The 2026 Detroit Tigers season was the team's 126th season and its 27th at Comerica Park. This was the Tigers' sixth season under manager A. J. Hinch.
After a subpar first half of the season, the Tigers had a mini-teardown and sent star pitcher Tarik Skubal to the Dodgers in exchange prospects Zahir Hope, River Ryan and Brady Smith at the trade deadline. Longtime rotation stalwart and former No. 2 overall pick Casey Mize was also sent to San Diego for prospects Kash Mayfield and Jackson Wolf. On September 19, the Tigers secured their first losing record since the 2023 season. On the following day, they were eliminated from the playoffs for the first time since that 2023 season.
On September 26, Justin Verlander, in his first season back with the team since being traded in 2017 and the final season of his career, pitched his last game.
Roster moves
Trades
On December 12, 2025, the Tigers traded pitcher Chase Lee to the Toronto Blue Jays for minor league pitcher Johan Simon. On January 6, 2026, the Tigers traded Justyn-Henry Malloy to the Tampa Bay Rays for cash considerations. On March 30, 2026, the Tigers traded pitcher Dylan Smith to the San Francisco Giants for cash considerations. On May 1, 2026, the Washington Nationals traded infielder Zack Short to the Tigers for cash considerations or a player to be named later. His minor league contract was selected by the Tigers two days later. On May 27, 2026, the Tigers traded pitcher Connor Seabold to the Toronto Blue Jays for minor league pitcher Juanmi Vasquez. On June 10, 2026, the Milwaukee Brewers traded minor league pitcher Jacob Waguespack to the Tigers for a player to be named later and cash considerations. the Tigers selected his minor league contract and added him to the active roster two days later. On July 13, 2026, the Tigers traded outfielder Jahmai Jones to the Boston Red Sox for a player to be named later. On August 1, the Red Sox traded minor league pitcher Jojo Ingrassia to the Tigers to complete the deal. On July 30, 2026, the Tigers traded catcher Jake Rogers to the Baltimore Orioles for minor league pitcher Zane Barnhart. On August 2, 2026, the Tigers traded pitcher Tarik Skubal to the Los Angeles Dodgers for outfielder Zahir Hope and pitchers River Ryan and Brady Smith. On August 3, 2025, the Tigers traded pitcher Casey Mize and infielder Gage Workman to the San Diego Padres for minor league pitchers Kash Mayfield and Jackson Wolf.
Releases
On October 14, 2025, minor league catcher Tomás Nido and minor league outfielder Akil Badoo refused their minor league assignment and elected free agency. Nido resigned to a minor league contract on October 30. Badoo signed a one-year contract with the Milwaukee Brewers on December 11. On November 2, 2025, pitchers Alex Cobb, Kyle Finnegan, Tommy Kahnle, Rafael Montero and Chris Paddack along with infielder Gleyber Torres elected free agency. On November 18, Torres accepted the $22.025 million qualifying offer to remain with the Tigers in 2026. On December 20, Finnegan resigned with the Tigers. On February 12, 2026, Paddack signed a minor league contract with the Miami Marlins. On February 13, 2026, Montero signed a minor league contract with the New York Yankees. On March 18, 2026, Kahnle signed a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox. On November 4, 2025, the Tigers declined the option for minor league pitcher Randy Dobnak making him a free agent. On November 11,he signed a minor league contract with the Seattle Mariners. On November 6, 2025, the Tigers declined options on pitchers Paul Sewald, José Urquidy, making them free agents. On February 11, 2026, Urquidy signed a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates. On February 13, 2026, Sewald signed a minor league contract with the Arizona Diamondbacks. On November 6, 2025, minor league infielder Kevin Newman elected free agency. He signed a minor league contract with the Kansas City Royals on December 16, 2025. On November 12, 2025, the Tigers designated pitcher Alex Lange for assignment. The Tigers released Lange on November 18 and he signed a one-year contract with the Kansas City Royals two days later. On November 18, 2025, the Tigers designated the following pitchers for assignment: Jason Foley, Sean Guenther, Tanner Rainey, and Tyler Mattison along with recently acquired pitchers Dugan Darnell and Jack Little. They were all non-tendered on November 21 and became free agents. The Tigers resigned Rainey to a minor league contract on November 26. The San Francisco Giants signed Foley to a one-year contract on December 16. The Tigers resigned Darnell, Guenther, Mattison and Little to minor league contracts in December, 2026. On November 21, 2025, the Tigers did not tender a contract to infielder Andy Ibanez, making him a free agent. He signed a one-year contract with the Los Angeles Dodgers on January 13. On December 20, 2025, the Tigers designated outfielder Justyn-Henry Malloy for assignment. He was traded to the Rays on January 6. On March 21, 2026, the Tigers released minor league outfielder Austin Slater after he failed to make the opening day roster. He signed a one-year contract with the Miami Marlins on March 24. On March 25, 2026, the Tigers designated pitcher Dylan Smith for assignment. He was traded to the Giants on March 30. On May 3, 2026, the Tigers designated pitcher Grant Holman for assignment. He was claimed off waivers by the Philadelphia Phillies on May 7. On May 5, 2026, the Tigers designated infielder Zack Short for assignment. Short was outrighted to Triple-A Toledo Mud Hens on May 7. Short refused the assignment and became a free agent on May 8 then resigned with the Tigers on a major league contract. On May 24, 2026, the Tigers designated pitcher Connor Seabold for assignment. He was traded to the Blue Jays three days later. On June 3, 2026, the Tigers released pitchers Bryan Sammons and Dugan Darnell