The Tigers’ postseason came to a crushing end on Friday night, falling to the Seattle Mariners in a 15-inning Game 5 heartbreaker in the ALDS. Detroit fans could sense the collapse coming — the offense went silent and the bullpen simply ran out of steam in the marathon loss.
With their playoff run over, the Tigers now turn their attention to what should be a pivotal offseason. Most of the roster remains under team control, but several players are destined to depart once free agency opens — whether by the team’s choice or their own.
Expect notable roster turnover as Detroit gears up for 2026 — the final year Tarik Skubal is under contract.
Alex Cobb
Cobb hasn’t officially retired yet, but after undergoing season-ending hip surgery before ever throwing a pitch for Detroit, retirement feels inevitable. The Tigers’ decision to sign him was questionable from the start, and they essentially wasted $15 million and additional rehab resources trying to get him back on the mound.
Gleyber Torres
Torres previously said he was open to returning, but that was before Detroit’s late-season collapse and his 0-for-6 performance in Game 5. He was fine but not impactful, and the Tigers can restructure the infield to improve. Moving Colt Keith back to second and signing a third baseman may be the smarter play. Torres is probably the only name on this list the fans might actually miss.
Tommy Kahnle
Kahnle rebounded somewhat after an awful July (19.64 ERA) that had fans calling for his release, but that’s not enough reason to bring him back — especially since he took the loss in Game 5. The bullpen was Detroit’s biggest weakness, and their failure to add swing-and-miss arms at the deadline proved costly. The front office must overhaul the relief corps, and letting Kahnle walk should be part of the plan.
Chris Paddack
Paddack seemed to enjoy Detroit after arriving from Minnesota at the deadline and started off decently. But he was soon relegated to the bullpen, left off both postseason rosters, and likely would’ve been DFA’d if Charlie Morton hadn’t struggled even more.
Paul Sewald
Sewald has a $10 million mutual option for 2026 from his time with Cleveland, but Detroit shouldn’t pick it up. They knew he’d be delayed by injury when they traded for him, but even after returning, he contributed very little — just 4 1/3 innings with two runs allowed in four games, and no postseason impact.
José Urquidy
Manager AJ Hinch clearly has a soft spot for Urquidy from their Houston days, but he spent most of the season injured, then allowed two earned runs over 2 1/3 innings before accepting a minor league assignment. His $4 million club option is relatively cheap, but Detroit needs a full bullpen teardown and rebuild. Keeping Urquidy doesn’t fit that mission.