December. It’s one of my favorite times of year. Call me old-fashioned, but I miss the days of huge mall displays, in-store Black Friday shopping, and going to department stores during the holiday season to smell those fantastic Cinnabons baking and people-watching. Back then, it took longer to find a parking spot than it did to buy gifts!
Nowadays, everything can be taken care of with a click of a button. While the convenience is nice at times, you don’t get the ambiance and feel from clicking a mouse that you do when you are out and about – and more importantly, you don’t get to tell Santa what you want for Christmas!
My wishlist for Santa was always long and full of any and everything a kid could want. I’m a 1970s-’80s kid, so my list usually included the latest Atari video games, Topps baseball cards, and those new, shiny, Frisbee-looking things that magically played music called compact discs! Anything under the tree always made Christmas Day more special.
Now that decades have passed since those youthful glory days and I have a family of my own, I have become much more of a giving person. So, in the spirit of the holidays and my love of baseball, I have decided to continue my generous ways by contacting Santa himself and presenting him with a wishlist to improve the Detroit Tigers dramatically come 2026.
After all, Tigers owner Chris Illitch and GM Jeff Greenberg must have a lot on their minds during this holiday season, so why not let me take some of the stress and burden off their shoulders?
My first request to Santa or his pal, Baby New Year, is simple. Bring us Alex Bregman!
First off, you can never, ever have enough pitching in MLB. Tigers fans have seen what a lack of pitching in September can do firsthand the past two seasons.
Many experts predicted the Tigers would land Bregman last season; however, he eventually signed a 3-year deal with the Boston Red Sox with an option to opt out after the 2025 season. Bregman chose to use the opt-out option and is now back on the market, with the Red Sox still in hot pursuit at the time of publication.
Alex Bregman would not only give the Tigers the everyday third baseman they desperately need, but it would also add punch to their growing lineup.
In fact, adding Bregman, alongside sluggers Kerry Carpenter, Javier Baez, Spencer Torkeson, Gleyber Torres, and Riley Greene, would instantly make the Tigers’ everyday lineup the best in the Central Division.
In his 10 years in the big leagues, Bregman has averaged 28 home runs, 96 RBI, and has a career avg. of .272.
My second request? Bring back two fan favorites.
Can you imagine Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer back in the Old English D? I can. I know Santa can, but the real question is, can Chris Illitch?
Before you say this will never happen, or that these two don’t have much left to offer, or that I’ve consumed too much eggnog, I say, hear me out.
First off, you can never, ever have enough pitching in MLB. Tigers fans have seen what a lack of pitching in September can do firsthand the past two seasons. At times, it felt like Tarik Skubal was pitching every other day.
Second, both Verlander and Scherzer could start games or pitch out of the pen. Last year, they both pitched well down the stretch — much better than their 2025 records indicated.
Finally, taking a chance on two former studs who had some of their best seasons right here at Comerica Park wouldn’t break the bank. The Tigers may even get a break and sign them on a veteran league minimum deal, depending on whether Scherzer and Verlander decide to return to Motown. Just imagine it. JV and Mad Max are back in Detroit, and Alex Bregman is the new kid on the block. That would be a 2026 wishlist come true for this Tigers fan. Don’t worry, Chris Illitch, you can thank me (plus Santa and Baby New Year) later.
Happy Holidays to all — I can’t wait for MLB in 2026!
