Detroit avoids arbitration with three players while making a tough call on Andy Ibáñez.
Non-tender day isn’t flashy. There are no press conferences, no premiere-level rumors, and no splashy graphics on MLB Network. But for front offices, it’s one of the more revealing checkpoints of the offseason; a day where decisions say a lot about how a team values its depth, its role players, and its long-term payroll shape. And in Detroit’s case, the 2025–26 arbitration window offered a pretty clear look at how the Tigers plan to shape the roster going forward.
Detroit locked in three key players before the deadline, headlined by catcher Jake Rogers, who agreed to a $3.05 million deal for 2026 to avoid arbitration. For as up-and-down as Rogers’ offensive profile can be, his leadership behind the plate, steady receiving, and comfort with both young pitchers and reclamation arms make him a stabilizing piece. The Tigers have invested heavily in pitching development under this front office, and Rogers remains the bridge between the data, the game plan, and the execution on the mound. He’s the type of player you keep around when you’re trying to make incremental jumps forward.
Right-hander Beau Brieske also reached an agreement, finalizing a $1.1575 million salary for 2026. It’s a modest number for a pitcher who has quietly become one of Detroit’s more flexible arms. Whether he’s filling innings in the rotation during injury waves or working in a swing man role, Brieske gives the Tigers something they’ve lacked in recent years; reliability from a pitcher not locked into a single lane. When you zoom out and look at the offseason additions, it’s clear Detroit wants as many innings-eaters and matchup-friendly arms as possible. Brieske fits that puzzle and comes at a cost-effective rate for a club that values depth over volatility.
Then there’s Matt Vierling, who settled at $3.255 million for 2026. This might be the most straightforward call of the bunch. Vierling has positioned himself as a cornerstone utility player, a guy who hits enough, fields enough, runs well enough, and plays enough positions to justify his roster spot ten times over.
His ability to handle center field in a pinch has real value, especially with Detroit’s outfield still sorting out roles behind Parker Meadows. Add in the incremental offensive growth he’s shown, and this is a bet on a player entering his physical prime, not exiting it.
The tough decision came with Andy Ibáñez, who was non-tendered and is now a free agent. It’s not a surprise from a roster-construction standpoint, his role overlaps heavily with younger, cheaper infield options, but it’s still the kind of move that stings a clubhouse. Ibáñez brought professional at-bats, versatility, and steadiness that doesn’t always show up in a box score. But non-tender day is ruthless by design, and the Tigers’ depth finally caught up to him.
Detroit didn’t make headlines, but they made decisions that underline how they want this roster to function: adaptable, defensively strong, and built around players who elevate their pitching-first identity. Non-tender day rarely brings fireworks, but it usually brings clarity, and the Tigers offered plenty.
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