Diana: Kenley Jansen is a Hall of Fame closer. He has saved more games than almost anyone in history. But right now, looking at the Detroit Tigers’ 76-86 record, his future feels less like a legacy celebration and more like a ticking clock. What happens when the fire goes out? And with Tarik Skubal gone to free agency, can Jackson Jobe really step into that ace role alongside Jack Flaherty without breaking the team?
Adam: It’s a roster built on questions, Diana. We’re talking about infield clashes between Colt Keith and Jace Jung, a catching battle that could define your spring training, and a bullpen that looks terrifyingly thin once you count past Jansen and Finnegan. Plus, we have to address the elephant in the room: the Zack Gelof lawsuit and what it says about the organization's stability.
Diana: Welcome to the Beatline Podcast Network! I’m Diana, and this is our daily deep dive into the Detroit Tigers. I’m joined by Adam, who’s ready to dissect every inch of this depth chart. Before we get into the battles, let’s look at where we stand. The Tigers finished second in the AL Central with a 76-86 record. They lost their final game to the Pirates, 4-2, ending the season on a sour note, but the real story isn't the standings—it’s the personnel moving forward.
Adam: Exactly. Second place is fine for pride, but 76 wins doesn’t buy you much leverage in the offseason. With Skubal departing, the rotation is now entirely dependent on Jack Flaherty holding the fort while Jackson Jobe proves he’s the primary ace. That’s a huge ask for a young arm. And defensively, the infield is crowded. You’ve got Spencer Torkelson at first, Javier Baez at short, but then three guys battling for two spots in the middle infield and third base. It’s chaos waiting to happen.
Diana: Chaos is an understatement. So here is what we are tackling today. First, we’re looking at the most critical position battle in Detroit: the clash between Colt Keith and Jace Jung at third base, and how that impacts Javier Baez. Second, we’re diving into the catching situation—Dillon Dingler versus Thayron Liranzo—and why that might be the biggest surprise of spring training. And finally, we’re making our roster cut predictions. Who stays? Who gets shipped out to make room for the new era? Stick with us.
Adam: Let’s start with the infield because it’s messy. You have Spencer Torkelson locked in at first. You have Javier Baez at shortstop, which is... well, it’s Javier Baez. But then you have Colt Keith and Jace Jung both listed as third basemen, plus Hao-Yu Lee at second and Gleyber Torres also at second. Where does everyone fit?
Diana: Right, and don’t forget Kevin McGonigle and John Peck at short. The Tigers have so many arms in the infield that it’s hard to know who actually plays there. But if I had to pick one battle that defines the 2027 season, it’s Keith vs. Jung at third. Keith was the top prospect, high ceiling, great bat. Jung is polished, contact-heavy. Who do you bet on starting day one?
Adam: I’m betting on Jung to win the job initially, but Keith to take over eventually. Here’s why: Jung offers better plate discipline and defensive reliability. If you’re trying to stabilize a 76-win team, you want consistency. Keith’s swing-and-miss approach might not survive the regular grind against major league pitching every single night. But Keith’s upside is higher. If Jung struggles early, Keith is coming up.
Diana: So Jung starts, Keith waits. But what about Baez? He’s at short, but he’s not a defensive savant. Do you move him to third to clear the path for Jung? Or do you keep him at short and bench someone else?
Adam: You keep Baez at short. Moving him to third is a defensive liability you don’t need. Instead, you’re looking at Hao-Yu Lee or Gleyber Torres to handle second base, and maybe using Kevin McGonigle as the utility infielder who can play all four corners. The Tigers need versatility. If you lock in Jung at third, Torkelson at first, Baez at short, you have your core. Then you figure out the rest around them.
Diana: That makes sense. Lock the corners, use the veterans at second, and let the young arms fill in. But wait—what about the outfield? You’ve got Riley Greene in left, Max Clark in center, and Ben Malgeri and Zach McKinstry in right. Is there a battle there too?
