LAS VEGAS — Tuesday at general managers’ meetings, Scott Harris leaned back against a wall in an Aria Resort ballroom and made his biggest offseason priority loud and clear.
“Pitching is going to be the focus for us this winter,” Harris said. “First off, we want to add more swing-and-miss to the back end of our ‘pen. We want to add a stable veteran presence who can get righties out and lefties out and add a little bit more leadership to our clubhouse. If we can find that, that would be great.”
That the Detroit Tigers are seeking help for their leverage relief roles comes as no surprise. Some of the numbers that defined last season’s failures remained burned in the minds of anyone who followed the team through a taxing and turbulent season. The Tigers had nearly as many blown saves (31) as saves (32). Despite surprisingly adequate surface-level stats, their relievers ranked 26th in Win Probability Added. The bullpen ranked 29th out of 30 in terms of performance in clutch situations.
At his end-of-season news conference, Harris was firm on his stance the Tigers will not be an organization that builds through free agency. In the medium and long run, Harris would like the Tigers to build a pitching factory that can produce enough arms to fill out a rotation and the bullpen, but in terms of fixing the staff next year, Harris expects the Tigers to seek external help.
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“I think we took big steps over the last 12 months to strengthen that pitching pipeline,” Harris said. “It’s not quite there yet, so we’re going to have to find different acquisition avenues to add to our ‘pen right now.”
Exactly what direction the Tigers go and how much money they will throw at the notoriously volatile market for relievers will be fascinating. Adrian Morejon, a lockdown reliever for the San Diego Padres, is the best free-agent reliever on the market but could command a deal worth north of $100 million. David Bednar is an established closer but, like Morejon, comes attached to a qualifying offer, meaning the Tigers would have to forfeit a draft pick to sign him. Raisel Iglesias, formerly of the Atlanta Braves, is a proven option but also entering his age-37 season, coming off a year when his strike rate decreased and his walk rate increased.
The Tigers are especially focused on adding right-handed relievers, making others such as Jason Adam and Bryan Abreu intriguing names to watch.
“We want to add right-hand relievers, preferably ones that can throw strikes, miss bats and get lefties and righties out,” Harris said. “If we can find some of those this winter, I think it will be a successful winter.”
How many starters do the Tigers need?
The Tigers will likely be involved in the starting pitching market, too, but to what extent is unclear.
The Tigers project to begin 2027 with a rotation featuring Framber Valdez, Troy Melton and Jackson Jobe. River Ryan, whom Harris praised for his “six-plus pitches,” is likely to be in the rotation so long as he is healthy. The Tigers also expect Keider Montero and Drew Anderson to come to camp as starters, and they remain optimistic about the return of Reese Olson after a season lost to shoulder surgery. That alone gives the Tigers seven potential starters, but last season showed the way injuries can ravage a team.
“We’re just trying to build the deepest list we can,” Harris said. “If there’s opportunity to add multiple (starters), like one via trade and one via free agency, we’re definitely going to explore that.”
Even in what is considered a weak free-agent class, there are several mid-tier starters such as Shota Imanaga, Nick Pivetta and many more who could be interesting adds. As for the idea of reuniting with Tarik Skubal, Harris predictably had little to say. This week in Las Vegas, there has been little to no chatter of the Tigers being players in the Skubal market.
“You know I can’t answer that,” Harris said about the Tigers’ interest in Skubal. “Not because of Skubal. I can’t talk about any free agents. You know how we feel about the guy, but that’s about as far as I can go.”
So … how many starters might the Tigers add?
“I think the answer to that question is always going to be plus one,” Harris said. “Whatever you ask, it’s that plus one more.”
Framber Valdez is one of the players projected to begin 2027 in the Tigers’ starting rotation. “We’re just trying to build the deepest list we can,” Scott Harris said. “If there’s opportunity to add multiple (starters), like one via trade and one via free agency, we’re definitely going to explore that.” (Michael Reaves / Getty Images)
Will the Tigers sign a hitter?
In 2025, the Tigers ranked 11th in runs scored. An offensive drought contributed to the team’s second-half decline. Rather than go outside the organization to bolster the offense, the Tigers instead doubled down on development. They did not add a single hitter on a major-league contract before Opening Day, but even with the addition of Rookie of the Year Kevin McGonigle, the 2026 Tigers finished 14th in runs scored.
So this time around, will they seek a bat to get the team back to the playoffs?
Harris was noncommittal but did not rule it out.
“I can see us doing anything, really,” Harris said.
Harris went on to point out the team’s growing crowd of young talent. Players such as Hao-Yu Lee are likely to get more opportunities, but the Tigers still have some question marks, especially in the infield. The team has asked Colt Keith to focus on first and third base this offseason. McGonigle is expected to continue playing multiple positions. One way or another, they will need to replicate the steady right-handed production they got from Gleyber Torres.
Shortstop and second base feel like open questions, and there could be multiple avenues to arrive at answers. The Tigers could explore the trade market for a proven shortstop. They could add another utility player. They could sign a second baseman, or they could again stand pat with their young talent.
“There are a number of ways that we can construct our infield,” Harris said. “We’re not going to do that until we actually know what the team looks like.”
Even in a weak class for free-agent hitters, there is also a case for the Tigers’ pursuing right-handed help in the outfield, with prospect Zyhir Hope slated to begin the season in Triple A.
Pitching is an obvious need, but what the Tigers do in terms of position players could actually be the biggest story of their offseason.
“We’ve got to always thread the needle by giving young guys opportunities,” Harris said, “because some of them proved to be better options than we can find in free agency. But if there is something we don’t think we can produce internally, we’re going to go out in free agency and get it.”
Last season, the Tigers spent on pitchers such as Valdez and Justin Verlander. With Skubal’s $32 million salary, they fielded a franchise record payroll on Opening Day and were brushing up against the luxury tax. With Skubal, Verlander, Kenley Jansen and others off the books, the Tigers should have spending flexibility. Harris would not tip his hand on what the team’s payroll might look like — “in this world, it’s a competitive advantage to not share how much money you have to spend,” he said — but did indicate he has a targeted range in mind.
The strong possibility of a work stoppage beginning Dec. 1 will alter the complexion of this winter. Harris on Tuesday did not entertain questions about the looming lockout.
But for the rest of November and what could be a long road ahead, it seems the Tigers will still have a few things they’d like to add.
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