The Detroit Tigers have a decision to make, and it’s not really about whether they’re sellers at the trade deadline. At 46-52 and sitting in fourth place in the AL Central, they’re not fooling anyone — including themselves. They’ve played better ball since June 1, sure. But climbing over six teams for the third wild card spot? That’s a long shot.
So yeah, they’ll be selling. The question is who goes and who stays.
Tarik Skubal is as good as gone, and that’s fine
The Tigers hold the most valuable chip on the market in lefty Tarik Skubal, a two-time Cy Young winner. He’s headed for free agency after the season, and if he planned to stick around in Detroit, you’d think a deal would’ve happened by now. So trade him. Get a solid player and a couple of prospects. Maybe more. It’s smart business.
And while you’re at it, move Kenley Jansen too. The 38-year-old closer isn’t going to bring back a haul like Skubal, but a prospect or a draft pick is better than nothing for a team that isn’t contending.
But here’s where it gets tricky. The Tigers need to hold onto one of their starters, and it’s not who you might think.
Casey Mize is the guy worth keeping
Mize is also not under contract beyond this season, same as Skubal. But the situations are completely different. Skubal is going to command a massive deal somewhere. Mize? He’s the kind of pitcher you can build around without wrecking your payroll.
Look at the numbers this season: Mize is 4-6 but has a 2.79 ERA with 77 strikeouts in 77.1 innings. Seven of his 14 starts have been quality starts. He’s allowed just five home runs all year. That’s not flashy, but it’s steady. And in 2025, he went 14-6 with a 3.87 ERA over 28 starts. He’s not an ace right now, but he has the stuff to grow into one.
The Tigers signed Mize to a one-year, $6.15 million deal before the season. That’s cheap. If they offer him a multi-year extension — something with real security but not a king’s ransom — he might take it. Because the alternative is starting from scratch in a division that’s actually winnable.
Riley Greene is the other untouchable
The Tigers will get offers for a lot of guys, and they should take advantage. But Riley Greene needs to stay. The 25-year-old outfielder is a three-time All-Star slashing .286/.377/.460 with 13 homers and 46 RBIs this season. He’s coming off a monster 2025 where he hit 36 homers and drove in 111 runs. That’s your core. That’s your future.
Greene signed a one-year, $5 million deal this season and is arbitration-eligible for two more years. He won’t hit free agency until 2029. That’s a window the Tigers can work with. A long-term deal makes too much sense to ignore.
So here’s the plan: trade Skubal for a haul. Move Jansen for whatever you can get. But lock up Mize and keep Greene in the lineup. The Tigers don’t need to win now. They need to be ready when they can win. And that starts with not trading the guys who can actually help them get there.
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