The Tigers keep stashing arms — but is pitching depth the whole answer?
The Detroit Tigers signing right-hander Burch Smith to a minor league deal fits neatly into a growing offseason pattern. Detroit continues to stockpile veteran arms with big league experience, parking them in Toledo as both depth and insurance. It’s not flashy, and it’s certainly not headline-grabbing, but it’s a very Scott Harris-coded way of attacking a long-standing organizational problem.
Smith joins a familiar group. Right-handers Wandisson Charles, Scott Effross, Cole Waiters, and Jack Little all represent the same philosophy: accumulate volume, protect the system from injuries, and create competition in Triple-A rather than rushing prospects or scrambling midseason. These are arms who can give you innings, soak up leverage in Toledo, and step into Detroit if the bullpen or back end of the rotation springs a leak.
From a process standpoint, it makes sense. The Tigers’ upper-level pitching depth has been thin for years, especially once injuries hit. Every season seems to require six or seven “emergency” arms, and too often those innings have gone to pitchers who simply weren’t ready — or worse, weren’t very good. By building a buffer in Toledo Mud Hens, Detroit is trying to make sure the next call-up is survivable, not developmental triage.
But that brings up the obvious counterquestion: is pitching depth the only depth problem worth addressing?
While the Tigers have been aggressive in signing arms to minor league deals, the same hasn’t really been true for position players, particularly in the outfield. Injuries, platoon limitations, and inconsistent production have exposed how thin the organization can get when a starter goes down. Outside of Max Clark, there isn’t much Triple-A outfield depth that feels ready to help in a meaningful way now that Justyn-Henry Malloy has been traded to Tampa.
A low-risk minor league deal for a veteran outfielder — someone who can handle multiple spots, give competitive at-bats, and be a credible injury replacement — would follow the same logic as these pitching signings. It wouldn’t block anyone long-term, but it would raise the floor if Detroit needs help in June or July. In past seasons, that role has either gone unfilled or been forced onto players who were still better served developing.
The Tigers are clearly trying to solve one problem at a time, and pitching depth was always going to be near the top of the list. Smith and the rest of this group reinforce that priority. The next step, though, may be applying that same philosophy to the position-player side — especially in an outfield that could use a little more insulation.
Depth doesn’t win headlines. But the Tigers seem intent on making sure it doesn’t lose them seasons either.
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