The Detroit Tigers are suddenly one of the most watched teams in the trade market, and it’s easy to see why. After Monday night’s third straight loss, they’re sitting six games out in the AL Central and four back in the Wild Card race. That kind of gap can push a club toward a hard pivot, and if Detroit decides to sell, the Braves could have a real opportunity to pounce.
Tarik Skubal is the headliner, of course. The two-time AL Cy Young winner is in the final year of his contract, and the Tigers know they won’t be able to bring him back after the season. He would be the biggest name moved at the deadline by a wide margin, and Alex Anthopoulos should be pushing hard to get Scott Harris on the phone and work out a deal.
But Skubal isn’t the only piece Detroit could dangle.
If the Tigers go into full sell mode, they have three starters who fit the playoff-rental mold. Casey Mize has put together a breakout season, posting a 2.70 ERA and 2.59 FIP across 16 starts.
Jack Flaherty is a little trickier because he just landed on the 15-day IL with flexor inflammation and won’t be back before the deadline, but if the medicals check out, his postseason track record could make him worth the gamble. Before the injury, he was rolling, with a 2.67 ERA over his last seven starts.
Detroit also has bullpen help available.
Kenley Jansen is still chasing Hall of Fame credibility, and even in a down year he brings name value and late-inning experience. His 3.90 ERA in 31 appearances isn’t eye-popping, but the swing-and-miss stuff is still there, and he’s only one season removed from a 159 ERA+ with the Red Sox, which was 59% better than league average.
Then there’s Kyle Finnegan, the only one of the five with multiple years left on his deal. He’s been the best of the bunch by ERA, turning in a 2.45 mark over 45 appearances.
The Braves know him well from his Nationals days, and that familiarity could matter. Even so, the deeper numbers are less flattering, with a 4.94 FIP and 4.77 xERA hinting that some correction may be coming.
In Other News...
Braves Make Another Infield Move As Shortstop Pressure Builds
The Braves added another layer to their infield depth chart by bringing Kyle Farmer back on a minor league contract and sending him to Triple-A Gwinnett. Farmer had been released last week after getting only a brief look in the majors this season, and the move gives Atlanta a familiar glove to stash in the system while the club keeps sorting through its options around the diamond.
Shortstop remains the spot drawing the most attention, with the Braves carrying a roster mix that makes easy fixes hard to find. The bench is tight, rookie Jim Jarvis has struggled on both sides of the ball, and the market does not appear to offer many clean answers, especially if Atlanta wants to chase a name that would cost a major return. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Deadline Pressure Could Force A Move Fans Never Expected
With the trade deadline approaching, the Braves are still weighing how far they want to go to shore up a roster built to win now. Pitching remains the clear priority, with rotation help and bullpen depth sitting ahead of any offensive upgrade, though there is still some interest in a left-field and DH platoon bat if the right fit emerges. For a front office led by Alex Anthopoulos, that kind of balancing act matters, especially with his history showing a more aggressive style in Toronto than the steadier, more measured approach he has usually taken in Atlanta.
The pressure is not just about the current race, either. A potential MLB lockout has added another layer to the deadline calculus, and that could make this a moment when the Braves decide to act differently than they have in years past. Anthopoulos has generally preferred to avoid forcing a deal, but the combination of a tight competitive window and uncertainty beyond this season is creating the kind of backdrop that can push even a cautious front office toward a bolder move. [Read more 🡒]
Braves Just Created A New Divide Between Two Top Infield Prospects
The Braves have nudged their two highest-profile infield prospects onto different tracks, with Tate Southisene moving up the ladder and Alex Lodise heading back to a familiar stop. Southisene, the clubs first-round pick in the 2025 MLB Draft, has been pushed to Double-A Columbus, while Lodise, taken in the second round, is returning to High-A Rome after a solid run in Single-A during 2026.
For Atlanta, the split is a reminder that prospect development rarely moves in lockstep, even for players drafted in the same class and likely to be compared for a long time. Lodise will begin a second stint with the Emperors, where the Braves can see whether his offensive production carries over again, while Southisene gets a tougher test against older competition and a chance to keep climbing ahead of the pack. [Read more 🡒]