Tigers insider's reminder of bleak 2026-27 free agent class increases urgency to do something right now

As we march closer to spring training, the Detroit Tigers have stood their ground. This was a team that was inches from letting an epic collapse end their 2025 campaign in the most bitter way imaginable.

One would think that the scare would have motivated the club to make some drastic moves. Improvements were clearly needed. Yet, aside from signing Kenley Jansen, the majority of their moves this winter have been retaining players who were already here.

What's the reason for the inaction? Could the Tarik Skubal saga truly be derailing the club's chances to make any sort of meaningful upgrades? It seems unlikely. This was a problem that the Tigers knew they'd have to deal with. Is it that they're saving their bullets to make a Godfather offer to Skubal next offseason? That also seems farfetched. After all, if that was the plan, why not present it to him now and see if they could put all of this nonsense to bed.

Instead, what we're seeing is something more sinister. The lethargy we're seeing is intentional. Detroit is betting on its young core to take another step. Scott Harris wasn't joking when he said he expects the club's top prospects to become factors in 2026.

The Tigers aren't acting with the appropriate urgency, and the 2026-2027 free-agent class won't save them if they find this strategy to be a mistake

Tigers beat reporter Cody Stavenhagen's mailbag column for The Athletic (subscription required) tells you everything you need to know. Asked whether the Tigers' passivity this winter had anything to do with them saving up for Skubal or another big star next offseason, Stavenhagen's answer was a resounding no. Moreover, there isn't really another non-Skubal star.

"As for Skubal alternatives, I’m not sure there’s a real big-ticket fit for the Tigers other than Skubal. Jazz Chisholm Jr. will be one of the top players available. Bo Bichette could re-enter the market," Stavenhagen wrote.

It's true, Next year's class lacks star power and is arguably weaker than the already thin class we saw this year. If the Tigers really sit out the rest of the offseason or target middling veterans on their last legs, they'll have a hard time rebounding next winter if things don't work out this season.

There are moves out there that Detroit can make. A long-awaited reunion with Eugenio Suarez to man the hot corner makes a ton of sense. So, too, does adding a legitimate No. 2 starter like Framber Valdez or Zac Gallen. Do those things, and they're cooking.

Ignore the few remaining impact pieces, as it seems like they intend to, and when things crumble again this year, they'll find even less to turn to and fix these issues once and for all. A lot of pressure is going to be on the prospects to carry them through, and that's a dangerous game for a team that allegedly has World Series ambitions.