3 Tigers who will not factor into the team's plans come the 2025 trade deadline

After the Cinderella season the Detroit Tigers had in 2024, the goal in 2025 will ultimately be to make a run at the postseason once again. Some are even optimistic about the team's chance at the AL Central crown.

Any team that holds hopes for October is always looking for ways to make some changes in order to improve their roster, whether that be adding new faces to the fold or leaving some old ones in the past.

And for some Tigers from the 2024 roster, the latter scenario is a very real possibility come this summer's trade deadline.

3 Tigers who will not factor into the team's plans come 2025 trade deadline

Casey Mize

It was a lackluster return from the IL in 2024 for the former first-overall pick in Mize. He threw to a 4.49 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and .287 BAA in 22 appearances (20 starts), resulting in the Tigers declining his option this winter to instead minimize risk and take things year-by-year through arbitration.

Because of this, Mize will certainly have to make a good impression on the organization in the early going if he's to have any chance to keep his spot in the rotation. He's off to a great start in spring training, at least.

However, there are some factors at play here beyond his performance that could easily leave Mize behind the 8-ball when it comes to playing a role with this Tigers team in the heart of the 2025 season.

Detroit's rotation looks as deep as it's been in some time, with Tarik Skubal, Jack Flaherty and Reece Olson being all but locked in to the first three spots in the rotation.

Then there's top prospect Jackson Jobe, who's looked the part so far during spring training, as well as currently injured starting options such as the recently signed Alex Cobb along with Ty Madden and Sawyer Gipson-Long, both of whom still hold a bit of prospect pedigree.

And how could anyone forget the way the Tigers like to utilize bullpen days for a more chaotic approach in keeping opposing lineups on their toes?

With a more crowded top four in the rotation, plenty of names that can make an impact in the five and six spot of the staff once they're re-instated, and a bullpen that has been utilized to start games on several occasions in the past, a struggling arm like Mize makes less and less sense when projecting into the later months of 2025.

Kenta Maeda

A lot of the same arguments for Mize apply to the veteran righty Maeda, who's been less than ideal since signing with the Tigers last winter.

The soon-to-be 37-year-old, made 29 appearances (17 starts), pitching to a 6.09 ERA, 1.38 WHIP and .276 BAA in 112 1/3 innings.

While Maeda could have a role to play on this Tigers squad come Opening Day, given the injuries to guys like Cobb, Madden and Gipson-Long, it's hard to see an arm that's been mediocre (at best) the past three seasons stick in this rotation when everyone's at full health.

Even the bullpen role he took on in mid-July last season looks increasingly in doubt now given the current state of the Tigers 'pen, especially after the addition of Tommy Kahnle.

Now that Maeda only has a year remaining on his contract, it's a more feasible task for the Tigers to move on from him however that may transpire.

Spencer Torkelson

It's safe to say that Torkelson has never looked the part of a former first overall pick with the Tigers in the early stages of his major league career.

Last year was certainly a low point for the 25-year-old first baseman, after slashing just .219/.295/.374 with a 92 wRC+ and a 0.1 fWAR in 381 plate appearances. On top of that, he found himself optioned to Triple-A Toledo from early June to mid-August.

While he's looked productive so far in spring training this season, hitting .310 with a 1.057 OPS, it might not be up to his performance on whether he plays a role on this squad heading into the summer months.

After Detroit inked second baseman Gleyber Torres to a one-year deal this offseason, Colt Keith made the shift from second to first base. This has Torkelson's role looking even more in jeopardy, especially after it was reported the Tigers had no plans to play him anywhere but at first or as a DH, as per Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic.

With a couple of Tigers potentially set to start the season on the IL in Matt Vierling and Parker Meadows, as per Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press, some lineup re-shuffling could still see Torkelson playing a role in the majors come Opening Day.

However, when everyone is at full health, it's easy to find alternatives to a player with a poor statistical track record and lack of positional versatility like Torkelson.