While the Detroit Tigers wait for Tarik Skubal's arbitration process to be resolved, the offseason pushes on. There remain moves the Tigers can make to improve the club's roster.
In anticipation of Skubal, the back-to-back AL Cy Young winner to be traded and or leave in free agency in 2027, Detroit could pursue another front-of-the-line starter. Framber Valdez, Ranger Suarez, and Zac Gallen are the top starters available.
Bleacher Report's Joel Reuter sees the Tigers as a dark-horse landing spot for Valdez, who has also been connected to the New York Mets and Baltimore Orioles this winter.
Framber Valdez would be insurance for the potential of losing Skubal
Valdez, 32, was a two-time All-Star with the Houston Astros. He became one of the best starting pitchers in baseball over the last five seasons, posting an ERA below 3.66 every year since 2021.
Valdez's consistency on the mound is something any team could use, including the Tigers.
"Not only are they [Tigers] viable playoff contenders with a relatively large gap between ace Tarik Skubal and No. 2 starter Jack Flaherty in terms of impact, but they could also be motivated to hedge their bets on potentially losing Skubal in free agency next winter," wrote Reuter.
Losing Skubal would sting, but having Valdez as the ace of the pitching staff is a pretty solid secondary plan. If Skubal stays in Detroit, they instantly become a team nobody wants to face in a three-game postseason series.
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