Tigers should feel pressure after Mariners insider's update on Seattle's offseason

You don’t have to squint too hard at the Seattle Mariners' offseason tea leaves to see the message flashing in neon: contenders don’t sit still.

And if you’re the Detroit Tigers — supposedly entering your “competitive window,” supposedly ready to build around Tarik Skubal, Riley Greene, and company — how do you look at what’s happening in Seattle and not feel the temperature rising?

Seattle came one game away from its World Series appearance in franchise history, beating the Tigers in the ALDS to keep their run going. One. And instead of leaning back and saying, “We’ll run it back,” they opened the winter swinging — Josh Naylor for five years, $92.5 million, right out of the gate. A power bat. A tone-setter. A win-now move.

Have they solved every problem since then? No. But they’re clearly acting like a team that understands how precious these windows are. They’re patching holes, stacking depth, chasing upgrades. According to Ryan Divish of The Seattle Times, they’re pushing the edges of their budget. They’re talking aggressively about Ketel Marte. They’re in deep on Brendan Donovan. They’re willing to move prospects. They’re not satisfied –– and that's the point.

Meanwhile … Detroit waits. And waits. And waits.

The Tigers were sold to fans as a rising team that just needed reinforcement. You had the back-to-back Cy Young winner. You had the best bullpen of the Scott Harris era. You had young stars on the rise. You had momentum. And yet, compared to Seattle’s posture, the Tigers’ winter has often felt like a cautious, budget-constrained balancing act rather than a statement.

The Mariners lost Jorge Polanco? They pivoted to Naylor, backup catcher depth, versatile bench bats, lefty bullpen arms, and trade talks for a legitimate, controllable infielder. The Tigers lost Justyn-Henry Malloy? They signed … minor-league arms they DFA’d earlier in the year. That's not to overlooked the fact they brought back Gleyber Torres and Kyle Finnegan while signing Kenley Jansen; it's just not exactly otherworldly.

It doesn’t mean the Tigers have done nothing. But it absolutely means they’ve done less than what a true “we are done rebuilding” team usually does.

Tigers should be feeling the heat after Mariners' next offseason push

Seattle knows the American League isn't waiting around. The Mariners look at rival teams in Houston and Baltimore stacking talent, and they respond with urgency.

Meanwhile, the Tigers watch the Chicago White Sox swooping in from left field to nab one of the top Japanese free agents on the market in Munetaka Murakami and ... kind of shrug? That’s backward.

The weaker the division, the more incentive there is to sprint through the opening. Plant your flag. Take the crown while it’s attainable. Instead, Detroit risks doing just enough to be “competitive," but not dominant. And make no mistake — Seattle is trying to become dominant.

Tigers fans have lived this already. A core you think will last forever becomes a memory shockingly fast. Injuries happen. Prospects stall. Payrolls tighten. Owners waver. Seattle is acting like they know that. Detroit — despite boasting the best left-handed pitcher in baseball right now — is acting like there’s always next year.

That’s the part that grates. Because if the Tigers truly believe this group can contend? You don’t let other fringe-contenders out-aggressive you. You don’t pinch pennies at the margins. You make a lineup-anchoring move — not “depth.” Seattle is actively shopping for impact, while Detroit keeps shopping for value.

The Mariners’ message should echo in the Tigers' front office. Seattle is saying, “We’re close. Let’s finish the job.” Detroit is saying, “Let’s stay flexible.”

Flexible doesn’t win divisions. Flexible doesn’t win October. Flexible doesn’t convince your ace to stay long-term. Commitment does.

Right now, the Tigers’ biggest rival might not be Minnesota or Cleveland — it might be the perception that Detroit is happy simply progressing instead of pushing. Seattle just reminded the league that competitive windows are meant to be attacked, and Detroit has to decide whether it wants to compete with that mindset or just admire it from afar.

Because if the Tigers don’t seize this moment? Somebody else will.