Adam: Greene is the everyday left fielder. No question. Center field is interesting because Max Clark is young, but Corey Julks and Brett Callahan are also in the mix. I think Clark wins center, but it’s close. Right field is the real puzzle. McKinstry is versatile, Malgeri has power. I’d lean toward McKinstry starting because he can slide around the diamond if injuries hit. This roster needs players who can wear multiple hats.
Diana: Versatility is key. Okay, so we’ve got the infield settled in theory. Now, let’s talk about the battery. Catching. Dillon Dingler has been the starter for years. But Thayron Liranzo is on the roster. Why would the Tigers even consider changing catchers after keeping Dingler for so long?
Adam: Because Dingler’s offensive production has plateaued. Liranzo is a younger arm with a higher ceiling. If Liranzo can frame pitches better—which is always the concern with young catchers—he could push Dingler off the roster. But honestly, I think they’ll split time. Dingler handles the bulk of the work, but Liranzo gives you fresh legs and a different offensive spark off the bench. It’s not a replacement battle; it’s a competition for playing time.
Diana: Splitting time makes sense. Okay, I want to pause here for just a second. We’ve been talking about battles, depth charts, and predictions. But none of this matters if the show itself doesn’t survive. We’re independent. No ads. No paywall. Just pure, unfiltered baseball analysis from Diana and me, every single day. To keep this free for you, we need your help. Please check the link in the episode description and chip in whatever you can. It keeps the lights on and the microphones running. Thank you.
Adam: Thank you, Diana. Let’s dive into the second big battle: the rotation. We know Tarik Skubal is gone. That leaves Jack Flaherty as the undisputed ace. But who is the number two? You have Justin Verlander, who is... well, he’s old. And then you have Jackson Jobe. Remember, we predicted back on October 23rd that Jobe would solidify his role as the primary ace alongside Flaherty. Does that still hold true?
Diana: It does, but with caveats. Jobe has the stuff. He has the velocity. But can he handle the workload? Verlander is still around, but he’s not the same dominant pitcher he was five years ago. I see Jobe as the number two, not the number one. Flaherty takes the lion’s share of the innings. Jobe comes in behind him. And then you have Troy Melton, Jake Miller, Keider Montero, Andrew Sears, River Ryan, and Jackson Wolf. That’s a lot of names for a fourth and fifth starter.
Adam: It’s a crowded rotation. And that’s dangerous. If Jobe struggles early, you’re scrambling. But I believe in Jobe. His mechanics are sound, and he has the strikeout rate to succeed. However, the real battle is for the sixth spot. Sawyer Gipson-Long, Tyler Holton, Framber Valdez—wait, Valdez is on the Tigers? That seems odd given his reputation elsewhere. Did the Tigers sign him?
Diana: Yes, Framber Valdez is listed on the roster. That’s a massive pickup if true. He’s a veteran ground-ball machine. If he’s healthy, he’s a strong contender for the fifth starter role. But can he stay healthy? And what about Jackson Wolf? He’s another young arm. I think the Tigers will go with Jobe, Flaherty, Verlander, Melton, and Valdez as the top five. Wolf and the others will compete in the minors or as long relief.
Adam: Valdez changes everything. If he’s available, he’s an upgrade over most of those other guys. But here’s the nuance: Valdez relies on contact management. If the Tigers’ defense is shaky—as we discussed with the infield—Valdez might struggle. Jobe, with his strikeout ability, might be safer in a weak defensive environment. So I still lean toward Jobe as the number two, Valdez as the five. But it’s tight.
Diana: Tight indeed. Okay, let’s pivot to the bullpen. This is where the Tigers are most terrified. Kenley Jansen is there. Kyle Finnegan is there. But after that? You have Drew Anderson, Beau Brieske, Enmanuel De Jesus, Yilber Diaz, Sawyer Gipson-Long, Brenan Hanifee, Tyler Holton, Brant Hurter, Tyler Kinley, Ty Madden, Drew Sommers, and Jacob Waguespack. That’s a dozen relievers. Who survives camp?
