Dodgers step in front of Tigers again with trade that could have helped Detroit

The Tigers got Casey Mize back on Saturday after a minimum IL stint, and fans were able to breathe a small sigh of relief. Mize was cruising before he got hurt and picked up right where he left off with six scoreless innings against the Blue Jays.

But the Tigers rotation (not to mention the rest of the roster) is still in bad shape. Tarik Skubal is making shocking progress, and Troy Melton is looking great in his rehab assignment — but Justin Verlander's return is nowhere in sight, Jack Flaherty has continued to struggle, and even Framber Valdez is struggling a bit.

Meanwhile, Detroit let a perfect opportunity pass them by. The Blue Jays DFA'ed Eric Lauer on May 11 after he posted a 6.69 ERA in Toronto over 36 1/3 innings. The Dodgers, who have been dealing with their own fair share of pitching injuries, traded for him and cash in exchange for cash or a player to be named later.

Lauer has struggled this year, but he has a history of being a swingman stalwart and pitched 8 1/3 scoreless innings in the postseason (after a 1/3 inning blowup in his first appearance), and the Tigers don't have a lot of options right now.

Recent Blue Jays DFA Eric Lauer could've helped Tigers as pitching continues to struggle

This is the thing that makes the Dodgers so infuriating, apart from the obvious. Despite their absolutely loaded roster, they make moves that feel extraneous and greedy in the name of depth. They might be greedy, but they're also just smart. Trading for Lauer and Alek Thomas, who could've helped the Tigers' awful defense, were moves that any team could've made.

Scott Harris is doing what he always does — sticking to his guns. The Tigers continue to preach patience, insisting that although they were one of the best teams in baseball this time last year, it didn't help anything when they slumped down the stretch. It's all about getting hot at the right time.

But the pitching is in tatters, the offense is barely alive. Is there any hope for this team without some infusion of life?

The Tigers are content to wait it out and hope that the players on their long injured list make it back at the right time. That's certainly ... a strategy, but how much waiting is too much waiting? At what point will the Tigers reach the past of no return? If they get there without making these very easy, relatively painless moves, Harris deserves the criticism he's going to get.

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