5 Tigers whose futures depend on promising 2025 postseason performances

The 2025 postseason has arrived and, despite their best attempts to blow it, the Detroit Tigers find themselves right in the middle of the action again. It took some late-season heroics to get to this point, but the Tigers did just enough to earn a first-round matchup with the division rival Guardians. For many Tigers players, how this postseason goes will determine a lot about their futures in Detroit or elsewhere.

For some, the stakes are relatively mild. Tarik Skubal's next contract is probably going to be insane regardless, but a strong performance in the playoffs could push his future deal(s) into record-breaking territory. However, other players could have a lot more on the line than just a few extra million in their pockets.

If we are honest with ourselves, any player can become a hero or a villain with just one performance in the postseason. If you come up in the clutch, a player can drink for free anywhere in the city for life. If you make a critical mistake or are responsible for a loss, you can't show your face without getting booed. This list doesn't deal with those sorts of extremes, but instead includes guys that are approaching forks in the road of their careers and how the 2025 playoffs go could determine the direction they go.

5 Tigers whose futures depend on promising 2025 postseason performances

Will Vest

For most of the last couple of seasons, Will Vest has been one of the Tigers' best relievers and one that served as a secret weapon for Detroit in key spots. However, Vest looked surprisingly shaky towards the end of the regular season with a 5.27 ERA over his last 13 appearances. Some of that does appear to be rotten batted ball luck as his FIP over that same span is 3.36, but a strong showing in October would go a long way towards trusting Vest completely in future high-leverage situations.

Javy Baez

After the 2025 season, Javy Baez will only have two years remaining on his odious contract. The passable batting average has been a pleasant surprise and Baez remains a strong defender, but the quality of contact metrics are not a fan of his work in 2025, and his approach at the plate is still nightmare fuel. If Baez performs well this postseason, that could either make giving him yet another chance more likely or create some actual interest from other teams and allow the Tigers to get his money off their books.

Justyn-Henry Malloy

It is hard to pinpoint what role Malloy could or should have on this Tigers team going forward. He has shown some aptitude with the bat in the minors and at times in the big leagues, but his future defensive home is uncertain and we still don't know if he'll impact the ball enough to make it as a lineup regular. If he comes up big during the playoffs, fans may finally get some answers.

Kyle Finnegan

The Tigers' bullpen is a hot mess with Finnegan's inconsistency being a big reason why. On top of that, Finnegan is a free agent after the season and could really use a strong playoff run to bolster his case. If he pitches well, Detroit could look to bring him back with a raise or he could get paid by another reliever-needy team next season despite his injury issues this season. If he struggles, Finnegan may have to settle for a cheaper one-year deal, and it almost certainly won't be the Tigers giving it to him.

Jack Flaherty

Flaherty is a weird case because he is pretty much a known commodity and is going to get opportunities to start as long as he is under contract. However, he does have a player option for 2026, and while his 2025 numbers don't scream "test free agency again", there is an argument for hitting the open market while he still has some earning power. If Flaherty falters, Detroit may learn to regret ever giving him the contract they did in the first place. If he succeeds? Perhaps another big payday is on the horizon.