| News |
|---|
|
Phil Bickford Phil Bickford Gets minors deal from Tigers
Tue, Jan 20, 2026, 6:48 PM
Bickford signed a minor-league contract with the Tigers on Tuesday, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.
Analysis: Bickford spent time with the Cubs' and Phillies' Triple-A affiliates in 2025, posting a 3.38 ERA and 0.98 WHIP to go with a 54:17 K:BB across 48 total innings. The 30-year-old righty will likely spend the majority of 2026 at Triple-A Toledo but could return to the big leagues if he continues to find success in the minors. |
|
Bryan Sammons Bryan Sammons Latching on with Detroit
Mon, Jan 12, 2026, 10:11 PM
Sammons is signing a minor-league contract with the Tigers that includes an invitation to spring training, Jon Morosi of MLB Network reports.
Analysis: Sammons will return to Detroit after spending a season overseas pitching for the Chiba Lotte Marines in Japan. His last big-league appearance took place in 2024 with the Tigers when he posted a 3.62 ERA and 0.91 WHIP with 18 strikeouts across 27.1 innings. Sammons will now have a chance to win a major-league roster spot, presumably as a reliever. |
|
Tyler Holton Tyler Holton Avoids arbitration with Detroit
Thu, Jan 8, 2026, 4:24 PM
Holton and the Tigers agreed to a one-year, $1.575 million contract Thursday to avoid arbitration, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Analysis: Holton was a solid presence for the Tigers' bullpen in 2025, making a career-high 70 appearances (six starts as an opener) during the regular season while posting a 3.66 ERA, 1.04 WHIP, 18 holds and a 64:17 K:BB across 78.2 innings. The 29-year-old southpaw should continue to operate in high-leverage situations for Detroit in 2026. |
|
Kerry Carpenter Kerry Carpenter Gets deal for 2026
Thu, Jan 8, 2026, 4:24 PM
Carpenter agreed to a one-year, $3.275 million contract with the Tigers on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Analysis: Carpenter didn't maintain the same efficiency in 2025 (.788 OPS) that he displayed during his injury-plagued 2024 campaign (.932), but he still managed to set a new career high with 26 homers this past season while driving in 62 RBI and scoring 66 runs himself. The 28-year-old outfielder holds value as a home-run threat against right-handed pitchers but is likely to ride the bench when matched up against a lefty starter. |
|
Casey Mize Casey Mize Avoids arbitration
Thu, Jan 8, 2026, 2:42 PM
Mize agreed to a one-year, $6.15 million contract with the Tigers on Thursday, avoiding arbitration, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Analysis: The right-hander was a reliable rotation piece for Detroit in 2025, making 28 regular-season starts with a 3.87 ERA, 1.27 WHIP and 139:36 K:BB across 149 innings. He doubled his previous career high with 14 wins and should be a key starter for the Tigers again in 2026. |
|
Zach McKinstry Zach McKinstry Reaches deal with Tigers
Thu, Jan 8, 2026, 2:20 PM
McKinstry agreed to a one-year, $4.2 million contract with the Tigers on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Analysis: McKinstry took a massive step forward at the plate in 2025, finishing the year with a .259/.333/.438 slash line alongside 12 homers, 49 RBI, 68 runs scored and 19 stolen bases across 511 regular-season plate appearances. He doesn't seem to have a clear path to playing time at any one position in 2026, though he should still be able to crack the starting nine regularly thanks to his defensive versatility. |
|
Will Vest Will Vest Avoids arbitration with DET
Thu, Jan 8, 2026, 1:26 PM
Vest agreed to a one-year, $3.95 million contract with the Tigers on Thursday, avoiding arbitration, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Analysis: The right-hander will more than double his salary from 2025, during which he posted a 3.01 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and 75:22 K:BB over 68.2 regular-season innings while converting 23 of 30 save chances. Vest should see some save opportunities in 2026, but he could be used more often as a setup man given that Detroit signed Kyle Finnegan and Kenley Jansen this winter. |
|
Riley Greene Riley Greene Nets $5 million for 2026
Thu, Jan 8, 2026, 1:20 PM
Greene agreed to a one-year, $5 million contract with the Tigers on Thursday, avoiding arbitration, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Analysis: Greene receives a nice raise for 2026 in his first year of arbitration eligibility. The outfielder set career highs with 36 home runs, 111 RBI and 84 runs in 157 regular-season games in 2025, though he also had a career-worst 30.7 percent strikeout rate. |
|
Spencer Torkelson Spencer Torkelson Avoids arbitration with Tigers
Thu, Jan 8, 2026, 1:04 PM
Torkelson signed a one-year, $4.075 million contract with the Tigers on Thursday to avoid arbitration, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Analysis: Torkelson will bring in a $3.2893 million raise during his first year of arbitration eligibility after enjoying his best year at the plate in 2025, during which he slashed .240/.333/.456 with 31 homers, 78 RBI and 82 runs scored across 649 regular-season plate appearances. He's a safe bet to continue operating as Detroit's everyday first baseman in 2026 while batting near the middle of the order. |
|
Burch Smith Burch Smith Latches on with Tigers
Wed, Jan 7, 2026, 11:57 AM
The Tigers signed Smith to a minor-league contract Wednesday that includes an invitation to spring training, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Analysis: Smith will get $1.5 million if in the majors, with $250,000 more available in incentives. The 25-year-old spent most of 2025 at Triple-A Indianapolis in the Pirates organization, posting a 7.08 ERA and 26:12 K:BB over 20.1 frames. Smith made 50 relief appearances between the Marlins and Orioles in 2024, holding a 4.95 ERA and 46:12 K:BB across 56.1 innings. He'll likely begin the upcoming season in the bullpen at Triple-A Toledo. |
|
Scott Effross Scott Effross Agrees to NRI deal with Detroit
Mon, Jan 5, 2026, 9:24 AM
The Tigers signed Effross to a minor-league contract Monday that includes an invitation to spring training, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Analysis: Effross has had a difficult time staying healthy the last few years and has yielded 12 runs over just 14 innings over the last two seasons at the major-league level. The 32-year-old spent much of the 2025 campaign at Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre in the Yankees organization, posting a 6.37 ERA and 23:10 K:BB over 29.2 frames. |
|
Dugan Darnell Dugan Darnell Re-signs with Tigers
Mon, Jan 5, 2026, 9:19 AM
The Tigers re-signed Darnell (hip) to a minor-league contract Monday, Evan Woodbery of MLive.com reports.
