The Detroit Tigers have made several minor moves so far this offseason, but still need to address their starting rotation. Tarik Skubal’s future with the club remains one of the biggest stories of the entire offseason. The Cy Young winner has been linked with a move away from Detroit, but a deal seems difficult to complete at the moment.
Assuming Skubal remains with the Tigers in 2026, Detroit needs to give the undisputed ace some support. Skubal led all American League pitchers with a WAR of 6.5. None of the other Tigers starters, however, had a higher WAR than 1.7. This is a significant issue for the team. To truly compete for a World Series ring, Detroit will almost certainly have to add to its rotation.
One particularly interesting player being linked with a reunion back in Detroit is Justin Verlander. The future Hall of Famer began his illustrious career with the Tigers 20 years ago and recently finished 2025 with the San Francisco Giants. Bleacher Report has now listed the Tigers as the top potential landing spot for Verlander.
Earlier in the offseason, MLB.com’s Will Leitch wondered why a deal between the two sides was not already done. “The Tigers need pitching. Verlander needs a home. And, frankly, the rest of us need this,” claimed the reporter. “How has this not already happened?”
Justin Verlander Ended his 2025 Season on a High Note Thanks to a New Pitch
GettyJustin Verlander improved down the stretch in 2025 after putting more trust in a sweeping slider.
Verlander is clearly past his prime at this point in his career. After all, the veteran will be 43 by the time the 2026 season begins in the spring. Looking at his 2025 campaign as a whole, the pitcher did not exactly post incredible numbers. For instance, Verlander had a 3.85 ERA to go along with just 137 strikeouts in 152 total innings on the year.
Nevertheless, Bleacher Report points to a significant moment that changed Verlander’s 2025 season. According to the outlet, the veteran began to throw more of a sweeping slider throughout his final 13 starts. During this timeframe, Verlander posted a 2.60 ERA while striking out 70 batters in 72 2/3 innings. The pitch ultimately became his X factor down the stretch.
Fangraphs also agreed that implementing the sweeping slider helped turn around Verlander’s season. In fact, his 1.1 WAR during August ranked third-best among all Major League pitchers. Only stars Trevor Rogers and Cristopher Sanchez posted better numbers throughout the month.
Detroit Tigers Pitchers Ran Out of Gas During 2025 Postseason
Assuming Verlander’s new pitch can continue to confuse hitters, he could be a solid asset for any contending team in 2026. He may not be an ace anymore, but Detroit, in particular, would not need him to be. If he slots into the Tigers’ rotation, Verlander could be a useful third or fourth starter.
Detroit was previously knocked out of the 2025 playoffs by the Seattle Mariners in five games. Ultimately, the Tigers’ pitching staff ran out of gas in dramatic fashion. Seattle took the series by scoring in the 15th inning of the decider. Game five was the longest winner-take-all playoff game in MLB history. Detroit will be looking to improve its roster to help get over the hump in 2026.
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