Detroit Tigers: Offseason Roster Shuffle Begins
The Detroit Tigers are kicking off their offseason with some roster tidying. After the World Series wrapped up, the Tigers, like other teams, are diving into the routine tasks that come with the end of a season.
Roster Changes
First up, the Tigers have 47 players on their 40-man roster. But six players are now free agents, so that number will drop. These players include:
- Second baseman Gleyber Torres
- Pitchers Kyle Finnegan, Tommy Kahnle, Rafael Montero, Chris Paddack, and Alex Cobb
After these changes, the Tigers' roster looks like this:
- Six left-handed pitchers
- Nineteen right-handed pitchers
- Two catchers
- Seven infielders
- Seven outfielders
That's a lot of names to keep track of!
Key Decisions Ahead
The Tigers have some decisions to make:
- They will likely decline Paul Sewald's $10 million option for 2026.
- Jose Urquidy's $4 million option is still up in the air.
- Jack Flaherty might also opt out of his contract, which could mean more changes to the roster.
The Tigers might not need to make many quick cuts right away. But veteran pitcher Tanner Rainey, who was called up late in the season, might be the first to go.
Minor-League Free Agents and Rule 5 Draft
There's also the matter of minor-league free agents. The Tigers have until November 6 to add any players to the 40-man roster to keep them from becoming free agents. They've already signed Troy Watson and Eduardo Valencia to new minor-league contracts, but these players could still be part of the Rule 5 Draft unless they're added to the 40-man roster.
The Tigers have until November 18 to protect players from the Rule 5 Draft. They also have until November 21 to offer 2026 contracts to players under team control. This gives them a couple of weeks to make some tough decisions.
Protecting Key Players
Catcher Thayron Liranzo and infielder Hao-Yu Lee are likely to be added to the 40-man roster to protect them from the Rule 5 Draft. Lee is almost ready for the big leagues, while Liranzo still needs some time to develop. But if left unprotected, both could be picked up by other teams.
The Tigers might also consider adding Valencia, infielder Trei Cruz, left-handed pitcher Jake Miller, and right-handed pitcher RJ Petit to the 40-man roster. But for now, it's all about waiting and seeing what happens next.