MLB · AL Central · Est. 1901 · Comerica Park
Updated March 16, 2026
The Tigers shocked the baseball world with one of the most aggressive offseasons in franchise history. Signing Framber Valdez to a three-year, $115 million deal and bringing back Justin Verlander on a one-year pact signaled that Detroit believes its window is open right now.
Justin Verlander returns to Detroit on a one-year, $13 million deal, closing a poetic circle for the franchise icon. At 43, he's not the Verlander of old, but the veteran presence and leadership he brings to a young clubhouse is invaluable.
Gleyber Torres accepted the $22.025 million qualifying offer, giving the Tigers a high-upside middle infielder on what amounts to a one-year prove-it deal. If Torres recaptures his Yankee-era production, Detroit's lineup becomes genuinely dangerous.
Tarik Skubal's Cy Young-caliber emergence transformed the Tigers' timeline, and now with Valdez, Verlander, and Jack Flaherty flanking him, Detroit has assembled one of the deepest rotations in the American League. This is a team built to win with pitching.