Tigers could revamp rotation by targeting pitcher who just opted out of Mets contract

The free agency window officially opened on Nov. 4 at 5 p.m. ET after the qualifying offer deadline had passed, and it opened a world of possibility for the Detroit Tigers' front office, whose biggest job this offseason will be to rebuild the rotation around Tarik Skubal.

Apart from Skubal, no one in the Tigers' depleted rotation seems totally safe. The Tigers have seemingly been pushing Casey Mize out the door little by little, Reese Olson could be a nice trade piece, and Keider Montero's presence felt pretty temporary by the end of the season.

Although we shouldn't expect the Tigers to chase after top-tier guys like Corbin Burnes, Max Fried, or Blake Snell, the free agent market this season isn't going to be short on starters. We've already identified a few who could reunite with the Tigers (Max Scherzer, Jack Flaherty), and more are still coming as players decline their options to re-enter free agency.

Detroit could keep an eye on former Met Sean Manaea's market. He choose not to pick up his player option after his best season on the mound since 2021. The Mets did extend the qualifying offer, but it seems likely that he'll decline to seek out a multi-year deal elsewhere.

Sean Manaea could be a free agent candidate for Tigers after declining player option with Mets

Manaea pitched a career-high 181 2/3 innings for the Mets this year for a 3.47 ERA, his lowest in any season when he's pitched more than 100 innings. He probably sold himself best during the NLDS, when he pitched seven innings against the Phillies in Game 3 and only allowed one earned run en route to a 7-2 victory for New York.

While it's unlikely that Manaea will make more than what the $21.05 million qualifying offer promises on the open market, he's probably looking for the stability of a longer-term deal. At 32, it'll most likely come in the form of a three-year contract, maybe with a club option for a fourth, which could offer the Tigers a little more stability in the rotation over the next few years.

Overall, Manaea's been a mostly predictable and stable presence in the rotations he's been a part of with the Athletics, Padres, Giants, and Mets. He has a decent 4.00 career ERA and has mostly stayed healthy since debuting, so he could certainly be a solid mid-rotation guy for the Tigers over the next few seasons.