The Detroit Tigers appear to be signaling a shift in their pitching strategy, potentially setting the stage for significant player movement ahead of the trade deadline. Pitcher Casey Mize has been scratched from his scheduled start on Friday against the Oakland Athletics, a move that has amplified speculation about the future of ace Tarik Skubal.
Mize is now slated to start on Tuesday, after the trade deadline passes. This rescheduling has led to interpretations that he may not remain with the team past the deadline. The Tigers plan to utilize a bullpen game for Friday's start, according to Tigers reporter Evan Woodbery.
While a potential trade involving Skubal would be a separate transaction, the decision to scratch Mize from his start is being viewed as the clearest indicator yet that Skubal could be on the move. Jon Heyman of the New York Post believes this move suggests the Tigers might be open to a "fire sale."
Skubal, a two-time Cy Young Award winner, is considered the Tigers' most valuable trade asset. However, Mize, at 29 years old and enjoying a career year with a 2.70 ERA and 8.8 strikeouts per nine innings, also presents an attractive option for teams seeking pitching depth at a more modest cost. Other potential trade candidates for Detroit mentioned by Heyman include Gleyber Torres and Kyle Finnegan.
MLB teams have been observing the Tigers' situation throughout the season, with many wondering if the club, currently at 51-58 and 4 1/2 games behind the last American League Wild Card spot, would consider trading their ace. The New York Yankees have been previously linked to Skubal. Additionally, National League contenders such as the Milwaukee Brewers, Atlanta Braves, and Philadelphia Phillies have been mentioned as possible destinations. Even the Los Angeles Dodgers, who have the best record in baseball, could be motivated to acquire Skubal to prevent a rival from doing so, according to Heyman.
The circumstances now suggest that a trade involving Skubal is a matter of when, rather than if, and Mize could potentially be part of a larger player exodus from Detroit.