The Detroit Tigers enjoyed a successful 2025 season, qualifying for the playoffs for the second consecutive season. To build on that success, the organization is now looking to bolster its starting rotation.
In an article published on Saturday, The Athletic’s Ken Rosenthal and Will Sammon reported that free agents Lucas Giolito and Chris Bassitt are on the Tigers’ radar. Their chances of landing a new pitcher hinge on the outcome of their arbitration case with ace Tarik Skubal.
Skubal filed his arbitration salary at $32 million, while Detroit filed it at $19 million. If the southpaw wins the case and the Tigers have to pay an additional $13 million, it could significantly impact their chances of adding a new player.
“The Detroit Tigers continue to explore the starting-pitching market, talking to free-agent right-handers Lucas Giolito and Chris Bassitt, among others, according to a person briefed on their conversations,” Rosenthal and Sammon reported.
“The potential for an addition might be less likely if they lose their arbitration case with left-hander Tarik Skubal and end up paying him $32 million instead of $19 million,” they added.
Lucas Giolito spent the 2025 season with the Boston Red Sox, finishing with a 10-4 record, 3.41 ERA, and 121 strikeouts. He played a key role in helping the team clinch a postseason spot for the first time since 2021.
On the other hand, Chris Bassitt, who was on the Toronto Blue Jays’ books, finished with an 11-9 record, 3.96 ERA, and 166 strikeouts.
The Detroit Tigers Have Also Been Considering Trading Tarik Skubal This Offseason
For pretty much the entirety of the winter, the Detroit Tigers have reportedly been considering trading Tarik Skubal.
With the ace set to be a free agent after the 2026 season, and the Tigers unlikely to go all-out to re-sign him in free agency, this is probably the organization’s last chance to get some prospects in return for the southpaw.
Several top teams, who fancy their chances of competing for the World Series next season, have expressed interest in acquiring Tarik Skubal. Even if he is only a rental for a single year, the quality Skubal adds to a team’s starting rotation significantly boosts their chances of succeeding in a playoff series.
In 2025, Tarik Skubal finished with a 13-6 record, 2.21 ERA, and 241 strikeouts, winning the AL Cy Young award for the second year in a row.
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