Details of Tomas Nido’s new Tigers contract opens up roster fight

The Detroit Tigers re-signed catcher Tomás Nido to a minor league contract for 2026. According to Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press, the contract includes a non-roster invite to Major League spring training.

There’s a good chance, then, that the Tigers will stage a quiet but meaningful spring competition between Nido and Jake Rogers for the backup catcher role, even with Dillon Dingler entrenched as the starter – and that battle could be closer than it looks on paper.

Minor league deals often come with token invites, but the $1.5 million salary if Nido makes the roster isn’t pocket change. It’s a sign that Detroit values his potential contribution and wants to give him a legitimate opportunity to compete. The front office wouldn’t offer that kind of incentive unless they believed there was a path to the roster – meaning Rogers’ job security is far from guaranteed.

Tomás Nido, Jake Rogers could battle for Tigers' backup catcher role in 2026

Rogers remains an elite defensive presence with excellent pitch framing, solid blocking and a strong arm that limits the running game. But his bat has cratered over the past two seasons. He’s hit well below .200 since 2024, with a strikeout rate hovering near 35%, offering little offensive upside.

That kind of production is increasingly hard to justify when the team already carries a light-hitting utility bench. If Rogers can’t show signs of progress at the plate this spring, the Tigers might look for a steadier backup who can at least provide contact quality and veteran at-bats.

Nido is the quintessential veteran backup. He won’t carry an offense, but he knows how to manage a staff and handle a clubhouse. He has played in parts of eight MLB seasons – mostly with the New York Mets – and pitchers tend to praise his preparation and game-calling.

While Nido’s bat isn’t flashy (.215 career average, limited pop), he does make more consistent contact than Rogers and profiles as a safer, lower-variance backup option. Nido’s reputation for handling young pitchers could fit perfectly with Detroit’s still-developing rotation. The Tigers could view him as a stabilizing presence behind Dingler, particularly if the young starter goes through growing pains.

The spring training competition for the Tigers' backup catcher role will likely hinge on offensive competence and staff handling. If Rogers continues to struggle at the plate while Nido proves his reliability with Detroit’s arms, the Tigers could easily flip the order in their catching hierarchy before Opening Day.