Will the Tigers’ 2027 Season Be a Trick or a Treat?

The past few seasons have left Tigers fans feeling like they are watching the movie Split. One year, Detroit struggles for much of the season before making a historic Jekyll-and-Hyde turnaround to sneak into the playoffs. The following year, the Tigers are on top of the world for most of the season, only to suffer a late-season collapse that brings as much pain as Art the Clown does in the Terrifier movies. Then, everything came to an abrupt end this season, as Detroit looked like a high schooler trying to escape a horror film while hiding in a barn filled with saws and torture devices.

Now, fans will spend the dark and cold winter waiting for a chance at salvation next season. But will 2027 bring more tricks or more treats?

If the Tigers' season turns into another laughingstock of baseball, it could spell the end for many people in the organization. Players, managers, coaches and everyone in between will find themselves under fire.

That scenario could become a reality if general manager Scott Harris fails to address the team's biggest needs.

The bullpen has to be addressed. However, improving a bullpen isn't as simple as signing the biggest and best free agents available. Relief pitchers can be as unpredictable as a roller coaster. The right situation, coaching and confidence can all contribute to a perfect season, but one bad stretch, one baggage claim and one airplane trip to a new home can make all of that disappear.

Also, some of the top bullpen pitchers are old enough to look like mummies coming back to life. Kenley Jansen was a prime example last year. He was Detroit's big bullpen acquisition and was expected to handle the ninth inning throughout the season. Unfortunately, his aging body seemed to fall apart one body part at a time.

The Tigers' offense was also suspect last season. Detroit led the league in games scoring more than eight runs and games scoring fewer than four runs. It was a true boom-or-bust offense that experienced major highs in the middle of the season and major lows everywhere else.

Injuries certainly didn't help, forcing the Tigers to pivot toward a youth movement. Those young players did a good job stepping up to the major league level, but relying on so many inexperienced players also made the offense streaky.

If Harris doesn't add a bat who can provide some much-needed power to a team whose home run leader was a catcher with 27 last season, the Tigers could once again find themselves clawing and scratching for every run. That approach rarely leads to a team seeing the light of October.

For Harris and the Tigers to make 2027 a treat for fans and everyone in the clubhouse, they will need to buckle down and address a few things.

Tarik Skubal is no longer a Tiger, and Detroit appears to lack a true ace in its rotation. If Jackson Jobe or Troy Melton can step up and establish themselves as the team's top starter, that would be a great starting point. However, figuring out who will lead the rotation isn't the only concern. Detroit will most likely want to add another starting pitcher, as relying on River Ryan and Reese Olson to fill out the back end of the rotation could become a bit spooky.

If Detroit can add a bat to play right field and platoon with Kerry Carpenter, the power in the Tigers' lineup could reemerge like a zombie climbing out of its grave.

Lastly, for the season to be a treat, the young players will need to take another step forward while avoiding regression. Kevin McGonigle, Max Clark and Eduardo Valencia have already set the bar pretty high for themselves, but that can't be their peak. The Tigers will need even more consistent production from their young core.

Hopefully, 2027 is a treat, with smiles filling the faces of Detroit's players and fans alike. The alternative is another tricky season that forces the Tigers to rethink everything from top to bottom.

After the roller coaster of the past few years, Tigers fans deserve a season that is more treat than trick.