The Detroit Tigers still have a lot of baseball left to be played in the 2025 season. They are going to be playing in October, and are one of the teams with hopes of winning the American League Pennant. However, for some players, the offseason will be a critical point in their journey as a professional.
Every player's contract is different. Some players will be hitting the open market, and some will have to exercise (or not) their player option. The Tigers have a few key decisions the front office will have to make once the 2026 season officially gets underway.
Tigers' starting pitcher Jack Flaherty is predicted to make a big decision
The Detroit Tigers signed Jack Flaherty before the season, but he has a player option after this season, and Sports Illustrated predicts that he will opt out of his current team in search of a more lucrative one in free agency:
"Flaherty hasn't had his best season, posting a 4.69 ERA through 29 starts. The strikeouts are still there, though, and with only $20 million on the table if he accepts his player option, it feels more likely that he'll bank on the market valuing him enough to squeeze out a multi-year deal."
Following that, writer Jackson Roberts predicted that he would sign with the Chicago Cubs. The Cubs could use another right-handed starter to pair with rookie sensation Cade Horton.
Detroit might also be okay with letting go of Flaherty due to his inconsistent performance and the fact that he's aging.
Aside from the inflated ERA, Flaherty also has the most losses in the AL as a starter, and his BB/9 is 3.3, with a WHIP that is nearing 1.300. He's allowing far too many batters to reach base, and that has caused him to get into some trouble at times.