PITTSBURGH (93.7 The Fan) – So why are the Tigers entering a doubleheader with the Pirates with 18 more wins than the Bucs? It’s simple, they recognized the left-handed Paul Skenes and invested.
It was last year that the Tigers payroll was just $12 million more than the Pirates. But they recognized with their generational pitcher Tarik Skubal, now is the time to spend.
Detroit went from a $96.5 million payroll in 2024 to $144.8 million this year. They did that spending $56.2 million in new free agent contracts.
· P Jack Flaherty 2 years, $35 million
· P Alex Cobb 1 year, $15 million
· 2B Gleyber Torres 1 year, $15 million
· P Tommy Kahnle 1 year, $7.5 million
Paul Skenes named the National League Rookie of the Year, the Pirates spent $21 million in free agency this year. None of those contracts were bigger than the fourth-highest paid free agent in Detroit.
· P Andrew Heaney 1 year, $5.2 million
· DH Andrew McCutchen 1 year, $5 million
· OF Tommy Pham 1 year, $4 million
· P Caleb Ferguson 1 year, $3 million
· 2B Adam Frazier 1 year, $1.5 million
· P Tim Mayza 1 year, $1.15 million
· P Ryan Borucki 1 year, $1.15 million
Tigers are getting production for paying more. Torres, by himself, has as many extra base hits as Pham and Frazier combined this season. They spent a lot of money on Flaherty, but needed another rotation arm, he has struck out 90 in 76 innings with a 1.13 WHIP and .208 batting average against.
In 2024, the Tigers went from 78 wins to 86 and a spot in the playoffs, after spending $37.75 million in free agency. This is after signing shortstop Javier Baez to a six-year, $140 million in 2022 to be a part of their future.
The Tigers also drafted much better-Spencer Torkelson, Riley Greene and Kerry Carpenter all came from the Tigers farm system and have combined for 44 home runs, 43 doubles, 66 walks, 125 RBI and 115 runs.
In the 2020 draft, where Detroit had the number one overall pick, they selected Torkelson first overall. Drafted Dillon Dingler, the starting catcher, in the second round (7 home runs, .271 avg, .732 OPS). In the fifth round, Tigers got DH Colt Keith (12 doubles, 4 home runs, .729 OPS).
They also drafted Cy Young Award winner Skubal, Casey Mize, Jackson Jobe in their rotation and closer Will Vest, who has five wins and 12 saves.
Pirates hit the jackpot on Skenes, Jared Jones had a really solid rookie year only to miss this year due to injury. Beyond those two, here are the drafted Pirates in the regular lineup or rotation in 2025
· 2005 1st round pick Andrew McCutchen (12 doubles, 7 home runs, .348 on-base percentage)
· 2013 6th round pick Adam Frazier (9 doubles, .250 average, .649 OPS)
· 2021 1st overall pick Henry Davis (3 doubles, 4 home runs, .194 average, .620 OPS)
· 2015 1st round pick Ke’Bryan Hayes (4 doubles, 2 home runs, .280 on-base, .562 OPS)
· 2014 2nd round pick Mitch Keller (1-9, 4.08 ERA, 1.25 WHIP)
· Mlodzinski (1-5, 5.98 ERA, 1.65 WHIP, .319 batting average against)
We could write hundreds of more words, but when Detroit drafted a generational pitcher, it surrounded him with talent. The Pirates have a generational pitcher as well. What are they going to do?