The Tigers didn’t need much to rethink Casey Mize. They got it anyway.
Once the trade deadline passed, the idea of Tarik Skubal returning to Detroit in free agency already felt remote. Mize, though, still looked like the more realistic name to circle back on - a former first overall pick who would come far cheaper than Skubal and, for the first time in a while, had started to look like he was tapping into the talent that made him such a big bet in the first place.
But the latest stretch has changed the conversation.
Mize’s biggest issue has always been health, and that part of the story hasn’t gone away. He went on the IL twice while still with Detroit this year, then had a scare in his fourth start with the Padres.
The Tigers have lived through that version of him before and still found ways to get value when he was on the mound. San Diego hasn’t had nearly the same luck.
In six starts for the Padres, who are chasing a Wild Card spot in the National League, Mize has a 6.67 ERA and is averaging less than 4 2/3 innings per start. That’s not the kind of line that makes a club eager to revisit a reunion.
Maybe, as the piece puts it, the guy just really misses Chris Fetter.
Sure, there’s still a path where the Tigers could take another look if Mize finishes the year badly and reaches the market as a bargain option. But the way things have gone since the trade, that feels increasingly like a maybe worth passing on.
Detroit’s 2027 rotation is already in a better place than it might appear. Framber Valdez, Troy Melton, Jackson Jobe, Keider Montero, and, hopefully, Reese Olson give the Tigers a group that looks solid on paper.
In other years, that kind of outlook might have sparked frustration from fans who would see it as Scott Harris leaning on internal options instead of adding more help. This time, it’s hard to argue the group doesn’t have real shape.
And if the Tigers are going to make room for anyone, the bigger question may be who’s leaving rather than who’s coming in. Jack Flaherty and Justin Verlander are both set to hit free agency after the season. Verlander is retiring, while Flaherty should be allowed to move on.
As for Mize, the Tigers may still feel some affection there, and that makes sense. He gave them commendable innings when his body cooperated, and his All-Star selection was one of the brighter moments for Detroit fans. Still, sentiment only goes so far.
At some point, the Tigers have to let the story go and keep the focus on the younger arms they’re trying to develop in the majors.
In Other News...
Tigers Give Fans One Last Comerica Moment With Justin Verlander
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It fits the moment for a pitcher who defined so much of the Tigers modern identity and is now retiring after a 21-season career, most of it in Detroit. MLB commissioner Rob Manfred already has recognized Verlander as an honorary All-Star, and the home crowd will now get a final chance to salute him at the ballpark where so many of his biggest memories were made. [Read more 🡒]
Tigers Win Couldnt Hide Their Biggest Offseason Problem
The Tigers came away with an extra-innings win after a strong offensive night, with rookies John Peck and Spencer Torkelson helping give the lineup some life. It was the kind of result that can steady a clubhouse for a night, especially when the younger players are part of the production and the bats are carrying more of the load than usual.
But even a win like that could not fully mask the larger issue sitting underneath Detroits recent push. The bullpen remains the glaring concern, and as the offseason approaches, the front office has a decision to make about free agents leaving and possible additions who could help stabilize late innings. For a team trying to build on progress, the relief corps looks like the spot that most clearly needs a fix. [Read more 🡒]
Tigers May Have Found An Infield Option Worth Watching
John Pecks first night in a Tigers uniform was the kind of debut that can buy a young infielder more than a little breathing room. Promoted from Triple-A Toledo, he stepped into Detroits lineup and responded with his first two Major League hits, driving in three runs in a 12-inning win over the Twins and giving the club another glimpse of a player who arrived with a real chance to matter.
A.J. Hinch signaled that the Tigers intend to keep Peck around for a while and let him settle in at the Major League level. Considering it came in just his third big league game, the performance only adds to the sense that Detroit may have uncovered a useful infield option at a time when every productive bat and reliable glove can matter, even if the long-term picture still has some sorting out to do. [Read more 🡒]