Tigers' Jake Rogers decision hit fans in the feels after timing with Tarik Skubal start

Few looming Detroit Tigers moves will symbolize the end of an era like Scott Harris's decision to designate catcher Jake Rogers for assignment. Rogers predates even Tarik Skubal, having made his MLB debut in 2019, and been through some brutal Tigers seasons that promised a light at the end of the tunnel. While the 2024 and 2025 seasons suggested Rogers, Skubal and the Tigers were one of the promising young teams in the major leagues, it turns out there is more road work ahead.

Rogers is hitting under the Mendoza line for the third straight season. With a .167 batting average and .567 OPS, it was impossible to justify keeping him on the roster much longer. While a more reasonable move would have been to DFA outfielder James Outman, who is also enjoying a miserable season of his own (.162 batting average, .510 OPS), the fact that the Tigers lineup regularly features two players of this caliber is part of the problem.

Why the Jake Rogers move is so personal to Tigers fans

The difference between Rogers and someone like Outman is rather simple. Rogers plays the most demanding position in the field, and has formed a bond with the Tigers best player like no other. Detroit's decision to let Rogers go — and they will likely find a trade partner for him given how in-demand catchers are — proves that Skubal is likely to follow him, and one of the Tigers' greatest weapons is no more. The Skubal-Rogers battery is officially a thing of the past.

Skubal will make his scheduled start on Wednesday at Comerica Park. The timing of the Tigers announcement — that it happens a mere day before Skubal's next outing — only makes it a tougher pill to swallow. There's a good chance it's Skubal's final appearance in a Tigers uniform. The same can be said for players on the block like Casey Mize, Gleyber Torres, and more instrumental forces in Detroit's past playoff runs.

Breaking up a contender is never easy. Harris is tasked with an impossible job all in the name of sustainability.

The moments that made Jake Rogers a Tigers fan favorite

While Rogers is no longer Skubal's personal catcher given the emergence of AL All-Star Dillon Dingler the last few years, the pair share a special bond. When Skubal won the AL Cy Young award in 2025, both of his backstops shared a special message with him, including Rogers.

Rogers also came up large to match the moment. In the postseason, he had a career .732 OPS, a good 100+ points higher than his mark the last few years. While all Tigers fans remember the Kerry Carpenter home run that turned the Wild Card Series on its head last season, it was Jake Rogers who started the rally.

Harris unfortunately has to disconnect himself from these emotions. The reality is the 2026 Tigers, including Rogers, didn't meet expectations. Rogers' replacement on the roster, Eduardo Valencia, had four hits and two home runs in a 14-0 Tigers win over the Orioles on Tuesday night, shortly after the Rogers news was announced. It's a tale as old as time: Next man up.

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