When it comes to hot stove season, there’s always a line between what a front office says and what they are actually planning to do. So, while you can’t totally dismiss comments, you have to take them with a grain of salt, especially in the early going. So when Tigers general manager said at the GM Meetings that the club plans to prioritize pitching, it’s legitimately difficult to tell if that’s a smokescreen or not.

The old adage “you can never have too much pitching” exists for a reason, and if you’re talking about the Tigers’ bullpen, then yes, arms need to be at the top of the list. But are we really to believe that the rotation needs reinforcements, too?

As it stands now, the Tigers still have Tarik Skubal. Jack Flaherty is back, and the likelihood is that he returns to form in 2026. Reece Olson was fantastic when healthy in 2025, Casey Mize was overall pretty solid, and Troy Melton showed potential and deserves a long look out of the fifth starter spot.

Beyond those five, arms like Keider Montero and Sawyer Gipson-Long are adequate depth, while a prospect like Jaden Hamm could also be a factor later in the year if needed. Is this the best collection of starters in the world? No, but it is an above-average unit.

Is there more than meets the eye to the Tigers’ stated goal of prioritizing pitching this offseason?

On the one hand, this seems consistent with earlier comments from Scott Harris. Detroit’s biggest holes lie in the infield and in center, and an aggressive free-agency plan would have them spending lavishly at those spots. But shortly after Detroit’s elimination at the hands of the Seattle Mariners, Harris said that he expects the kids to be major factors in the team’s 2026 plans.

Specifically, that would be Kevin McGonigle, who can fill either shortstop, second base, or third, and Max Clark, who could roam center. Arizona Fall League darling Max Anderson could factor into the infield picture as well.

Through that lens, it would look like Greenberg is telling the truth, and the plan is to let the kids run while in the field while they stock up on veterans on the mound.

But after a postseason showing that exposed the lack of a true offensive engine in the middle of the lineup, is that really the best course of action? McGonigle and Clark have superstar potential, but they’ve proven nothing yet.

Or is this all just misdirection? After all, some insiders are linking the Tigers to the offseason’s biggest prize, Kyle Tucker, while other top bats like Alex Bregman aren’t off the table.

This could all just be bait. The Tigers could be distracting their rivals while they lie in wait in the weeds, waiting to pounce on a superstar bat or two. Or it could be an unfortunate truth. All we can say for sure is pay close attention to the front office’s future comments, and weigh them against any future moves, no matter how big or small, to get a sense of what’s really going on here, because there’s likely more than meets the eye.