Tigers' division rival signs perfect rotation depth option in missed opportunity

So far, the Tigers have given out two contracts each worth a guaranteed $15 million, and their $30 million total spending makes them the 16th-highest spenders in the league. Although they could be doing worse (the Twins, Brewers, Padres, Cardinals, and Marlins have yet to spend any money at all), even the Athletics are outspending around 75% of the league.

Alex Cobb and Gleyber Torres' deals have suggested that Detroit is unwilling to go any higher than $15 million for anyone not named Alex Bregman. With those contracts, both also just a year long, the Tigers are sticking to the same old strategy as always. Low commitment, low spending.

The Cobb deal has already come under heavy fire, especially with Justin Verlander going off the market to the Giants for the same amount of money on Tuesday. But another signing on Wednesday will make Tigers fans want to bang their heads against a wall even more about Cobb's contract.

Martín Pérez signed with the White Sox for one year and just $3.5 million, with a $10 million option for 2026 and $1.5 million buyout. The White Sox only guaranteed $5 million to a pitcher who's younger than Cobb and less injury-prone. He could also be better!

White Sox sign Martín Pérez to a one-year deal for a lot less money than Tigers gave Alex Cobb

Pérez is just the latest in a growing line of pitchers who would've been better options for Detroit than Cobb. Luis Severino, Walker Buehler, and Sean Manaea all have a new home for 2025. Granted, they were all promised a lot more money than the Tigers seem comfortable spending, but then you add Pérez into that mix with the comparatively tiny amount he'll make, and it's hard not to think that the Tigers just settled on the first and easiest option that presented itself to them. It seems like they were playing chicken with the rest of the league and flinched way too early.

Pérez pitched 135 innings last year for a 4.53 ERA with the Pirates and Padres, and improved a lot in the second half of the season. It was his fourth consecutive 100+ inning season, and he pitched a complete game shutout in 2022, in a year with an overall 2.89 ERA and an All-Star nod.

Cobb pitched just 16 1/3 innings in 2024 and was on the verge of retirement when the Tigers expressed interest. He accepted their offer, because $15 million would probably be enough to bring most people out of retirement, and the Tigers apparently called it quits with adding to the rotation.

There's no indication that the White Sox will be that much better in 2025 than they were in 2024, but Pérez is another frustrating example of what could've been if Detroit had played their cards better.