Now I see it!

[Michael W]

The Tigers official website has an article that says the clearest path for improved Tigers offense is Parker Meadows bouncing back.  

I guess it’s either that or bringing back Kody Clemens and Derek Hill.

Michael 

[Roger King]

Wasn’t this just the article entitled: one player who could bounce back next season for each team… Or something like that?

Don’t think it was framed as a key to Tiger success exactly. I saw the headline and thought for sure it was going to be Matt Vierling :-)

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[Cal Lord]

They are banking on everyone have career years in 2026 so don’t feel the need to look outside the organization. Tork with 40 homers, meadows either a breakout season. Dillinger and Greene and Keith to up it a notch.

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[Peter Welch]

Happy New Year, fellow Tigers' listers!

Yep, that's Harris's plan for 2026 in Skubal's final season with Detroit.  Harris has a lot of faith in the younger hitters improving in 2026, plus Carpenter and Vierling bouncing back to their pre-2025 form.   He also has a lot of faith in the pitching staff after Skubal.  

I think Harris thinks the team's collective hitting slump in the 2^nd half of 2025 was a fluke.  

I think the Tigers are pretty much done with signing free agents, except maybe some cheap pitching help or possibly a lower-profile righty-htting outfielder.  Some people think the Tigers are still in on Alex Bregman, but I just don't see that happening unless Bregman agrees to a short-term deal.

Harris could still make a splashy trade but he seems to want to hang onto his prospects closely.

The chances of a Skubal trade this offseason seem to be getting less likely.  I think Harris is probably asking for the moon for Skubal and teams are saying "no".

Peter

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From: detroit...@googlegroups.com <detroit...@googlegroups.com> on behalf of Cal Lord <calst...@gmail.com>
Sent: Thursday, January 1, 2026 10:29 AM
To: Roger King <pnag...@pnagency.com>
Cc: Michael W <miw...@gmail.com>; Detroit Tigers e-mail list <detroit...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: Now I see it!

 

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[Roger King]

Skubal recently did a little tour around Detroit, stopping at sporting events and posting various pics on his Instagram. You would think based on that, that he wants to stay in Motown. 

I’m going to be optimistic and think the Tigers will actually keep him, but I don’t think it’s going to happen until Boras gets a little bidding war going when he’s officially a free agent.

Here’s a collection of photos Skubal posted, including him hanging with the great Bob Seger!

https://x.com/benverlander/status/2005677581186818235?s=46&t=3gpgTYbZ605jNqKOtj-ltQ

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[Peter Welch]

There is the specter of the CBA expiring after 2026, and the uncertainty surrounding that (plus possible lockout), which could influence Skubal possibly making an early decision to sign an extension with the Tigers.  However, with Boras as his agent I fully expect him to push the envelope to the max and wait for the Dodgers-Yankees-Mets-Phillies bidding war regardless of the CBA status.

Peter

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From: Roger King <pnag...@pnagency.com>
Sent: Thursday, January 1, 2026 12:43 PM
To: Peter Welch <pw...@hotmail.com>
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[Michael W]

Roger asks:

>Wasn’t this just the article entitled: one player who could bounce 

>back next season for each team… Or something like that?

No, most of the article is about Meadows injury and offensive potential, and includes this line:

“The Tigers’ offense, which overcame Meadows’ early-season injury with a Javier Báez revival, struggled down the stretch. And as the Tigers look for ways to improve their offense internally, a healthy Meadows is among the clearest steps.”

[Michael W]

Peter writes:

>The chances of a Skubal trade this offseason seem 

>to be getting less likely.  I think Harris is probably 

>asking for the moon for Skubal and teams are 

>saying "no".

One “insider” article I saw said the Tigers won’t name a price or counter-offer.  They listen to the offer and say “thanks for the offer.”  I think you can read that either way:  as lack of commitment, or as a negotiating tactic.

Michael 

[David Panian]

It’s this story:

https://www.mlb.com/news/parker-meadows-could-play-big-role-2026-season

David

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[Roger King]

Gotcha.  The blurb I saw was part of the MLB article: one player on each team who could bounce back next season. That blurb was also written by Jason Beck, but obviously taken from this larger piece.

Roger King
El Presidente
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[Peter Welch]

Meadows is 26.  He should be about at his peak.  His career OPS is .694.  If we can get .700 OPS out of him and he plays above-average defense in CF and steals a few bases then that will be acceptable until Max Clark is ready.  Meadows had .621 OPS in 2025 but the excuse for him is that he was hurt in Spring Training and missed the first chunk of the season and never got going.  I'm skeptical Meadows can put up more than .650 OPS.  He has huge holes in his swing.  He's a tall guy and stands upright in the box.  I think that makes him vulnerable to certain pitches and he'll struggle against lefties.  

Reminds me a bit of Victor Reyes, who was also tall and athletic, but had an upright stance and had a lot of holes in his swing.  (Meadows is more patient than Reyes, but they both lack power despite being athletic-looking guys).

Peter

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Sent: Friday, January 2, 2026 12:22 AM
To: David Panian <dpa...@gmail.com>

Cc: Michael W <miw...@gmail.com>; Detroit Tigers e-mail list <detroit...@googlegroups.com>
Subject: Re: Now I see it!

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