MLBTR’s new team-by-team deadline preview series continues with a look at the Tigers. Detroit entered the season as fringe contenders, but have emerged as the clear best team in the American League and possess MLB's best record overall coming out of the All-Star break. That's been thanks to some surprise breakout performances, as well as the club's top stars playing as expected. The Tigers are one of the most obvious buyers in the sport this trade season, though with a well-balanced roster there are few glaring holes they're desperate to upgrade.
Record: 59-38 (99.0% playoff probability, per FanGraphs)
For other entrants in this series, see this post.
Buy Mode
Potential needs: Infield, center field, starting pitching, bullpen help
The Tigers have a well-constructed team without many needs they absolutely must upgrade. With that being said, there's at least some room for improvement virtually everywhere on the roster. A roster full of versatile position players who can be moved around as needed means that the Tigers can afford to be creative in upgrading their lineup this summer, and for a team with an above-average but not necessarily outstanding offense that figures to be a good place to start. Players like Javier Baez and Zach McKinstry are capable of playing virtually all over the diamond as needed, and while others like Colt Keith and Matt Vierling aren't quite as versatile, they can at least move around a handful of positions to give Detroit some further flexibility.
As presently constructed, the clearest hole in the Tigers' lineup appears to be center field. The combination of Parker Meadows and Vierling simply hasn't gotten it done this year. Both spent time on the injured list early in the season but now sport wRC+ marks of 55 and 50 respectively, although both of those figures come in fairly small sample sizes. That's especially true of Vierling, who has been healthy enough to get into just 13 games this season. Perhaps the Tigers could bet on the pair to find the form they flashed last year if given enough runway, but both hitters have options remaining and the club will surely be looking to maximize this opportunity given the dwindling team control of Tarik Skubal.
Cedric Mullins is a rental who could be available and would raise the floor for the Tigers in the outfield, with a 101 wRC+ this year and at least passable defense (though his bat has gone cold after a huge April). Mullins typically does his best work against right-handed pitching with a 115 wRC+ for his career and below-average numbers against fellow lefties, but this season he's actually posted reverse splits with a 140 wRC+ in 72 plate appearances against southpaws as compared to an 86 wRC+ against righties in a larger sample. Perhaps the Tigers would be willing to offer him everyday reps in the outfield, but even in some sort of timeshare with Baez, Meadows, and Vierling, Mullins would be an upgrade for a weak spot in the club's lineup.
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As a secret Tigers fan I hope they go for it.
Nick – excellent job on the analysis on my Tigers. They will not give up any of their premium prospects for a rental player or a mediocre relief pitcher. However I could see them parting with one of the top prospects for Mason Miller. I would not be shocked if they pursued Sandy Alcantrara and or Eugenio Suarez (and took on sandys contract) for a couple of mid level prospects. It should be interesting. I don’t think the Tigers will stand Pat, however they will not mortgage the future for any non premium players.
@12
I like your take overall, but I think to win this year, I’d rather have Fairbanks or Bednar than Alcantrara. If anybody could tinker and right Sandy’s ship, it’s probably Chris Fetters, but we need a closer!.
Vest is the closer. He’s been amazing. They just need to get to him. Set up pitching is the need.
Bednar scares me a little in that he is not an upgrade over Vest. Now Miller or Bastista or Chapman or Fairbanks … they would be. But only Miller would be worth a premium prospect. He has several years of team control and he’s a strikeout machine, which they lack. The A’s need SP’s more than anything. Maybe giving up Olsen and Hamm would get the deal done. And then make the trade for Sandy Alcantrara or Keller from Pittsburgh. Olsen is a good young pitcher, but every year he misses time and can’t be counted on long term.
Who takes Olsen’s place? You have no one that’s gonna be as productive as him unless you make a separate trade.
@12
Any of those guys would be good, including Bednar as set up for Vest, or to take turns closing with him, as Tommy Kahnle was doing until recently… I think Reese Olson is great and has phenom potential, I don’t think I would trade him for Mason Miller, even given Miller’s upside!
@TigersFan I agree Bednar isn’t really an upgrade. Hes had a couple seasons where hes been marginally better than Vest but the difference was tiny. Vest however has been more consistent and his results have not wavered year over year like Bednar.
You dont trade Reese Olsen. To much upside and he is a fan favorite. You can just buy players without ruining your team or clubhouse.
“I would not be shocked if they pursued Sandy Alcantrara…”
“however they will not mortgage the future for any non premium players.”
Alcantara hasn’t been a premium starting pitcher since 2022. He’s been especially terrible of late (18 earned runs in his last three starts)
It’s not clear what it would take to get him, but right now, I’m not sure why any team trying to make the playoffs would trade for him. He’s a reclamation project at this point.
I think we need pitching more than bats. Both the starters and especially the bullpen have been shaky recently. What the heck happened to Tommy Kahnle?
He got tired. He and Hurter have just looked tired the last week or so before the all star break. Hopefully the break helps them and the Tigers can add at least one good reliever!
Kahnle has floated to many changeups. The velo on his fastball has been fine, mid 90s, whenever he throws it.
That being said, you need loads of relief pitching in the playoffs. Gotta go get more. Also, call up Kenny Serwa as an October surprise, but as a reliever.
Counting on Jack Flaherty????
He’s not an ace, but no team has four aces. As the three or 4, he’s fine.
I would say when everyone is pitching to their full potential, the Mariners have four Aces with Gilbert, Kirby, Castillo, and Wu. I would say all four have pitched like aces in spurts this season, with Wu being the most consistent. If you can get them all cooking at the same time now that would be exciting. They are more than capable of doing that.
The Tigers need pen help for sure. Beyond that they could use help at center and short. The Twins have a trio of rentals that could help in Bader, Coulombe and Castro. Not sure what the Twins would want back. They need catching badly. I imagine Jace Jung is available if the Twins wanted him.