Overview
- Detroit added Framber Valdez on a three-year, $115 million deal and re-signed Justin Verlander for one year at $13 million, rounding out a rotation with Tarik Skubal, Jack Flaherty and Casey Mize.
- Tarik Skubal won his arbitration case at $32 million for 2026 and is scheduled to reach free agency after the season.
- Agent Scott Boras said interest in elite starters like Skubal will not be limited to New York or Los Angeles, emphasizing a wide market for a No. 1 arm.
- MLB analyst Tom Verducci said he does not expect Detroit to trade Skubal during the season, citing his value to a team positioned to contend.
- Bleacher Report’s Kerry Miller predicted Detroit could pursue a trade for Marlins ace Sandy Alcantara, a speculative scenario following his uneven 2025 return from Tommy John surgery.