It took Jim Bowden all of the offseason and spring training to say something nice about Tigers

Well, it certainly took long enough.

Most of the offseason Jim Bowden, a former baseball executive who now writes for The Athletic, criticized the Detroit Tigers for their handling of the Tarik Skubal arbitration situation. Finally, it seems he has something nice to say about the Tigers.

Bowden finally changes his tune on the Detroit Tigers after the offseason

In Bowden's recent ranking of the best lineups across MLB, he places the Tigers at No. 14. He compliments the thump provided by Riley Greene and Spencer Torkelson and also picks Kevin McGonigle to be the American League Rookie of the Year.

Bowden ranking the Tigers firmly in the middle of the pack when it comes to the lineup may not seem like much cause for celebration, but Tigers fans have had to get used to his interesting takes on potential Tarik Skubal trades and his praise of owner Chris Ilitch, which have not made Tigers fans happy one bit.

But removing Bowden from it for a moment, the Tigers having an average or slightly above average lineup in 2026 would actually be totally acceptable. If the rotation stays healthy and is as strong as everyone is predicting it will be, then they could win a lot of games even with average offensive output. Skubal should keep on doing Skubal things, and the additions of Framber Valdez and Justin Verlander, who join Casey Mize and Jack Flaherty, make the rotation look well above-average as the 2026 season gets underway.

The bullpen is also in a strong place as well. The Tigers have three legitimate closers at the back end of the bullpen to close out games with veteran Kenley Jansen, Kyle Finnegan, and Will Vest. On paper, it seems like a good way to construct a ball club.

As for McGonigle, Bowden is not going out on a limb by predicting he will win AL Rookie of the Year. A lot of prognosticators are high on the young shortstop and the Tigers now have added incentive to hope he wins Rookie of the Year. If he does, the Tigers will get an extra draft pick.

There's a long season ahead, but if Bowden is finally showing some love to the Tigers maybe that shows they actually are doing something right.