Valdez shores up the rotation and bullpen upgrades signal a division title push. But have the Tigers done enough to leap beyond contention?
By adding Framber Valdez to the top of the rotation and aggressively fortifying the bullpen, the Detroit Tigers have done more than “improve” this winter. They have revealed exactly how Scott Harris believes the American League Central is won — and why the window to do more may be narrower than it appears.
On paper, Detroit now looks like the most complete team in the division. In practice, they are built to survive the margins that define it.
The remaining question is no longer whether the Tigers can win the Central. The question is whether they have done enough to go beyond it before the math changes again.
Valdez isn’t a splash — he’s a stabilizer
Valdez’s three-year, $115 million deal (with a reported opt-out after Year 2) is the type of move that only makes sense when filtered through Harris’ roster philosophy. This was not about chasing ERA, Cy Young votes, or flash. It was about purchasing repeatable run prevention.
Valdez brings three things Detroit has quietly prioritized:
- Ground-ball dominance, which travels across parks and minimizes defensive volatility
- Inning reliability, a trait that reduces downstream bullpen stress over 162 games
- Matchup pressure, especially when paired with another left-handed ace at the top
Put simply, Valdez raises the floor of the entire staff.
Paired with Tarik Skubal, Detroit can now dictate the tone of a series from the opening pitch. Two power lefties with contrasting looks force opponents to plan earlier, burn platoon advantages sooner, and compress their margin for error.
In a division where KC has been the only team to be active, Chicago is still trying to figure themselves out with some moves and getting over the hump by beating Cleveland in the postseason, the Tigers are trying to take the next step towards contention.
This bullpen wasn’t improved — it was engineered
Detroit’s bullpen work deserves to be viewed as part of the same equation, not a separate chapter.
The additions of Kenley Jansen, and Drew Anderson and the resigning of Kyle Finnegan, combined with internal leverage arms like Will Vest, give A.J. Hinch something he has rarely leaned on in Detroit: optional certainty.
Jansen offers a traditional ninth-inning answer when the game calls for one. Finnegan preserves the flexibility to deploy leverage wherever the lineup breaks. Vest and the rest of the group allow Detroit to avoid overexposing any single arm.
This isn’t about naming a closer. It’s about ensuring that six strong innings from any of their starters is protected, which is a no-brainer but not always easy.
In October, that design matters even more.
Why this roster shape points to a division title
There are two reliable ways to win a division:
- Overwhelm opponents offensively
- Control variance through pitching and leverage
Detroit has clearly chosen the second path.
Projection systems have consistently liked the Tigers because their construction minimizes downside risk. Even models that question the lineup’s ceiling still see Detroit as structurally sound, built to grind out wins when things aren’t perfect.
That’s the kind of team that wins the Central.
It’s also the kind of team that reveals what’s missing.
The missing piece is not subtle, it’s loud
If Detroit wants more than a banner, the roster still lacks one defining element:
A true lineup axis.
Not depth. Not another complimentary bat. A hitter who changes how opposing teams pitch in the seventh inning of a playoff game.
On paper currently, Detroit’s offense asks its pitching to be perfect too often. That can work over six months. It rarely survives four postseason rounds.
One impact bat, someone who extends innings, punishes mistakes, and forces bullpen decisions earlier, would complete the picture Harris is building. Colt Keith, Riley Greene and others will improve in 2026, but as good as Kevin McGonigle is, it just feels like it is asking a lot for a rookie to step into a pressure cooker come September and October.
Why the urgency is real
This window is not theoretical.
Valdez’s opt-out creates natural pressure if he performs as expected. Skubal’s record-setting arbitration trajectory brings future payroll decisions closer to the surface. Every year this core succeeds, it becomes pricier to keep intact.
That doesn’t mean Detroit must rush recklessly. It does mean the clock is louder now than it was a year ago.
The takeaway
Scott Harris has built the Tigers to win the division, the AL Central actually produce, tight games, thin margins, and relentless leverage. Valdez stabilizes the rotation. The bullpen protects the investment. The math works.
The final step is whether Detroit wants to transform from the safest bet in the division into the most dangerous team in October.
They are one bat away from answering that question.
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