The Detroit Tigers have been involved in several big rumors to begin the offseason, and it’s clear they could look like a completely different team when they return to the field in 2026. Perhaps the most important rumors are revolving around superstar pitcher Tarik Skubal, who has emerged as a trade candidate ahead of his contract expiring next offseason.
Whether or not Skubal gets traded will likely determine how the offseason is judged for Detroit. Other players could end up being on the move as well, and that’s been the case for one of the team’s former first-round picks, Matt Manning, as he is headed overseas in an attempt to revive his baseball career.
Matt Manning Signs with Samsung Lions in Korea
Manning was selected by the Tigers with the No. 9 overall pick in the 2016 MLB Draft, and the team was hopeful that the tall right-handed hurler could eventually become the sort of pitcher Skubal has turned himself into. Instead, that never ended up happening, and now Manning finds himself out of the majors.
In 2021, Manning found his way to the majors, and while he would pitch over parts of the next four seasons, he never truly found a way to stick with the Tigers. In total, Manning made 50 starts for the Tigers, posting an 11-15 record with a 4.43 ERA and 178 strikeouts. Simply put, the team was hoping to receive more from Manning, considering the high draft pick they used on him.
Working primarily out of the bullpen in 2025 at Triple-A, Manning posted an ugly 6.04 ERA, which eventually led to him getting traded to the Philadelphia Phillies. Manning elected to hit free agency after the season, but interest in him wasn’t particularly high. His best offer came from the Samsung Lions in Korea, and he ended up signing a one-year, $1 million contract with them as he looks to get his career back on track.
“The Samsung Lions of the Korea Baseball Organization announced the signing of right-hander Matt Manning to a one-year, $1MM contract,” Matt Polishuk of MLB Trade Rumors wrote. “Manning was outrighted off the Phillies roster in September, and he elected minor league free agency earlier this month.”
Matt Manning Hoping to Figure Things Out in Korea
GettyFormer Tigers’ pitcher Matt Manning has signed with the Samsung Lions in Korea
Manning still has time on his side, as he will turn just 28 years old in January, but things simply have not gone his way in the majors. Several pitchers have had success in recent years when it comes to redefining themselves by pitching for a couple of years overseas, so Manning will be looking to follow a similar path in hopes of finding his way back to the majors.
The Tigers are obviously not thrilled that Manning didn’t pan out for them, but they have bigger fish to fry this offseason involving Skubal. With trade rumors swirling, the front office needs to figure out whether or not it wants to give him a long-term deal, because if they don’t, they could risk losing him for nothing next offseason if he hits free agency. So even though he is still under contract, Skubal’s status is the biggest storyline in Detroit this offseason.
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