The Tigers are stuck in a tricky spot, and that’s exactly why the trade deadline matters so much. Detroit has the second-best record in baseball since June 1, yet it still sits five games out of a Wild Card spot because of the hole it created in April and May. That leaves Scott Harris and the front office weighing a decision that could define the season: push in for help, or cash in on Tarik Skubal.
Skubal sits at the top of any sensible deadline board, including ESPN’s, which ranks him as the best player available if the Tigers sell. But moving him would be a brutal call while Detroit is still within reach of a playoff spot.
Keep him and miss the postseason, though, and the Tigers could lose their ace this winter anyway. It’s a tough corner to be in, but at least Harris hasn’t already slammed the door shut on buying.
If Detroit does go that route, the smartest play is targeting controllable talent - players whose contracts stretch beyond 2026. That kind of deadline shopping would give the Tigers help now and a path toward 2027 and beyond.
One name that fits that mold is Jung Hoo Lee. He’s been a favorite in San Francisco for good reason, ranking sixth in MLB in batting average while also carrying a strikeout rate that would look familiar in Detroit.
The Tigers still don’t have a true center fielder, and Lee doesn’t fully solve that either, though he has played center with the Giants. He’s signed through at least the 2027 season and has a player opt-out for 2028, which makes him a relatively affordable middle-of-the-order bat.
Detroit could use more of those.
The bullpen options are more varied. Josh Hader would be the splashier name, but he’d also cost more.
The Astros are in a similar spot to the Tigers, and owner Jim Crane could decide he doesn’t want to part with Hader if Houston still has a Wild Card shot. Hader is under contract through 2028 and has posted a 1.47 ERA in 20 games.
If the Tigers want a cheaper route, Riley O’Brien is another possibility. The Cardinals closer has a 3.76 ERA this season, which would make some Detroit fans uneasy, but the thinking here is simple: if the Tigers trust their pitching development and Chris Fetter, O’Brien could be worth the price in prospect capital.
Ryan Zeferjahn is another bullpen arm who could make sense. He doesn’t bring the same name value as Hader, but he profiles as a steady back-end reliever, and that’s a real need in Detroit.
The Tigers’ bullpen has improved as the year has gone on, but Kenley Jansen is likely to leave this winter or retire. Zeferjahn could help bridge that gap in 2027, and the Angels are almost certainly willing to sell.
The rotation market also has some intriguing names. Michael Wacha is the odd one out in Kansas City, where the Royals sit in the AL Central cellar despite trying to build around Bobby Witt Jr. Wacha is steady and under contract through 2028 thanks to a club option, which makes him the kind of mistake Detroit should pounce on if the Royals are willing to deal.
Reid Detmers is the more analytically appealing target. ESPN ranks the Angels left-hander No. 11 on its trade deadline board, and the numbers explain why.
He has a 4.16 ERA, but he also has the fourth-most strikeouts in baseball. He doesn’t walk many hitters or give up many home runs, which makes him exactly the sort of arm Harris would value.
He’d cost plenty, but with Skubal likely leaving this winter, Detmers would give Detroit another lefty for the 2027 rotation.
Then there’s the most ambitious swing of all: Zach Neto. It’s a long shot, but not a crazy one.
The Tigers already have a long-term shortstop in Kevin McGonigle, and they shouldn’t move off him after his AL All-Star nod and Rookie of the Year push. Neto wouldn’t force that issue anyway.
He’s on pace for his third straight season of 5-plus bWAR, but his defense at short has slipped badly, with some of the worst range among starting shortstops.
That opens the door for a different kind of fit. Gleyber Torres is likely to leave this winter, and Neto’s bat - a .772 OPS with 19 home runs - would play in a different spot on the diamond.
He has range and a strong arm, just not the long-term defensive profile to stay at short. For Detroit, that could make him a useful answer to a position of need without disrupting McGonigle’s future.
In Other News...
Tigers Escaped A First Inning Mess With A Play Nobody Saw Coming
The first inning was already drifting toward trouble when Troy Melton found himself in a bizarre bit of cleanup work behind the plate. After a swinging third strike bounced away, Dillon Dingler briefly lost track of the ball and didnt realize the batter had gone after it, turning what should have been a routine out into a scramble with a runner trying to advance.
Melton saved the sequence by sprinting home and stepping on the plate before the run could score, a heads-up finish to a play that almost nobody sees. It was the kind of oddball first-inning escape that can change the tone of a game, and even around the Tigers it stood out as the sort of moment that leaves everyone checking the rulebook and replay afterward. [Read more 🡒]
Tarik Skubal Just Created A Brutal New Question For Tigers Fans
Tarik Skubals latest comments add a troubling layer to a situation Tigers fans were already watching closely. The left-hander said he felt discomfort in his elbow as early as January, but he did not get an MRI, leaving the club and its supporters to wonder how long the issue had been simmering before it became public.
What makes it sting even more is the backdrop around it. Skubal pointed to the upcoming arbitration fight with Detroit as part of why he did not report the problem, and he also acknowledged that his relationship with the front office has been strained since that hearing. For a team that needs its ace healthy and aligned, the bigger question now is how much damage has already been done behind the scenes. [Read more 🡒]
Tigers Suddenly Face A Risky Deadline Question In Center Field
With the trade deadline approaching and Detroit still in the playoff hunt, center field has become one of the more interesting spots to watch. The Tigers have mixed and matched there with Matt Vierling and James Outman, and a report from Jim Bowden of The Athletic has floated New York Mets outfielder Luis Robert Jr. as a possible target if Detroit decides it needs a more stable answer.
Roberts appeal is easy to see even with his season interrupted by injury. He has long handled left-handed pitching well, and that kind of split could matter for a Tigers lineup looking for any edge it can find in a tight race. The question is whether Detroit thinks the upside is worth the risk, especially with a player whose availability has been limited and whose market would come with plenty of uncertainty attached. [Read more 🡒]