Analysis: Darnell was claimed off waivers and then non-tendered by the Tigers in November, but he will return to the organization on a minor-league pact. The righty reliever underwent hip surgery in September and it's unclear when he might be ready to pitch in games. |
|
Justyn-Henry Malloy Justyn-Henry Malloy Designated for assignment
Sat, Dec 20, 2025, 6:26 PM
Malloy was designated for assignment by the Tigers on Saturday.
Analysis: The Tigers needed to make room on the 40-man roster for recent re-signee Kyle Finnegan, and Malloy has ended up being the cut. Malloy has struggled during his time in the majors so far, posting a .656 OPS with nine home runs, 38 RBI, 33 runs and one stolen base over 123 games spanning 357 plate appearances. He's also posted a 32.8 percent strikeout rate, though he has shown an ability to take a free pass with a 12.0 percent walk rate. That and his moderate power could make him a target for other MLB clubs. |
|
Enmanuel De Jesus Enmanuel De Jesus Lands NRI deal with Tigers
Thu, Dec 18, 2025, 1:17 PM
The Tigers signed De Jesus to a minor-league contract Monday that includes an invitation to spring training, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Analysis: De Jesus made two relief appearances for the Marlins in 2023 before spending the last two seasons pitching in Korea, where he posted a 3.81 ERA and 343:88 K:BB over 335 innings. The left-hander will make $1.3 million if in the majors, but De Jesus is likelier to begin the 2026 season in the rotation at Triple-A Toledo. |
|
Kenley Jansen Kenley Jansen POBO won't commit to closer
Wed, Dec 17, 2025, 1:44 PM
Tigers president of baseball operations Scott Harris stopped short of naming Jansen the team's closer Wednesday, saying that there are "at least three or four closer types" on the roster, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Analysis: Jansen is 24 saves shy of 500 for his career and has been adamant about reaching that milestone, but it seems he was not promised the closer role in Detroit when he agreed to a one-year, $11 million contract. Harris said that who closes for the Tigers will be up to manager A.J. Hinch. While Jansen remains the favorite to see the bulk of the save opportunities, Kyle Finnegan, Will Vest and Tyler Holton could be in the mix, as well. |
|
Jack Little Jack Little Back with Tigers on MiLB pact
Wed, Dec 17, 2025, 12:30 PM
The Tigers re-signed Little to a minor-league contract Tuesday.
Analysis: After being non-tendered by Detroit last month, Little will wind up staying in the organization. Slated to turn 28 in January, Little allowed two runs over three innings during his brief time in the majors in 2025 with the Dodgers. |
|
Sean Guenther Sean Guenther Re-signs with Detroit
Wed, Dec 17, 2025, 12:26 PM
The Tigers re-signed Guenther (hip) to a minor-league contract Tuesday.
Analysis: Guenther was non-tendered by the Tigers in November but will return to the organization on a minor-league deal. The left-hander underwent a left hip arthroscopy in July and it's not clear whether he will be fully cleared to participate in spring training. |
|
Kenley Jansen Kenley Jansen Joins Tigers on one-year deal
Sat, Dec 13, 2025, 1:30 PM
Jansen signed a one-year, $11 million contract with the Tigers on Saturday, Jeff Passan of ESPN.com reports.
Analysis: Jansen's new deal also includes a club option for the 2027 season, per Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic. The 38-year-old has yet to show signs of slowing down, as he finished the 2025 campaign with a 2.59 ERA and 0.95 WHIP over 59 innings while collecting 29 saves with the Angels. Now set to spend his 17th MLB season in Detroit, the right-hander will likely begin 2026 as the team's closer, moving Will Vest and Kyle Finnegan into setup roles. |
|
Gleyber Torres Gleyber Torres Cleared for all baseball activities
Fri, Dec 12, 2025, 11:08 AM
Torres (groin) has been cleared to participate in all baseball activities, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Analysis: Torres underwent sports hernia surgery in October, an injury that he had played through for the final month of the regular season and playoffs. He is now fully recovered from the operation and can proceed with his normal offseason training. Torres will return as the Tigers' everyday second baseman in 2026 after accepting the team's one-year, $22.025 million qualifying offer. |
|
Reese Olson Reese Olson Beginning throwing progression
Fri, Dec 12, 2025, 11:00 AM
Olson (shoulder) was scheduled to begin a throwing progression this week, Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press reports.
Analysis: Olson missed the final two month of the regular season and the playoffs with a right shoulder strain, but he is expected to be ready to go for the start of spring training, barring any setbacks. The right-hander has dealt with injury issues but has been highly effective when on the bump, boasting a career 3.60 ERA and 269:91 K:BB over 284.2 regular-season innings since 2023. |
Connect With Us:
