The Tigers’ trade deadline picture keeps shifting, and another move elsewhere has already changed the market.
The Toronto Blue Jays are now in the acquisition business, landing starting right-hander José Soriano from the Los Angeles Angels in a deal reported by ESPN’s Jeff Passan. Passan said the Angels will get top shortstop prospect Arjun Nimmala, outfielder Eddie Micheletti and right-hander Angel Rivero in return.
It’s a notable twist because Toronto had just moved starter Kevin Gausman to the Cubs. Soriano comes with more than two years of control, which helps explain why the Blue Jays were willing to pay up.
For the Tigers, the ripple effect matters. One more sought-after arm is off the board, and that can only tighten the market for teams still hunting pitching. That could push the price higher on a player such as Casey Mize.
Mize is the next big Tigers name to watch after Skubal is already out the door. National MLB reporter Jon Heyman noted that the Tigers’ place in the AL playoff race could make things trickier if they decide to deal him.
Heyman also said Mize was high on the wish list for the Atlanta Braves. Beyond Atlanta, he listed the Arizona Diamondbacks, Chicago Cubs, Tampa Bay Rays, San Diego Padres and New York Yankees as teams in the mix.
The Cubs already made their move late Sunday night, getting Kevin Gausman from Toronto for two prospects. The Braves also added a starter, acquiring Tyler Mahle from the San Francisco Giants in exchange for pitcher Anthony Molina.
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Jake Rogers deadline day turned into a whirlwind, and for Tigers fans, it was a reminder of how fast baseball can move. After spending several seasons in Detroit, the catcher was dealt to the Baltimore Orioles and then quickly flipped to the Boston Red Sox in the same sequence of moves tied to a larger deal centered on Adley Rutschman.
Now Rogers lands in a situation where his role could be far more immediate than anyone expected when the day began. With Rutschman currently on the injured list, the former Tiger is in position to help Boston right away, giving his new club a short-term answer while leaving Detroit followers to track one more familiar name in a very different setting. [Read more 🡒]
Astros Suddenly Have One Deadline Need They Can't Ignore
Casey Mizes name is back in the rumor mill at the exact moment the Tigers are trying to keep their division lead steady, and now his next start has been scratched as a precaution. The timing only adds to the sense that Detroit could be weighing a bigger-picture decision with a pitcher who is nearing free agency, even if the Tigers would prefer the focus stay on the pennant race rather than the deadline.
Houston has emerged as one of the clubs watching closely because of its rotation injuries, and that need is hard to miss with the deadline approaching. For the Tigers, the question is whether holding onto Mize for a run at October is worth more than the kind of prospect package a contending club might be willing to put on the table, which is exactly the sort of call front offices hate making when the standings say one thing and the long view says another. [Read more 🡒]