The Tarik Skubal blockbuster changed the Tigers’ deadline picture in a hurry, and Casey Mize suddenly sits at the center of it.
Detroit’s trade of its ace to the Los Angeles Dodgers didn’t just shake up the market - it may have cleared the path for the club’s next move. MLB insider Jon Heyman said Mize should be “next”, and one rival GM described him as the “Best rental,” left among starters. Heyman also pointed to a strong list of possible suitors, including the Braves, D-Backs, Cubs, Rays, Padres, Yankees.
That kind of attention makes sense given what Mize is bringing to the table. He’s on a one-year, $6.15 million contract and becomes an unrestricted free agent after the 2026 season, which makes him an appealing fit for contenders that want help without long-term baggage. In other words, there’s no complicated commitment here - just a chance to add a starter who is pitching at a high level right now.
And Mize isn’t coming with question marks attached. Through 16 starts, he owns a 2.70 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP, with 85 strikeouts over 86.2 innings.
He’s holding opponents to a .213 batting average and has logged eight quality starts. For a contender hunting rotation stability, that’s a clean package: performance, affordability and an expiring deal.
The timing matters, too. Before the Skubal trade, the market for frontline pitching was being shaped by where Detroit’s ace would land. Now that deal is done, the pressure shifts elsewhere, and Mize becomes even more valuable with one of the top arms off the board.
For the Tigers, the message is pretty clear. Trading Skubal signaled a focus on the future beyond 2026, even with Detroit entering Saturday at 53-58 and 5.5 games behind the first-place Chicago White Sox in the American League Central. The club isn’t mathematically out of the race, but the move suggests the long view is taking priority.
That leaves Detroit with a decision: hold Mize and hope for a modest bump to its postseason odds, or move him now and try to turn a strong season into a return that helps the organization down the road. With the market tightened by the Skubal deal, the second option could bring the bigger payoff.
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Dodgers Rumor Could Put Two Key Lineup Roles In Play
Jeff Passan stirred the deadline market on his podcast by naming Zach Neto as a possible prize trade candidate, and the Dodgers are among the big-market clubs said to be in the mix. For a team that has already asked Mookie Betts to handle shortstop, the appeal is obvious: Neto would give Los Angeles another high-end infield option and another layer of flexibility as the front office weighs how to line up the roster for the stretch run.
A deal, though, would not be as simple as adding another bat and glove. Neto is productive, under control through 2030, and the Angels would have every reason to drive a steep price, which is why a serious pursuit could force the Dodgers to rethink more than one position on the roster. Betts could end up back at second base or right field, and any move that big would likely ripple into the outfield picture as well. [Read more 🡒]
Nike Just Gave Dodgers Fans A New Kobe Collectible To Want
Nike used a Dodger Stadium backdrop against the Red Sox to roll out its latest Kobe collection, a package built around the franchises look and the pull of one of the citys most enduring sports icons. The drop includes the Kobe 5 Protro and Kobe Air Force 1 Protro, along with apparel and accessories like T-shirts and batting gloves, giving fans a mix of on-field style and everyday wear tied to the Dodgers brand.
For Los Angeles collectors, the timing matters almost as much as the design. Early access is set for Aug. 8 and 9 in the city, with a wider public release coming Aug. 15 at select retailers, so this is one of those rare crossover items that should draw both sneakerheads and Dodgers fans looking for something a little different to track down. [Read more 🡒]
Dodgers Just Used A Quiet Depth Piece To Address A Need
The Dodgers used a little depth to patch a different part of the roster landscape just before the trade deadline, moving outfielder Jack Suwinski to the Rays in exchange for catcher Hunter Feduccia. It was the kind of under-the-radar transaction that can get lost amid bigger deadline noise, but it still speaks to how front offices sort through fit, timing and organizational need when the market starts to tighten.
For Tampa Bay, the appeal was adding another outfield option even with several already in place, banking on the idea that Suwinskis Triple-A track record can still translate more consistently at the major league level. For the Dodgers, it was a chance to turn a quiet depth piece into help at a position where coverage matters, and the real question now is how much value they can squeeze out of the return before the next roster squeeze arrives. [Read more 🡒]