Tigers could actually buy early ahead of trade deadline and take advantage of cratering Red Sox

Just when it seemed that all hope was lost for the Detroit Tigers, the calendar flipped to June. The Tigers have won six of their first eight games this month, and are set for the returns of Tarik Skubal and Casey Mize in the week ahead. It also helps the offense has been putting up a laser show.

It's been a reminder that perhaps it was too early to ship off Skubal. Instead, perhaps there's a case to be made that the Tigers should make an early buy.

Bolstering the rotation and adding another bat will likely be top of mind for the Tigers. Rather than wait until the end of July to make a move, now could be the time. Mostly because the American League Central is begging for a team cement themselves as the favorites.

One of the easiest ways Detroit can do that is to strike an early trade to address their need on offense. Again, the power surge has been nice, but we've seen this script before. With no other move, this is likely a Tigers' starting lineup that runs out of gas by the end of September.

Red Sox could give the Tigers an early trade deadline lifeline

A deal with the Boston Red Sox could help the Tigers get ahead of that reality. For as bad as things have been for the Tigers this season, it's been worse for the Red Sox. It's becoming increasingly clear that the Red Sox are positioned to sell just about any piece not anchored down beyond this season. Willson Contreras is included in that mix, though he has a club-option after the 2027 season.

For the Tigers, the incentive is simple. Make a push to trade for Contreras now that would upgrade first base, and open the door to trade Spencer Torkelson as a change-of-scenery candidate before the deadline.

Contreras' 145 wRC+ would certainly go a long way for the Tigers avoiding the fate that awaited them at the end of last season and the first two months of this season. The Tigers seem to have ran out of patience with the whole will he-won't he when it comes to Torkelson's offensive development.

This would be a level of urgency that Scott Harris hasn't quite shown during his tenure in Detroit, but one he might be forced into, considering how the first two months of the 2026 season went. There's a path now available to the Tigers saving their season, time will tell if they actually take it.

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