Tigers 2026 payroll notes

[Roger King]

Just a quick back of the envelope total of money coming off the Tigers payroll as of the off-season:

Cobb - $15 million

Maeda - $12 million

Brebbia - $2.75 million 

Ibanez - $1.4 million 

Kahnle - $7.75 million 

Miggy - $4 million (last half of $8 million buyout that was split between 2024 and 2025)

This list above is the players I’m almost 100% certain will not be brought back. The only one I would question for a second would be Ibanez only because I didn’t think he’d even be back this year, yet he was.  

TOTAL = approx $43 million 

Torres - $15 million

*Finnegan $6 million

McKinstry - $1.65 million 

This is the small list of free agents the Tigers could be bringing back next season. I put an asterisk beside Finnegan because obviously the Tigers didn’t pay the majority of his salary, having only acquired him at the trade deadline.

If they don’t bring back any of them, that’s another $18 mill or so coming off the payroll. 

I’m not bothering with Rafael Montero or Chris Paddack who are both free agents. I don’t think they will be brought back but the Tigers didn’t pay that much of their salaries given they were trade deadline acquisitions.

Jose Urquidy - The Tigers signed him for $1 million this year with a club option for next season that could pay him $4 million with incentives. I don’t see him coming back.  

Jack Flaherty - Because he made 15+ starts this season, Flaherty’s salary becomes $20 million for 2026.  He has the option of accepting that or becoming a free agent.  Hard to imagine he won’t stay with the Tigers but you never know.

Even with Flaherty on the payroll, lots of financial flexibility for Harris and company in the off-season though no doubt some of the arbitration eligible players are due for big raises. I don’t know the status of all that.

Lastly, Akil Baddoo announced today that he has elected to become a free agent. There have been some false starts in terms of him leaving the organization, but this is probably the final nail. Though you never know, maybe the Tigers somehow bring him back :-)

Roger King
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[Shawn Parker]

Wow, some horrendous signings on that list!

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[Michael W]

Sewald, like Finnegan, had a $6M contract in 2025, with the same asterisk.  He has a $10M option for 2026, and $1M buyout to avoid that.

Seems like some of the other guys we picked up has buyouts, but I don't remember now.

Michael

[Roger King]

So they'll buy out Sewald and will have paid $1 million + 2 months of his 2025 salary for 4.1 innings.  Geez.

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[Paul Meloche]

Nice work if you can get it!

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[Roger King]

Here is the list of current Tigers players eligible for arbitration this off-season. There are definitely some major raises coming for many!

Skubal

Mize

Rogers

Vest

McKinstry

Vierling

Greene

Torkelson

Carpenter

Holton

Ibanez

Foley

Lange

Brieske

Would say any or all of the last 4 might not be back.  

Not sure where they stand on Rogers and McKinstry.  The rest are no-brainers to return except for maybe Vierling but I get the feeling they still really like him and obviously wouldn’t blame him for the injuries that kept him out of action most of the season.

[Mike Coveyou]

I'd be happy for McKinstry to come back, if he is willing to accept a part-time utility role, especially because he hit left handers adequately (I think; I've not seen any full season breakdown.) and I'd certainly rather see him in the field than Ibanez.  I would like to see an actual full time 3B.  This might be Keith or McGonigle, unless Torres moves on.

Now that we know that Torres played hurt the last few weeks of the season, I'd be fine with the Tigers bringing him back, but not if it takes a long term contract.

I can't quite figure out how Vierling fits in, unless Meadows is gone (which I don't think will happen).

A tantalizing thought: bring McGinigle up to play SS and move Baez to CF.  That likely leaves Keith at 3B, unless Torres is gone.

Mike Coveyou

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[Dave]

On Friday, October 17, 2025 at 03:12:10 PM EDT, Roger King <pnag...@pnagency.com> wrote:

Here is the list of current Tigers players eligible for arbitration this off-season. There are definitely some major raises coming for many!

Skubal

Mize

Rogers    Gone

Vest

McKinstry

Vierling

Greene

Torkelson

Carpenter

Holton

Ibanez   Gone

Foley     Gone

Lange    Gone

Brieske  Gone

https://groups.google.com/d/msgid/detroit-tigers/CAG8ixx20fzTcBLvbz%2BfV8iy-w9TjDohrhcpPB7Vwx6uXHdAjeg%40mail.gmail.com

.

[Jeffrey Withey]

We need Rogers to come back as our garbage time reliever!

 

I’m actually not sure we can do a lot better for a backup catcher. I would bring him back if the price is right.

 

-Jeff

 

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Subject: Re: Tigers 2026 payroll notes

 

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[Peter Welch]

Yeah, Rogers is a competent #2 catcher.  He actually had a .673 OPS in the 2^nd half this year, which is actually above-average for a backup catcher.

I'd like to see Eduardo Valencia get a look as the #2 catcher but his defense might not be good enough for Hinch.

Peter

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Subject: RE: Tigers 2026 payroll notes

 

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[Michael W]

I love Valencia's big numbers at Toledo, but if you look at his whole career, they've got to be a fluke.  His AA numbers look good, but when you remember that he was 25, they aren't particularly good.  

I'd keep him at Toledo to prove me wrong, but I'd bet I'm not.  

Michael

[Peter Welch]

Sometimes catchers take a bit longer to develop, but, I agree, Valencia's numbers were likely a one-year fluke partially from him being older than a lot of the players at his level.  It also sounds like he has weaknesses defensively so his future (if he has any) could be more as a 1B/DH-type, and the Tigers have enough of those.

Nevertheless, I hope he gets a look in camp next year (assuming he stays in the system).

Peter

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[Peter Welch]

If Torres leaves, McKinstry could be an ok replacement as the 2B next year.  McKinstry had a surprisingly good .854 OPS vs. lefties this season (in 119 plate appearances).  Part of that was because he hit 7 of his 11 triples against lefties.

For his career McKinstry has a .697 OPS vs. lefties and .677 OPS vs. righties, so he has hit lefties a bit better than righties in his career.

Keith can play 3B (at least against righties) next year.  Max Anderson (or possibly Hao-Yu Lee) could also platoon with Keith at 3B.  That might not be that good defensively, though.  I don't think Jung is in the picture anymore.  I can see him being traded.

I'd rather see Torres come back on a short-term deal, but I think it won't happen unless he really, really likes playing in Detroit.

Peter

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Sent: Friday, October 17, 2025 3:22 PM
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Subject: Re: Tigers 2026 payroll notes

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