DETROIT – The Detroit Tigers have traded with the division-rival Minnesota Twins to acquire pitcher Chris Paddack, according to a report.
Paddack, 29, made 21 starts for the Twins this season, striking out 83 batters in 111 innings and posting a 4.95 ERA and 1.28 WHIP. Ken Rosenthal, of The Athletic, reports he has been traded to the Tigers.
Recommended Videos
As a rookie with the San Diego Padres in 2019, Paddack looked like a budding superstar, posting a 3.33 ERA and 0.98 WHIP across 140.2 innings, with 153 strikeouts and 31 walks.
In six seasons since then, he’s gone 21-26 with a 4.91 ERA and 1.29 WHIP across 394 innings. He has 347 strikeouts over that span.
The Tigers are in first place in the American League Central Division, with an eight-game lead over the Cleveland Guardians, an 8.5-game lead over the Kansas City Royals, and a 10-game lead over the Twins.
But a recent 1-12 skid exposed some major holes in the roster, including the bullpen and the back end of the starting rotation.
Tarik Skubal has been the best pitcher in the league, and Casey Mize put together an All-Star first half. But both Jack Flaherty and Reese Olson have had up-and-down seasons. Jackson Jobe suffered a season-ending injury, and Alex Cobb has yet to debut.
In the bullpen, the recent struggles of Tommy Kahnle have left Will Vest as perhaps the only fully reliable arm at the back end.
So whether the Tigers view Paddack as a starter or a reliever, they’re going to take a chance on a 29-year-old right hander with some upside. Chris Fetter has had success with these types of reclamation projects in the past, such as Flaherty and Michael Lorenzen.
The Tigers are expected to be one of the most active teams at the deadline, with needs in the bullpen and the lineup remaining. Scott Harris has until 6 p.m. Thursday, July 31, 2025, to upgrade the roster via trade.