3 ways for the Detroit Tigers to prepare for worst case on Casey Mize

Option 2: The Detroit Tigers revisit their earlier trade conversations with the Oakland A’s regarding RHP Frankie Montas

The Detroit Tigers had some rumored interest in Oakland A’s starter Frankie Montas before the season before ultimately signing Michael Pineda to a one-year contract. Oakland’s ask for Montas was too high — so the Detroit Tigers simply opted to give up no prospect capital for a free agent.

Oakland is losing team control of Montas with each start, which means his value is only likely to decrease from here. If the A’s adjust their asking price for Montas, it might be a rare opportunity for an early-season trade that would bring Montas in for, at minimum, this season and next.

While Montas would be a consensus upgrade to the options they have in-house and would keep the Detroit Tigers’ playoff hopes alive this season, his addition would make Detroit Tigers fans very excited for the potential in their 2023 rotation; one that could at some point feature Montas, Eduardo Rodriguez, Tarik Skubal, Spencer Turnbull, and Casey Mize.

A trade would be a similar approach they took with the Riley Greene injury when they pivoted and acquired Austin Meadows out of nowhere. Montas, though, would require a larger package in return, and the Tigers have more recently been cautious about dealing their top talent in trades. This makes any Montas acquisition unlikely at this stage.