 moves Tigers must make after disappointing 2025 Winter Meetings

Trade for Ketel Marte

The Tigers have a Gleyber Torres/infield conundrum of their own design that makes a trade for Marte seem incredibly unlikely, but they're still said to be players in his market alongside the Red Sox and Reds.

Harris is so afraid of taking on a long-term contract for anyone — free agent or trade return — that it's very un-Tigers-like to be interested in a guy who still has five years and $92 million (along with an $11.5 million player option in 2031) left on his deal. And the Tigers have an infield glut that Marte would overcomplicate.

But Tigers fans want to see Harris take a risk, and three-time All-Star and MVP candidate Marte is a worthwhile player to take a risk on. Trade for the guy, figure out how to fit everyone else later.

Sign a real starter

No disrespect to Drew Anderson, who posted good numbers in the KBO in 2025, but he's just not enough to justify kicking an incumbent starter out of the rotation. The Tigers plan to use Anderson as a starter, but they're keeping their options open. He's only making $7 million this season because of the risk they're taking, but it won't be a huge loss if they end up having to move him to the bullpen.

The Tigers have reportedly shown interest in Michael King and Ranger Suárez. Either would obviously be much more expensive than Anderson, but you're paying for years of experience and far greater assurances than a guy like Anderson could ever give.

Sign Pete Fairbanks

Detroit's only move from Winter Meetings was re-signing Finnegan, which was underwhelming but necessary for the Tigers' bullpen. It doesn't look like we're going to get the full overhaul that we wanted, but Finnegan is a good place to start.

The operative word there is start. The Tigers simply can't go into the 2026 season with the exact same bullpen they ended 2025 with. It's a wonder that Pete Fairbanks is still on the free agent market, but it can't be for a lack of interest. His market is going to be competitive (even the White Sox are interested in him), but the Tigers should still be involved.