DETROIT – With the MLB trade deadline just days away, it looks like the Detroit Tigers might be ready to deal more than just Tarik Skubal.
Skubal, 29, is the protagonist of the deadline. He’s been the best pitcher in baseball since returning from injury midway through 2023, and as a pending free agent, the Tigers are motivated to deal him before 6 p.m. Monday.
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Detroit is currently seven games below .500, 6.5 games out of the AL Central Division, and 4.5 games out of a wildcard spot.
Sure, the Tigers could make up that ground. But they haven’t been able to mount a consistent winning streak since a disastrous 6-22 record in May, and team president Scott Harris is unlikely to bet on their long playoff odds.
So if the Tigers can get a strong return for Skubal, he’ll likely be wearing a different uniform by next week.
Skubal has a 2.79 ERA, 0.91 WHIP, and 116 strikeouts in 96.2 innings this season. He’s been fantastic since returning from an elbow injury.
But you know who’s been nearly as impressive? Casey Mize.
Mize is sporting a 2.70 ERA, a 0.992 WHIP, and has struck out 85 batters in 86.2 innings. His name hasn’t attracted as much attention as Skubal’s this deadline, but that might change after what the Tigers just did.
On Friday, the Tigers announced that Mize will no longer make his scheduled start in the series opener against the A’s in Sacramento. He’s not injured, so it’s clear the Tigers are prioritizing his health as a trade chip over winning Friday night’s game.
I don’t blame them.
Mize, also a 29-year-old impending free agent, is having the best season of his career and should be a highly coveted deadline target. But he’s also been on the injured list twice with groin issues, and narrowly missed a third trip to the IL after leaving a recent start early.
He’s healthy right now, and one of the better starting pitchers available for rent. So it makes sense to eliminate the risk of another start.
You’ll rarely hear a team executive come out and say, “We’re sellers.” But this is about as close as it gets.
Everyone knew Skubal would be available. But now it looks like Mize is on the block, too.