Casey Mize’s projected free agent contract puts any argument Tigers should re-sign him to bed

The Tigers have to spend some money this offseason, but it absolutely needs to be good money.

That's why Casey Mize might just be off the table for Scott Harris. The former Tiger was dealt to the San Diego Padres at the trade deadline, where he really struggled over the final two months of the regular season. He had a 6.26 ERA and 1-2 record in August, followed by an 8.72 ERA and 1-2 record in September with 25 total strikeouts in 44 2/3 innings.

Now, he's being rumored as a $100 million starter when he hits free agency this offseason.

That six-year, $115 million number — if it actually becomes a reality — should immediately put the Tigers out of any conversations to potentially bring him back to Detroit. There have been some ideas thrown out there about Tarik Skubal entertaining the idea of returning to the Tigers in free agency and Mize had to be considered, too.

But this price tag changes everything.

Although $19 million per year doesn't seem like a lot for a guy who had a 2.70 ERA with the Tigers this season, it's the length of the contract at that price that's the issue. In no world should Detroit cough up $20 million per year to a guy who has struggled to stay healthy throughout his MLB career, will be 30 in 2027, and who crumbled after being dealt to the Padres.

Mize was a popular pitcher among fans for years and there was always hope that he would return to his pre-Tommy John form when he was the No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 MLB draft. Unfortunately, injuries derailed his elite potential and he's become more of a No. 3/4 starter rather than a top-of-the-rotation guy like everyone had hoped. He looked like a No. 2 starter in 2026, but he still couldn't stay healthy and fell apart down the stretch.

Detroit can spend good money elsewhere.

The Tigers can still make a SP splash in free agency without re-signing Casey Mize

Signing Framber Valdez last offseason was the "splash" that Tigers fans were hoping for ... only if the team was going to re-sign Skubal. Unfortunately, it turns out that the money used on Valdez was probably set aside for Skubal. When it came time to negotiate with the best pitcher in baseball, the two sides were just too far apart.

Chris Ilitch needs to start spending good money, and now that Mize appears to be the opposite of that, he can set his sights on other potential "splash" signings this offseason.

There will be some big names on the market this offseason like Skubal, Drew Rasmussen, Shota Imanaga, Sandy Alcantara, Kris Bubic, Trevor Rogers, and Robbie Ray, so why spend money on a guy who can't stay healthy when you could add a game-changer like any of the above to the top of the rotation for a few million more dollars?

The Tigers should have plenty of money to spend after not negotiating a deal with Skubal and trading both him and Mize while also looking to move on from Gleyber Torres and other big contracts.

A splash can be made, but Ilitch and Harris need to be aggressive enough to give the team what it needs.

Add us as a preferred source on Google

Follow