Tigers have one clear path to field respectable 2027 pitching staff if Tarik Skubal leaves

While the Detroit Tigers were projected to have a pretty stellar starting rotation this season, it hasn’t quite shaken out that way. Although Jack Flaherty's return restored the rotation to nearly full health, next season’s rotation has become an even bigger question mark.

Several starters are set to hit free agency with Tarik Skubal and Jack Flaherty feeling very likely to depart, possibly even by the trade deadline depending on how the next month goes. Justin Verlander seems pretty likely to retire after this year. The only way the Tigers are going to have a solid rotation is by extending Casey Mize.

While Mize is one of the pitchers who has missed time due to injury, he’s been pretty great when he’s been healthy and on the mound. He has a 2.63 ERA on the year in 12 starts and seems to be proving that his 2025 All-Star campaign was no fluke.

Mize’s name has also come up in trade rumors since he too is set to be a free agent, but the Tigers need to make sure they have more than just Framber Valdez as a proven, above-average rotation arm going into next season.

Having Valdez and Mize atop the rotation would at least give Detroit a respectable one-two punch. It’s not as frightening as Skubal and Valdez, but it’s nothing to laugh at, either.

Keeping Mize ensures Tigers can be competitive in 2027

Combine those two with Troy Melton, who has a 2.39 ERA in six starts so far this season and looks like he could be a key part of the rotation going forward, and Keider Montero, who sports a 3.39 ERA on the year and seems to be coming into his own in his third big league season, and the rotation would appear to be in a pretty good spot next year on paper.

The Tigers could have a competition amongst their younger arms in spring training for the last spot in the rotation or could go out and sign a cheap option and still feel fairly confident about where they are at.

Detroit just has to try to avoid a situation where they go into next season with Valdez as the undisputed ace and four guys who are relatively unproven comprising the rest of the rotation. That seems like a recipe for disaster, especially for a team that needs a strong pitching staff to be competitive.

If things take a turn this next month and the Tigers decidedly become sellers, they’d be wise to trade off pitchers like Skubal who are almost certain to leave as free agents, but Mize is the one guy they can keep around who would be fairly affordable and would be a legitimate No. 2 in the rotation.

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