Projecting the Tigers' 2026 starting rotation after Framber Valdez signing

On Wednesday night, the Detroit Tigers came out of absolutely nowhere to sign Framber Valdez, the best available pitcher on the free agent market. Detroit had been connected to Valdez previously, but no one thought they would actually get him, especially not until they learned the outcome of their arbitration hearing with Tarik Skubal.

The Tigers might have gambled and lost. They probably felt pretty good coming out of their hearing with Skubal — well enough to sign Valdez — but Skubal ended up winning, becoming the highest-paid player in the history of the arbitration system.

With Skubal and now Valdez, the Tigers' rotation actually looks ... formidable. Valdez would be the ace on any team that's not the Tigers, Pirates, or Dodgers — and the Tigers got him. And he's the heir-apparent to Skubal's role as Detroit's ace if (when) he leaves in free agency after 2026.

However, Valdez's addition does overcrowd the rotation a little, which could set up a fun battle in spring training and/or give the Tigers the ability to go to a six-man rotation or carry multiple Swiss Army knife relievers in their bullpen.

Projecting the Tigers' 2026 starting rotation after Framber Valdez signing

• LHP Tarik Skubal
• LHP Framber Valdez
• RHP Reese Olson
• RHP Casey Mize
• RHP Jack Flaherty

Olson might not be ready by Opening Day, per Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press, which would leae Drew Anderson and Troy Melton to either duke it out for a fifth rotation spot (which hasn't been promised to either of them) or go to the bullpen to be used in a Tyler Holton-esque capacity: 80-90 innings a season in a do-it-all role.

Assuming Olson ends up being healthy, his, Mize, and Flaherty's spots are assured, but the actual hierarchy from spots No. 3 through 5 is anyone's guess and will probably depend on spring training performance.

Olson has shown some real potential over the last three seasons, but injuries have kept him from ever pitching a full season. Mize had a nice, redemptive 2025 and even got an All-Star nod, but he also spent some time on the IL and struggled more in the second half. Flaherty was frustrating all year, seemingly unable to continue taking positive strides that made him a valuable trade deadline piece to the Dodgers in 2024.

But there's a lot to be excited about here. If Olson can stay healthy and Mize and Flaherty can figure some things out, the Tigers have a formidable rotation, some real depth, and a former No. 1 prospect in Jackson Jobe expected to return sometime this year.