Tigers shouldn't take Dodgers series win as a sign to buy at trade deadline, stop it

This past weekend was a glorious one for the Tigers. Although their hitters couldn't back up Tarik Skubal enough to grab a win in their first game against the Dodgers, the second and third were won in come-from-behind walk-offs thanks to heroics across the lineup. Detroit's record in July is 9-4, a much-needed improvement from the second half of June, when they went 5-9.

Riley Greene and Tarik Skubal will head to the All-Star Game on Tuesday in good spirits, and the Tigers should have a pep in their step when play resumes on Friday.

The Tigers' overall record improved to 47-50 with their two wins against LA, but they're still sitting in fourth place in the AL Central, five games behind the Royals and seven games out of the last Wild Card spot.

July has been great for fans after a rather miserable June, but the Tigers should expect to stay on course as sellers at the deadline. The Rangers are hot on their tails for fourth in the Wild Card race and have a better run differential. Partially as a result, the Tigers' chances of making the postseason at all has been reduced to 7.4%. There's simply not enough evidence to suggest that the Tigers will be able to make a massive playoff push, therefore no reason for them to do anything other than sell at the deadline and continue building.

However, a ClickOnDetroit article begged to differ. It made a case for the Tigers as buyers at the deadline and even offered some intriguing names as potential acquisitions.

Recent article argues for the Tigers as buyers at trade deadline, citing series win over Dodgers

Buying probably isn't on Scott Harris' mind at all, given the team's philosophy in the offseason of developing instead of buying, as well as the Tigers' overall struggle in-season. This is not a team that wants to take on hefty contracts at the expense of young major leaguers or top prospects.

Isaac Paredes, Nathaniel Lowe, and Josh Smith — all names floated by the article's author Derick Hutchinson — could do a lot to help Detroit's infield volatility and would be exciting names for fans to see added, but the Tigers have stuck firmly by their revolving door method at third and are likely still holding onto hope that Spencer Torkelson will shape up and get back to the majors to take over at first again.

And anyway, a couple of shining moments for this team in recent days just isn't enough to justify a complete flip in strategy. They still haven't done enough to show that they'll be able to make this success stick. With a -7 run differential and seemingly very little chance to leapfrog the three teams ahead of them in the Wild Card standings or fend off the one right behind them, the Tigers need to stick to brass tacks and deal Jack Flaherty, maybe Mark Canha and Gio Urshela, and keep their eyes on a better season in 2025. Plus, knowing the Rays, Paredes will still be available in the offseason anyway.