Tigers Rumors: MLB insider floats pitcher not named Tarik Skubal that could be traded

Through just two months of the 2026 season, the conversation surrounding Tarik Skubal and the Detroit Tigers has changed dramatically. It's no longer a matter of wondering if the Tigers should trade Skubal if the season got away from them, it's a matter of the Tigers now should trade Skubal to salvage something from what appears to be a lost year. But as long as there's talk about the Tigers trading Skubal, the conversation shouldn't stop there.

What has been clear for the Tigers throughout the entire saga that has been Skubal's final year before free agency has been the fact that if he leaves, a reset is needed. The Tigers' position players haven't taken a step forward with their development this season. Kevin McGonigle has been a success story, but the farm system needs to be replenished.

Trading Skubal will certainly help cover that last need for the Tigers, but as long as they're selling, they may want to consider trading Casey Mize. Like Skubal, Mize is a free agent this offseason and there's reason to believe even he will be priced out of Detroit's comfort zone.

It's not just Tarik Skubal the Tigers should trade

As MLB insider Jon Morosi suggested, as long as the Tigers are bad (there's no signs of that changing), it feels like inevitability that one of Skubal or Mize will be traded ahead of the MLB trade deadline.

Like Skubal, Mize has had injury scares this season. He missed several weeks earlier this season, and is currently dealing with a groin injury. Still, through nine starts this season, he's been really good. The 29-year-old is sporting a 2.27 ERA in a tick under 48 innings pitched this season, while striking out over 26% of the hitters he's faced.

If Mize stays healthy, the Tigers could be in a position to cash in at the deadline. There's a couple reasons for that belief. First, starting pitching is always in demand at the deadline. Teams are willing to pay prospect capital for pitching, and Detroit could benefit by dangling each of their rental starting pitchers in trade talks. The second is the fact that there won't be many defined sellers in the American League. And those who will be, the Los Angeles Angels, Baltimore Orioles, etc, don't have nearly as many intriguing trade chips as the Tigers.

Yes, this isn't quite what Tigers fans were expecting to hear at the start of the season, but it's not the situation the team will be forced to explore as trade talks heat up in the months ahead.

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