If things continue as they have, 2024 might be the Tigers’ eighth consecutive season with a record less than.500. They are young and have some promise talent, but they have yet to achieve long-term success. They are not completely out of the race, but logic would lead them to shift to at least a light sell mode by the 2024 deadline.
This year’s deadline has elicited mixed reactions in Detroit. They presently have a 40-48 record and are 15 games behind the Guardians in the AL Central, putting them out of contention for the division. They are a little less damning eight games back of the final Wild Card slot, and with plenty of games against important AL teams this month, they may be able to gain ground before the July 31 deadline. However, Detroit appears to be more likely to face a seller’s deadline than any other option, which may pique the interest of the Yankees, who will almost certainly try to add.
Detroit’s primary interest in the Yankees (and most other teams) this year would be starting pitcher Jack Flaherty. After suffering with both performance and durability during his breakout 2019 season with the Cardinals, Flaherty appears to have found his footing again in his new home in Detroit. Under a one-year, $14 million flyer contract, the right-hander has a 3.24 ERA and 3.05 FIP in 89 innings this season, while substantially improving his strikeout (33 percent) and walk (four percent) rates over any previous figure he has posted.
Flaherty will re-enter the free agent market this offseason and appears to be destined for a far better deal than his current one, but as a potential half-season rental, he will receive a lot of attention around the deadline.
The Tigers’ rotation is led by Tarik Skubal, who, like outfielder Riley Greene, is a franchise cornerstone and appears unlikely to be moved. However, as is typically the case when a team is trying to move pieces, there are other possibilities available.
In the bullpen, the Tigers feature left-handed journeyman Andrew Chafin, who has had a good 2024 season, posting a 2.87 FIP in 31 appearances. He has a club option for 2025 and, as an experienced lefty, could generate some interest.
On the offensive side, the Tigers have performed poorly, ranking 25th in wRC+ as a club, so trade options are limited. Outside of Greene, Detroit only possesses one qualified above-average hitter, Matt Vierling, who has three more years of team control after 2024. He could help at third base, but he isn’t the most exciting addition.
The Tigers rely mostly on two catchers: Carson Kelly and Jake Rogers. Both can deliver occasional power, but Kelly has been a far superior overall offensive output in 2024. Kelly is a free agent at the end of the season and appears to be one of the most likely contenders to depart Detroit.
The Tigers have two more veteran batters on their roster: Mark Canha and Gio Urshela. The former has been an underappreciated offensive performer for much of the last decade, with expertise in both the outfield and the corner infield positions. The latter has struggled immensely, recording a 65 wRC+, likely Urshela’s lowest since his breakout with the Yankees in 2019.
A deal between the Yankees and Tigers, excluding Flaherty or a surprise blockbuster, would most likely be a complimentary move in the bullpen or on the periphery of the lineup. as nothing is impossible, if the Tigers remain in a mediocre position as the Yankees continue to struggle in the early summer, their intentions may become even more blurry.
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