LFG!!!
https://x.com/JeffPassan/status/1886247634396238300?t=nmTKMLL2j34q9mMs6YKXZQ&s=19
Still need to hit the ball
Awesome news. Bringing in Bregman would be a nice final piece, but “if” the Tigers were to make the playoffs with the team as is it would be huge to have a rotation of Skubal, Flaherty, Olson, and hopefully a more seasoned Jobe.
They can let Jobe percolate a little if they want now. Cobb as a 4 is more like it and their depth with Mize Manning Montero Madden and Maeda is really strong. Probably a trade comung there, as they have more arms behind them ready in 2 years.
Smart move for both sides. He was such a good fit here.
Now go get Bregman…
Also this means they essentially got Sweeney and more importantly Thayron Liranzo from the Dodgers for free.
Liranzo is a huge catcher with a pretty special bat. Victor Martinez comp
Little concern about his back issues.
Great news. Hopefully the young guys gained some confidence during last year’s playoff run. What a thrill that was. Best managing job I think I’ve ever seen from a Tiger’s skipper. Skubal and 4 bullpen sessions for 8 weeks. Outstanding.
The pitching staff should be excellent need another bpen arm or two as well as the bat.
As Weasel said, won’t be shocked if bat is added via trade, at same time always good to have arm depth.
Pushing Olson, Cobb and Mize down a matchup slot was absolutely necessary.
Late season rotation with Jobe, and 2026 rotation hopefully still with Flaherty at 2 and Jobe at 4 (! Imagine Skenes as Pittsburgh’s 4) is gonna be nasssssty.
Please extend Skub. Please.
I like this signing, maybe start to groom a few other SP early this season and trade Flaherty again and steal a few really good prospects.
Also, I’m not sold on Bregman, his stat line last season is the same as 5 other guy already on the roster.
While Bregman would actually be the third best hitter on the team next year based on last year’s stats and by a comfortable margin, with a very long established track record doing so, I can understand being skeptical about a collapsing walk rate with an increasing power rate in a contract year. Now the defense definitely would be an upgraded through base he’s generally a good base runner is not a big deal so there’s a lot of positives there and he had a Four Wind season so if you keep adding guys who do that you’re going to go up in the standings
Now if it ends up they don’t get them and we have to play feeling enjoying a third base and Bank the 25 million a year towards something else like big future better right fielder or school’s extension, I’m fine with that too if it winds up a shorter term fix at the right field DH spot but longer than the one you’re giving to Torres and cobb
Latest blurb on MLBtraderumors on Detroit:
The Tigers made their biggest strike of the offseason last night, agreeing to terms with right-hander Jack Flaherty on a two-year deal that allows him to opt back into free agency at season’s end. He’ll be paid $25MM in 2025 and has a $10MM player option for the 2026 season (that increases to $20MM if he makes 15 starts). Even with that fairly pricey pact in place, the Tigers aren’t closing the door on the other marquee free agent they’ve been chasing. ESPN’s Buster Olney reports that Detroit still in pursuit of third baseman Alex Bregman even after signing Flaherty. Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press hears the same, writing that the Tigers have “conducted their offseason moves around their interest in signing Bregman,” ultimately passing on several right-handed bats in whom they also had interest (Christian Walker, switch-hitter Anthony Santander, and Ha-Seong Kim).
With Flaherty on the books, the Tigers’ 2025 payroll projects out to about $142MM, per RosterResource’s estimates. They’re up to $156MM in luxury obligations. That leaves them more than $50MM shy of the franchise-record $200MM player payroll and $85MM shy of the $241MM tax threshold. There’s room to accommodate Bregman, be it on a higher-annual value short-term deal with opt-outs or on the type of long-term, six- or seven-year pact he’s been seeking throughout free agency. The only Tigers guaranteed any salary beyond the 2025 season are Flaherty and infielders Colt Keith and Javier Baez.
Do you know what this means? I usually associate the term “luxury” with an added tax based on a teams payroll reaching a certain amount.
I believe they are referencing the amount counted towards the Luxury tax threshold.
Tigers are at 156m
Tax is at 241m
Beat me to it. Last year, I was saying letting Flaherty go was only a good move if you brought him back.
I’m happy. Bregman or no Bregman, this was a good off-season.
I think bats are pretty weak still. SP is still a question mark. Cobb was about to hang them up Flaherty has had back issues.
Great stuff.
My thinking is that the Tigers guys are all really young so if a few can keep progressing as they should and he continues to decline, they will usurp him in a year or two at a fraction of the $. I’d rather not pay him $25-30m a year when you could get two pretty important pieces for that.
By the end of last season the Tigers were desperate for SP not hitters.
I get you it makes sense that somebody with the talent level of Keith could take it up a notch and Parker Meadows when he came back really was hot, as was Keith after his really slow start so I can see howBreggie if he stays static could be the number five hitter sure.