Tigers have big Justin Verlander, Kenley Jansen questions for 2026 season
These two longtime MLB veterans are the biggest question marks for the Tigers.
Tigers have big Justin Verlander, Kenley Jansen questions for 2026 season originally appeared on The Sporting News . Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here . This offseason, the Detroit Tigers made a few big moves to make their World Series and postseason odds fairly strong.
While Framber Valdez is the star, two other additions cannot be ignored. Justin Verlander and Kenley Jansen, the active MLB leaders in wins and saves, respectively, were two big moves for the Tigers this offseason. And they are both the subject of the biggest question heading into 2026.
ESPN's Bradford Doolittle posed the question to both longtime MLB veterans. While they are fun pickups from a narrative point of view, the tigers need this veteran duo to actually produce this season, as they could be the difference between success and failure. Tigers have big Verlander, Jansen questions "Detroit needs these guys to produce, because the Tigers seem like a team very close to getting over the top," Doolittle writes.
Verlander has 266 wins, the most in MLB among active pitchers. Jansen, with 477 saves after his debut performance, which resulted in his first Tigers save, is also first in the league among active pitchers. While they have historical significance, the Tigers need that duo to be more than just a fun storyline for the season.