Mariners starting offseason with a bang should put pressure on Tigers

The Seattle Mariners have been something of a thorn in the side of the Detroit Tigers. The Mariners, of course, were the club that vanquished the Tigers in a heartbreaking winner-take-all 15-inning marathon, but their torment of the Tigers goes so much deeper.

Both clubs entered 2025 on the verge of becoming legitimate contenders, but they took divergent paths as the season progressed. Detroit saw its massive AL Central lead evaporate before its very eyes, while Seattle came roaring back to steal the AL West from the Houston Astros, ensuring the collapse of the perennial playoff powerhouse.

The ALDS represented the stark difference between the two teams. Mariners' chief Jerry Dipoto attacked the trade deadline with urgency, while Scott Harris mostly sat on his hands and counted on a couple of dice rolls to fix his broken bullpen. One of the main highlights of the diametric approaches at the deadline was Dipoto swiping prime Tigers' trade target and former farmhand, Eugenio Suarez, right from under Scott Harris's nose.

Now Dipoto is giving Harris another lesson, making the offseason's first big splash by reuniting with first baseman Josh Naylor on a five-year deal.

The Mariners striking first with Josh Naylor should up the pressure on Scott Harris and the Tigers

The Tigers have a lot of needs this offseason. The infield is completely unsettled except for first base. Center field has become a trouble spot amid Parker Meadows' inability to stay healthy and productive. As good as hitters like Riley Greene, Spencer Torkelson, and Kerry Carpenter are, none of them have proven to be the big bat that carries the club through rough stretches.

On the pitching side of things, Harris needs to get the bullpen right this time around. The rotation, even with Jack Flaherty back in the fold, could use another high-end arm.

The pressure was already high. Tarik Skubal's uncertainty has thrown a cloud over the offseason plan for Detroit, but the likely scenario is to hang onto him throughout 2026. Getting aggressive and putting together a highly competitive roster is the best way (aside from backing up a Brinks truck) to convince him to stick around once he hits the open market next winter.

Harris can plug top prospects like Kevin McGonigle and Max Clark into some of these holes, but he can't only tinker around the margins to support going with the kids. If he does, he will be asking for trouble.

The Mariners showed the Tigers up once already with their aggressive take on improving their roster, and now they've given Detroit yet another lesson. Strike early and think big. Unlike the deadline, it's not too late for the Tigers to respond. Hopefully, Scott Harris got the memo.