4 offseason decisions the Tigers already need to be thinking about for 2026

The 2025 season for the Detroit Tigers was a tale of two halves. They came flying out of the gates with energy and promise, giving fans the sense that this might be the year they run the table. But as the grind of the season wore on, the early momentum fizzled. What began as a sprint toward contention ended with a stumble across the finish line, exposing holes in the roster that could no longer be ignored.

The Tigers will be left to confront some hard truths when the postseason concludes. If they want 2026 to be different, the front office can’t afford another offseason of half-measures. The time has come for bold, decisive moves — and four major decisions stand out above the rest.

4 offseason decisions the Tigers already need to be thinking about for 2026

Explore blockbuster trades for veteran stars

The Tigers can’t afford to sit idle in an offseason that could define their trajectory for years to come. If Detroit wants to make a statement, the trade market may be the clearest path. Cardinals third baseman Nolan Arenado has started to sound more open to waiving his no-trade clause, telling The Athletic’s Katie Woo, “I think I have to be. That’s something I’ll discuss with my agent and my family.” Right-hander Sonny Gray also hinted this week that his future in St. Louis is far from guaranteed. Both would fill glaring needs in Detroit — a legitimate middle-of-the-order bat and a stabilizing veteran arm.

But the Cardinals aren’t the only team in transition. Other franchises will inevitably retool this winter, and the Tigers must be aggressive in checking in. Whether it’s Arenado, Gray, or another proven star, swinging a bold deal would signal to the fanbase, and to their ace Tarik Skubal — that this organization is serious about contending.

Commit to building an offense worthy of Tarik Skubal

Speaking of Skubal, the conversation around the Tigers often begins and ends with him, and for good reason. He’s pitched like a Cy Young winner for the second straight season, keeping Detroit afloat in games where the offense simply didn’t show up. That narrative cannot continue if the franchise has any intention of making October baseball a reality.

Detroit’s offense has been streaky at best, and far too many lineups have lacked the punch to compete with the American League’s elite. The 2026 offseason must be about more than complementary pieces — it has to be about adding bats who can change the lineup’s identity.

Face the tough question: trade Skubal or double down

This is the conversation no Tigers fan wants to hear, but it’s the reality. Tarik Skubal is set to hit free agency after the 2026 season, and that looming deadline makes Detroit’s window to act even tighter. If ownership isn’t prepared to open the checkbook and build around their ace, then holding onto him for sentiment’s sake only delays the inevitable. His value has never been higher, and if the Tigers aren’t ready to contend, the return he could bring in a blockbuster trade might reshape the franchise for the next decade.

On the flip side, doubling down and locking him in as the centerpiece of a contender would send the opposite message: that Detroit is finally ready to stop playing it safe and invest in a winning roster. There’s no middleground anymore. With free agency only a year away, this offseason forces a decision — are the Tigers chasing October, or are they quietly preparing to cash in on their best asset before he walks away for nothing?

Restructure the pitching staff from top to bottom

The cracks in Detroit’s pitching staff have been hard to ignore. As a group, they finished 16th in MLB in both WAR (15.3) and ERA (3.97) — the very definition of middle-of-the-road. For a club trying to rise out of mediocrity, “average” simply won’t cut it. Too many rotation questions and too much reliance on unproven arms have cost the Tigers in critical stretches. Plugging one or two holes won’t be enough this time.

The front office needs to take a holistic approach, especially with five pitchers set to hit free agency and three more holding options. That kind of turnover leaves no room for patchwork fixes. Detroit must evaluate whether its young starters are ready for full-season workloads, identify bullpen anchors who can handle high-leverage innings, and add versatile arms capable of shifting between roles as needed. October contenders thrive because they shorten games and give their lineups room to breathe. Too often, Detroit’s staff has done the opposite — stretching games out and exposing weaknesses, with a bullpen that ranked 24th in the majors.

If the Tigers want to shift from being described as “the team with a great ace” to “the team with a great staff,” this offseason must be about more than tinkering. It has to be about creativity, investment, and a willingness to reimagine how pitchers are deployed across the roster.

Detroit has the resources, the trade chips, and the opportunity to take control of the AL Central. What remains to be seen is whether ownership and the front office have the conviction to act decisively.