DETROIT, Mich. — The Detroit Tigers opened their offseason Thursday with six players hitting the open market, led by Gleyber Torres and Jack Flaherty.
The Tigers group also includes relievers Tyler Kinley, Burch Smith and Jacob Waguespack along with Justin Verlander. They were part of 144 players across the majors declared free agents at the end of the 2026 season, according to the players union.
Verlander’s spot on the list is a formality. The longtime Tigers ace has already retired and made his last big league start in September.
For the other five, the move does not rule out a return, since Detroit can still negotiate new deals. The club finished 76-86 and missed the playoffs, leaving president of baseball operations Scott Harris with major choices. Hao-Yu Lee is a possible in-house option if Torres leaves, and losing Flaherty would open another hole in a rotation already in flux. Detroit carried a payroll of roughly $200 million this season, giving Harris room to spend.
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