Tigers urged to sign 1 or 2 future Hall of Famers for Detroit reunion

Billy Heyen

Tigers urged to sign 1 or 2 future Hall of Famers for Detroit reunion image

Two of the best pitchers in Detroit Tigers history are free agents this offseason.

Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer haven't pitched for the Tigers in a while. But that could change.

If the Tigers wanted, they could sign one, or even both, of these future Hall of Fame right-handers.

ESPN's David Schoenfield wrote in a new article that the Tigers could work as a fit for either arm.

"You know what would be fun? How about Verlander -- or Scherzer for that matter -- going back to the Tigers," Schoenfield wrote.

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Verlander spent the 2025 season with the San Francisco Giants.

After a rocky start to the campaign, Verlander showed his veteran moxie through an effective second half. He'll turn 43 in February.

"He started throwing a sweeper more often the final two months -- a new pitch for him -- and that clearly made a big difference," Schoenfield writes. "His four-seamer doesn't miss bats like it once did, of course, but his slider/changeup/sweeper/curveball can still generate enough swing-and-miss to make him effective."

Scherzer was a contributor for the Toronto Blue Jays and pitched effectively in Game 7 of the World Series. He'll turn 42 in July.

"He has made just 26 starts combined over the past two seasons, plus he was homer-prone with the Blue Jays (19 in 85 innings), so there are real questions about whether he can withstand a full season," Schoenfield writes. "The expectations here should be minimal: 15 to 20 starts and then hope that Mad Max turns up in October."

It probably doesn't make sense for the Tigers to sign both, although it'd be a fun story. But even bringing one guy back for a reunion could be a solid move for Detroit.

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Contributing Writer