Adam: Jansen and Finnegan are the setup and closer. Jansen is aging, so Finnegan might be the actual closer. But the rest is a meat grinder. I think Gipson-Long, Hanifee, and Madden have the best stuff. Kinley is a veteran presence. The Tigers will likely carry eight relievers. That means four guys are going to the minors or getting released. It’s brutal. I think Waguespack and Sommers are the most vulnerable because they’re the least proven.
Diana: Brutal is right. And don’t forget about the injury reports. We saw Griffin’s homer beat them in the finale, but no major injuries reported. Still, with a bullpen this thin, one bad outing could collapse the whole structure. How do you manage that workload?
Adam: You limit Jansen’s innings. You use Finnegan as the bridge. And you hope that one of those younger arms, like Hanifee or Madden, breaks out. Otherwise, you’re relying on call-ups from the minors constantly. It’s unsustainable. The Tigers need to add a veteran reliever in free agency. Someone like Liam Hendriks or even a cheaper option to stabilize the late innings.
Diana: Adding a veteran is smart. Okay, let’s get to our final segment: roster cut predictions. We have 26 spots. We’ve talked about the starters, the infield, the outfield, the catcher, and the bullpen. Who is on the bubble? Who is definitely staying? And who is definitely going?
Adam: Definitely staying: Flaherty, Jobe, Torkelson, Baez, Greene, Jansen, Finnegan. Those are your anchors. Definitely going: I think Brock Porter or some minor leaguer isn’t on the 40-man, but among the current roster, I see Drew Anderson and Yilber Diaz being non-tendered or sent down. They lack the upside of Hanifee or Madden. Also, I think Corey Julks gets designated for assignment. He’s a corner outfielder with limited defensive value.
Diana: Julks DFA’d? That hurts. He has some pop. But I agree, if he’s not starting, he’s expendable. What about Gleyber Torres? He’s at second, but Hao-Yu Lee is there too. Does Gleyber stick?
Adam: Gleyber sticks. He’s too experienced to cut. He provides insurance at second and maybe third. But Lee is the guy who’s pushing him. If Lee performs well in camp, Gleyber might be traded. But for now, he’s safe. I also think Thayron Liranzo makes the team as the backup catcher. Dingler needs rest, and Liranzo gives you a fresh bat.
Diana: Okay, so my final cuts: Julks DFA’d. Anderson and Diaz sent down. Maybe Kinley too, unless he wants to stay as a mentor. That leaves us with a lean, mean machine. But wait—what about the Zack Gelof lawsuit? Does that affect the roster? Can they even sign new players?
Adam: The lawsuit is a distraction, but it doesn’t legally stop them from signing players. It’s a PR nightmare. Gelof sued the Tigers, Ilitch Holdings, and the stadium authority over that metal fence incident. It’s ugly. But on the field, it’s irrelevant. The Tigers need to focus on winning. If they can clean up the image, maybe they attract free agents. But right now, it’s a stain on the organization.
Diana: A stain, indeed. One last thing: we predicted earlier that the Tigers would finish 78-84 next year. Given these battles, do we stick with that prediction? Or do we adjust?
Adam: I stick with it. 78-84. They’re not good enough to contend, but they’re not terrible. If Jobe and Flaherty form a solid top two, and the infield stabilizes, they’ll hover around .500. It’s a rebuilding year. A transitional year. Don’t expect playoffs. Expect development.
Diana: Rebuilding and transition. That’s the theme. From Keith vs. Jung at third, to Jobe stepping up as the ace, to the bullpen meat grinder—we’ve covered it all. Thanks for listening to the Beatline Podcast Network. If you enjoyed this breakdown, please subscribe, rate, and review us wherever you get your podcasts. Share this episode with a fellow Tiger fan!
Adam: And remember, the link in the episode description is your way to support the show directly. Keep it free, keep it daily. Go Tigers.
Diana: See you tomorrow! Go Tigers!