Casey Mize achieving career-best stretch puts Tigers in another uncomfortable position

Outside of a rough start for Jack Flaherty in Boston, the Tigers' rotation has started to shape up even better than advertised. Everyone knew Tarik Skubal and Framber Valdez were going to be their usual selves, but Casey Mize and Keider Montero have been surprising stalwarts.

There's a lot riding on this season for Mize in particular. He was a first-time All-Star last year thanks to his 3.15 ERA in the first half, but he wasn't exempt from whatever infected the entire Tigers' roster after the break. The question was whether or not it would prove to be a fluke as Mize entered a contract year.

His 4 1/3 inning, five-run outing against the Twins on April 1 was an anomaly; otherwise, he's looked great. On Wednesday, he pitched six one-run innings against the Brewers, coming off of a 6 2/3 scoreless against the Red Sox.

If he can stay this consistent throughout the season, where does that leave the Tigers? Do they re-sign the former first overall pick they refused to give up on (even when fans really wanted them to), or do they let him walk?

Casey Mize's strong start might force the Tigers to make some tough decisions in the offseason

If all goes well with Jackson Jobe, Reese Olson, and Troy Melton's recoveries from injury, the Tigers will have a mostly full rotation going into 2027 with Valdez as Detroit's new ace, assuming Skubal gets his $400 million payday elsewhere.

Tigers fans might still feel a little uneasy at the idea of re-signing Mize, after we spent years watching him fail to live up to expectations. Anything less than brilliance this season would likely have some fans advocating for the front office to let him walk.

But the starting pitchers in next offseason's free agent class do leave something to be desired. Outside of Skubal, Freddy Peralta and Shane Bieber might be the only two starters guaranteed to hit the market (most have some kind of option attached) that could attract especially lucrative contracts.

Mize might be pitching his way into a bigger payday than anyone expected right now, but he's still no Skubal and no Peralta. The Tigers could get him at a decent price — provided there aren't any lingering hard feelings from their arbitration tiff a few years ago.

If Mize stays on the current course he's charting, the Tigers will at least have to have a conversation with him about staying. They stuck with him this long, why not a few more years?

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