DETROIT — The first half of the Detroit Tigers’ 2026 season was full of discombobulation. The team looked at times terrible and at others terrific. There were injuries and mistakes, brilliant displays of pitching and out-of-nowhere glimpses of potent power.A.J. Hinch faced the most criticism of his Tigers tenure, and yet Hinch kept his team believing after a dismal May.Between all that, Justin Verlander announced this season will be his last. The Tigers had an odd parting with third-base coach Joey Cora. Kevin McGonigle emerged as a rookie of uncanny composure. Dillon Dingler blossomed into the best catcher in the sport. The Tigers watched as Tarik Skubal got hurt, then made an unprecedented return.Who knows, then, what the second half will hold.Here is a sampling of the biggest Tigers storylines as we return from the All-Star break:Are the Tigers buyers, sellers or both?This is the big question. This is what everyone wants to know. The bad news: Finding out the answer will require a bit more patience.The odds are still against the Tigers being able to mount a run into the postseason. But if they can come out of the All-Star break playing well, they could strengthen their case to keep this team together and make a push. Stranger things have happened.Regardless of what happens in the next couple of weeks, there is no bigger dilemma than what to do with ace left-hander Tarik Skubal. The Tigers could trade him for multiple pieces that could strengthen their future. They could keep him and stay true to their original mission of pursuing a World Series. Or maybe they could trade Skubal for pieces that could offer immediate help but keep others such as Casey Mize and Gleyber Torres, attempting to play for both now and later.