The Detroit Tigers’ deadline plans took a dramatic turn when they sent Tarik Skubal to the Los Angeles Dodgers, a move that instantly put the rest of the roster under the microscope. Detroit landed three prospects for its superstar ace, and with the team sitting at 54-58 and still within reach of a wild-card spot, the door appears open for more deals.
Jon Heyman of The New York Post reported that Casey Mize should be "up next" for the Tigers. On Friday, Mize was scratched from his start as a precautionary move ahead of the deadline, and several National League clubs - including the Cubs, Diamondbacks, and Padres - are still in the mix. The 29-year-old has put together a 2.70 ERA with 85 strikeouts this season, and when he’s healthy, he’s been one of Detroit’s most dependable arms.
There’s also been chatter around second baseman Gleyber Torres. Detroit has leaned on him when he’s been available, and his profile could appeal to teams looking for a right-handed bat.
Torres has struggled badly against left-handed pitching, hitting .102, but he’s been much more effective versus righties with a .320 average and a .405 on-base percentage. If the Tigers get an offer they like, he’s another name they may have to seriously weigh.
Jack Flaherty and Kyle Finnegan were also listed as possible options. Finnegan’s value is tied to the same problem that helped sink Detroit earlier in the year: closing games.
The Tigers have blown the most leads in the seventh inning or later, and while Kenley Jansen struggled out of the gate, he has settled in. In July, the veteran closer gave up just three hits and no runs across nine appearances, though he did issue seven walks while working out of trouble.
That kind of late-inning stability could still make him attractive to a contender.
The tricky part for Detroit is figuring out what the market will actually bring back. The return for Skubal came in lower than expected, and that could shape the rest of the deadline for the Tigers. What they do next will say plenty about how far they’re willing to go.
In Other News...
Former Tiger Jake Rogers Lands In A Deadline Twist Fans Will Feel
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 🡒]
Casey Mize Just Became A Tougher Tigers Deadline Call
The pitching market keeps narrowing, and that matters for the Tigers as the deadline approaches. Toronto just added starter Jos Soriano from the Angels in a deal that sent shortstop prospect Arjun Nimmala, outfielder Eddie Micheletti and right-hander Angel Rivero back the other way, another notable move after the Blue Jays had already dealt Kevin Gausman to the Cubs. For Detroit, every starting arm coming off the board changes the backdrop around a roster that is still trying to decide how aggressive it wants to be.
Casey Mize sits right in the middle of that conversation. There has been speculation that the Tigers could move the right-hander, and interest around him has been building as clubs hunt for rotation help. With one more name gone and the supply shrinking, Detroits choice gets tougher by the day: hold onto a pitcher it still values, or see whether the market gets strong enough to justify listening. [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 🡒]