If 2022 isn’t the year, what moves can the Tigers make to gear up for 2023?

Yesterday, I highlighted three trade targets the Tigers could look at if they were to try making a push to compete this season. At the time of the creation of this article, The Tigers are sitting at a record of 8-20, losing six in a row, and eight of their last 10.

With the team off to a slower start than many hoped for, should they begin to look towards the future, and move on from a few of the players on their roster? If so, here are a few the Tigers could look to move from ahead of this season’s trade deadline.

Jonathan Schoop

The start to this season has not gone the way that Schoop was hoping for. At the time of this article, he is currently slashing .139/.179/.198 with one home run and striking out 20.8% of the time.

Schoop signed a two-year extension with the Tigers in August after finishing the season with a .278 average and 22 homers. With the second year of his deal totaling $7.5 million, a contending roster looking for a veteran bat in their lineup could entertain bringing him aboard to help their playoff push.

At the moment, Kody Clemens is in Toledo chomping at the bit to get his opportunity in the majors. If the Tigers decided to move on from Schoop, it would allow for them to give Clemens a chance to show the organization what he is capable of, and the opportunity to solidify himself in the Tigers future.

Robbie Grossman

When Grossman signed his two-year deal with Detroit in 2021, many saw it as one of the more valuable deals signed in that offseason. The two-year, $10 million contract has been worth every penny up to this point.

Grossman has been a consistent staple at the top of the order in his time with the Tigers, and any playoff-hopeful team would love to bring in his experience. His ability to get on base at a high rate makes him a fit in any lineup around baseball.

The Tigers have a slew of young outfielders in their organization. As Riley Greene continues to progress in his rehab from the foot fracture he suffered late in spring, trading Grossman would open up the spot in the outfield for him to get consistent playing time when he does make his debut.

Michael Pineda

When Pineda was signed this off-season, the Tigers hoped he would provide them with stability in their young rotation. After a delayed start to his season because of Visa issues, Pineda has been as advertised.

Throughout his career, his numbers have never been flashy, but he has provided consistency. Pineda is an innings eater and, in a time in baseball where starters aren’t going deep into games anymore, Pineda is still one of the few that are. There isn’t a team in baseball that wouldn’t want more pitching depth, specifically starters, as they progress throughout the year. With not much money attached to his one-year deal, Pineda would be someone that can be highly sought out by teams across the league.

The future of the Tigers rotation is starting to take shape. Coming into this season, we had seen the debuts of Casey Mize, Tarik Skubal, and Matt Manning. We can now add Alex Faedo and Beau Brieske to that list, not to mention the debut of Joey Wentz on Wednesday. Opening up the rotation spot will allow the Tigers the opportunity to give their young arms the chance to get big-league experience before the true beginning of the Tigers run for a postseason run in the upcoming season.