The Detroit Tigers' second-half slide revealed that they are stuck between chasing a title and risking a wasted window. Ace Tarik Skubal enters his walk year in 2026 and the Tigers have to either go for it and spend, or deal him.
So far, Gleyber Torres has returned on the qualifying offer. And the club is already linked to major targets like Michael King and Alex Bregman, but not the big-ticket free agents like Kyle Tucker or Framber Valdez.
The future hinges on what Detroit does next. At the Winter Meetings, the Tigers need clarity and conviction.
1. Make the call on Skubal — and act like contenders if they keep him.
Skubal is among the best pitchers in the game, but Detroit can’t go into his walk year hoping things work out. Either extend him now or prepare to trade him for impact talent. They can't settle for a draft pick if he signs somewhere else after declining a qualifying offer in October. If they choose the win-now path — and all signs suggest they should — the roster behind him must be reinforced immediately. There’s no margin for patience anymore.
2. Rebuild the bullpen into a real late-inning weapon.
Detroit didn’t just run out of innings last year — they ran out of trust. The bullpen was asked to do too much, too often, and the cracks showed once the pressure rose. The Tigers have been linked to second-tier high-leverage options like Pete Fairbanks, and a reunion with Kyle Finnegan would be welcomed inside the clubhouse. One or two arms in that mold would reshape the way Detroit finishes games — turning narrow late leads into actual wins instead of late-season heartbreak.
3. Find real middle-order pop to support Torres and Riley Greene.
Torres' return stabilizes the infield — but not the run production. Detroit still needs a thumping bat to lengthen the lineup and give Greene and Spencer Torkelson more protection. A big move at third base with Bregman or a corner spot — someone with true 30-homer potential — is how this offense becomes dangerous on a nightly basis instead of only in stretches.
The Tigers improved last year. Now they need to accelerate. One ace decision, one starter to support him, one bat that changes how opponents pitch — that’s the formula. If Detroit nails those moves, the AL Central is up for grabs. If not, the clock on Skubal’s prime keeps ticking — and the window keeps narrowing.
