ESPN fuels Tigers free agency rumors by mentioning 2 star pitchers in prediction

With the Tigers now officially in their offseason, it's time for the rumors to start swirling. This feels like it has to be a big one for Detroit after their flaws were put on full display in the postseason, and they're now potentially only a calendar year away from losing the greatest talent they've developed in a decade in Tarik Skubal.

The offense should be a secondary concern to pitching (thought it should still be paramount). Scott Harris' 2024-2025 offseason and 2025 trade deadline were pitching-heavy, but the Tigers' ALDS roster carried only one starting pitcher and three relievers signed or acquired during those time periods, and one of them gave up the walk-off single that ended Detroit's season.

Going into 2026, the Tigers' rotation will be mostly set with Skubal, Casey Mize, Reese Olson, and Troy Melton, but if Jack Flaherty opts out of his contract, they're going to need a fifth starter, and hopefully on a longer deal than a yearb because Skubal and Mize will be free agents after 2026.

ESPN kicked off some early predictions with two free agent candidates for the Tigers: Framber Valdez and Dylan Cease.

ESPN predicts Tigers will 'go hard' after starting pitchers this offseason with arms like Framber Valdez and Dylan Cease

Valdez was in the news for a couple of less-than-flattering on-field incidents this season, but he is a former AJ Hinch player with the two having overlapped on the Astros for Valdez's first two seasons in 2018 and 2019. Plus, he's a workhorse who's still occasionally brilliant despite his pretty average 3.66 ERA this year.

The shine wore off Cease a little bit this year when he pitched 168 innings for a 4.55 ERA for the Padres, but he's two years younger than Valdez and his Cy Young-worthy seasons aren't that far behind him. Both could plausibly seek around $25 million a year in free agency, payroll that the Tigers could find cleared up if Flaherty opts out.

Valdez and Cease are arguably the two best starting pitchers who will be available in free agency, so their markets will be fierce. After the Tigers went out and got Alex Cobb — of all starters — last offseason, fans would be right to be a little skeptical that Detroit will spend big on a No. 2 starter to slot in behind Skubal. But the offseason is the time to dream, and the Tigers need to make a splash this time around.