The Athletic lists potential Alex Cobb 2.0 as frustrating Tigers free agency fit

Much to Detroit fans' dismay, the Tigers are almost certainly done adding pitchers this offseason. The bullpen is in decent enough shape after Kyle Finnegan's re-signing and Kenley Jansen's arrival, but Scott Harris solved nothing by adding Drew Anderson to the rotation, which needed a clear No. 2 but instead got a No. 4 — at best.

The Tigers' reported interest in free agents Michael King and Ranger Suárez is probably out the window now that they have Anderson, who will probably kick Troy Melton back to the bullpen (or they'll keep both in hybrid starter/long relief roles).

But that's only part what makes Jim Bowden's latest prediction — starter Tyler Mahle to the Tigers — so ridiculous.

Mahle hasn't been on anyone's radar this offseason, and for good reason. In his 2025 season with the Rangers, he was excellent when he was healthy, but he only pitched 86 2/3 innings after going down in mid-June with right shoulder fatigue.

If the Alex Cobb debacle has taught the Tigers anything, they simply can't take on a now-unnecessary starter with a history of injury that's as extensive as Mahle's.

Jim Bowden's Tigers-Tyler Mahle connection sounds like a recipe for disaster

Mahle has been in the majors since 2017 but has only pitched more than 129 2/3 innings in a single season once. He got up to 180 in 2021 with the Reds, making a league-leading 33 starts for a 3.75 ERA. It allowed the Reds to trade him to the Twins at the 2022 deadline in exchange for three top prospects.

He pitched 25 2/3 innings in 2023 before undergoing Tommy John, but the Rangers still took a flyer on him with a generous two-year deal. He came off the IL in early August 2024, then went right back onto it two weeks later, and he stayed there for the rest of the year. All told, he's only made 24 starts (125 innings pitched) since 2023.

No doubt that he'll come cheap if he can find a team like the Rangers who's still willing to give him a chance, but it can't be the Tigers. Cobb making $15 million last year only to never get past rehab is still a stain on their 2025 season. Even though Mahle managed to pitch more last year than Cobb had with the Guardians before the Tigers signed him, they shouldn't take the same risk, especially when rotation plans are still unclear.