3 roster tweaks Tigers can still make this season to cement their unorthodox playoff push

The Detroit Tigers sold their two best starting pitchers at the trade deadline and yet their on-field play is still trying to convince everyone that they still have a chance to make the playoffs. The crazy thing is that they actually do have a shot, even if it is an unorthodox one.

They are only a series' worth of games back of the Chicago White Sox in the American League Central (thanks, Red Sox) and are just one game back of the third AL Wild Card spot. If they play solid baseball the next six weeks, they have a legitimate shot at making the playoffs. The 2024 season saw them sell at the deadline and then make the playoffs, so they have historical precedent to point to as well.

Detroit didn’t add any major pieces at the deadline but there are still some levers at their disposal if they want to improve the team in the coming weeks. What moves can they make, with trades off the table, that would strengthen their chance at an unlikely playoff berth?

3 moves Tigers should make if they want to sneak into playoffs

Sign Lou Trivino

Veteran reliever Lou Trivino has been with two teams this season and it’s been pretty ugly. He has a 15.00 ERA in five appearances on the year, two with the Baltimore Orioles and three with the Philadelphia Phillies. He was decent in 2025, though, posting a 3.97 ERA in 47 appearances. 

Detroit’s bullpen has been an issue pretty much all season. They’ve blown so many leads and if they had been buyers, Tarik Skubal’s final start likely would have forced them to go get bullpen help.

Trivino recently elected free agency so he is available after being DFA’d by Philadelphia, recently activated from the IL after suffering a "thoracic muscle spasm". He may not be a savior but they might as well give him a shot at this point.

Sign Craig Kimbrel

Similarly, veteran reliever Craig Kimbrel was recently DFA’d by the Tampa Bay Rays and he too elected free agency. He has a 4.81 ERA on the year between his time with the Rays and New York Mets, but the numbers were much better with Tampa Bay, as he had a 3.86 ERA with the Rays.

He’s not the dominant closer he once was, but if he can put up the numbers he did with the Rays then he’d be a worthy addition to Detroit’s bullpen. Kenley Jansen and Craig Kimbrel in the same 'pen? It might be more than a Cooperstown fever dream.

Call up Corey Julks

The Tigers are still rolling with Zach McKinstry even though he’s hitting .216/.296/.326. He has been a weak spot in the lineup all season so it may be time to finally put him on the bench and upgrade the outfield a bit.

Corey Julks has been solid in Triple-A this season, hitting .280/.355/.463 with 15 home runs and 54 runs batted in. The Tigers were smart to pick him up before the season so they may as well utilize him. He’s not on the 40-man roster, so a corresponding move would have to be made, but maybe he could provide an offensive spark of some sort.

The moves at Detroit’s disposal are obviously somewhat limited, but if they want to try to improve the team and surprise everyone by making the playoffs after trading two of their best players, then they should think about these three moves.

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