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Detroit Tigers receive top pitching prospects Kash Mayfield, Jackson Wolf from Padres in Casey Mize trade

The deal also sends infielder Gage Workman to San Diego

The Detroit Tigers traded right-handed pitcher Casey Mize to the San Diego Padres before Monday’s MLB trade deadline, acquiring left-handed pitching prospects Kash Mayfield and Jackson Wolf in return. (Copyright 2026 by WDIV ClickOnDetroit - All rights reserved.)

DETROIT – The Detroit Tigers traded right-handed pitcher Casey Mize to the San Diego Padres before Monday’s MLB trade deadline, acquiring left-handed pitching prospects Kash Mayfield and Jackson Wolf in return.

The deal, announced shortly before the 6 p.m. deadline on Monday (Aug. 3), also sends infielder Gage Workman to San Diego as Detroit continues reshaping its roster.

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Tigers land two pitching prospects

Mayfield, 21, was ranked the No. 2 prospect in the Padres’ organization by MLB Pipeline and represented San Diego at last month’s Futures Game in Philadelphia.

The Padres selected him with the 25th overall pick in the 2024 MLB Draft out of Elk City High School in Oklahoma.

Mayfield will report to Single-A West Michigan.

National League pitcher Kash Mayfield (20) delivers during the fifth inning the MLB All-Star Futures baseball game against the American League, Sunday, July 12, 2026, in Philadelphia. (AP Photo/Chris Szagola) (Copyright 2026 The Associated Press. All rights reserved.)

In his first professional season in 2025, Mayfield made 19 starts with Single-A Lake Elsinore, posting a 2.97 ERA over 60⅔ innings.

He struck out 88 batters while issuing 28 walks, ranking among the top Single-A pitchers in strikeout and walk rates.

This season, Mayfield has made 15 starts with Fort Wayne, going 3-1 with a 3.54 ERA while striking out 62 batters over 53⅓ innings.

Wolf, 27, was selected by San Diego in the fourth round of the 2021 draft out of West Virginia University.

He has spent six seasons in the Padres organization and made one major league relief appearance in 2023.

Wolf will report to Triple-A Toledo after pitching in 24 games, including 17 starts, for Triple-A El Paso this season.

He has struck out 90 batters over 89⅓ innings.

San Diego Padres pitcher Jackson Wolf throws against the Detroit Tigers in the second inning of a baseball game, Saturday, July 22, 2023, in Detroit. (AP Photo/Paul Sancya) (Copyright 2023 The Associated Press. All rights reserved)

Mize, Workman head to San Diego

Mize, 29, was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 MLB Draft by Detroit after starring at Auburn University.

He made his major league debut during the pandemic-shortened 2020 season and went 27-31 with a 3.95 ERA in 105 appearances, including 103 starts, during his Tigers career.

After missing significant time because of an injury beginning in 2022, Mize returned and became one of Detroit’s more reliable starters.

The right-hander was in the middle of a career-best season in 2026, going 4-6 with a 2.70 ERA and a 0.99 WHIP in 16 starts.

Mize allowed limited hard contact while improving his strikeout and walk numbers.

Workman, 26, split the season between Detroit and Triple-A Toledo.

The Tigers selected him in the fourth round of the 2020 draft out of Arizona State University.

Tigers eye future amid deadline moves

The trade comes after a busy deadline period for Detroit, which also dealt left-hander Tarik Skubal to the Los Angeles Dodgers for a package of prospects.

The Tigers entered the deadline trying to balance postseason hopes with building for the future.

Detroit recently moved back into the American League wild-card race after sweeping the Oakland Athletics, but the team remains behind Cleveland in the standings.

Despite the moves, the Tigers entered the final stretch with one of the better run differentials in the American League.

Detroit’s plus-63 run differential suggested stronger underlying performance than its record indicated, though bullpen struggles contributed to several late-game losses.

The Tigers are still searching for consistency after a difficult stretch that included a 6-22 May.

The deadline trades signal a focus on adding young talent to the organization’s future core.