from their minor league contracts. On June 12, 2026, the Tigers designated infielder Zack Short for assignment for the second time this season. He was claimed off waivers by the New York Mets three days later. On June 24, 2026, the Tigers released pitcher Konnor Pilkington from his minor league contract. He signed a minor league contract with the Washington Nationals on July 2. On July 9, 2026, the Tigers designated outfielder Jahmai Jones for assignment. He was traded to the Red Sox four days later. On July 23, 2026, the Tigers released minor league catcher Tomás Nido. On August 27, 2026, Nido signed a minor league contract with the Boston Red Sox. On July 28, 2026, the Tigers designated catcher Jake Rogers for assignment. He was traded to the Orioles two days later. On July 31, 2026, the Tigers designated pitcher Andre Granillo for assignment and released pitcher Sean Guenther from his minor league contract. Granillo was outrighted to Triple-A Toledo on August 4, after clearing waivers. On August 8, 2026, the Tigers released pitcher Scott Effross from his minor league contract. Effros signed a minor league deal with the Seattle Mariners two days later. On August 10, 2026, the Tigers released outfielder Tyler Gentry from his minor league contract. Gentry signed with the Kansas City Monarchs of the American Association of Professional Baseball four days later. On August 12, 2026, the Tigers designated pitcher Troy Watson for assignment. He was claimed off waivers by the Seattle Mariners three days later. On August 16, 2026, the Tigers designated outfielder Trei Cruz for assignment. Cruz was outrighted to Triple-A Toledo on August 18, after clearing waivers. On August 18, 2026, the Tigers released pitcher Tyler Owens from his minor league contract. On September 3, 2026, Owens signed a minor league contract with the Pittsburgh Pirates. On August 23, 2026, the Tigers designated outfielder James Outman for assignment. Outman was outrighted to Triple-A Toledo on August 25, after clearing waivers. On August 24, 2026, the Tigers designated pitcher Ricky Vanasco for assignment. He was claimed off waivers by the Atlanta Braves two days later. On August 25, 2026, the Tigers released pitcher Nick Sandlin from his minor league contract. He was resigned to a minor league contract by the Tigers three days later. On August 31, 2026, the Tigers designated pitcher Tanner Rainey for assignment. Rainey was outrighted to Triple-A Toledo on September 2, after clearing waivers.
Signings On November 6, 2025, the Tigers claimed pitcher Jack Little off waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates. Little was designated for assignment on November 18 and released three days later. On November 12, 2025, the Tigers claimed pitcher Dugan Darnell off waivers from the Pittsburgh Pirates. Darnell was designated for assignment on November 18 and released three days later. On November 18, 2025, the Tigers selected the contracts of pitcher Jake Miller, catchers Eduardo Valencia and Thayron Liranzo, infielder Hao-Yu Lee and outfielder Trei Cruz to protect them from the Rule 5 draft. On December 16, 2025, the Tigers signed pitchers Enmanuel De Jesus and Cole Waites and resigned pitchers Sean Guenther and Jack Little to minor league contracts. On December 16, 2025, the Tigers signed pitcher Drew Anderson to a one-year $7 million contract with a club option for 2027. On December 17, 2025, the Tigers signed pitcher Kenley Jansen to a one-year $9 million contract with a $2 million buyout on a club option for 2027. On December 17, 2025, the Tigers signed pitcher Scott Effross to a minor league contract with an invitation to spring training. He was released from his minor league contract on August 8. On December 20, 2025, the Tigers signed pitcher Kyle Finnegan to a two-year $16.75 million contract with a mutual option for 2028. On December 23, 2025, the Tigers signed pitcher Burch Smith to a minor league contract and invited him to spring training. The Tigers selected his contract on April 22, 2026, and added him to the active roster. On January 6, 2026, the Tigers agreed on 1-year contracts to avoid arbitration with seven players: pitcher Casey Mize ($6.15 million), outfielder Riley Greene ($5 million), utility player Zach McKinstry ($4.2 million), first baseman Spencer Torkelson ($4.075 million), pitcher Will Vest ($3.95 million), outfielder Kerry Carpenter ($3.275 million) and pitcher Tyler Holton ($1.575 million). On January 12, 2026, the Tigers signed pitcher Bryan Sammons to a minor league contract. He was released from his minor league contract on June 3. On January 16, 2026, the Tigers signed outfielder Corey Julks to a minor league contract with an invitation lo spring training. On February 7, 2026, the Tigers signed pitcher Konnor Pilkington to a minor league contract with an invitation lo spring training. He was released from his minor league contract on June 24. On February 10, 2026, the Tigers signed pitcher Framber Valdez to a three-year, $115 million contract. The deal includes a $20 million signing bonus, an opt-out for the 2028 season, and an unspecified amount of deferred money. On February 10, 2026, Justin Verlander signed a one-year, $13 million contract to return to the Tigers. The deal includes $2 million for the 2026 season, with the rest deferred. On February 12, 2026, the Tigers signed outfielder Austin Slater to a minor league contract with an invitation lo spring training. He was released on March 21, 2026. On February 21, 2026, the Tigers signed pitcher Colin Poche to a minor league contract with an invitation lo spring training. On March 10, 2026, the Tigers selected the contract of Enmanuel De Jesus and added him to the 40-man roster. He had signed a minor league contract in December. On March 24, 2026, the Tigers signed pitcher Connor Seabold to a split contract that would earn $800K at the major league level.