2024 MLB Buyers or Sellers: Detroit Tigers

2024 MLB Buyers or Sellers: Detroit Tigers

The Detroit Tigers got off to a hot start in 2024. Everything was clicking and they looked to be a surprising contending team. The team has cooled off, however, and as the trade deadline approaches, it appears they’ll be looking to the future.

The team so far

Record(as of 6/25/24): 36-42, 15.0 GB of AL Central, 6.5 GB ALWC

Best hitters: Riley Greene, Matt Vierling, Mark Canha, Colt Keith

Best pitchers: Tarik Skubal, Jack Flaherty, Reese Olson, Jason Foley, Alex Lange, Will Vest

Buyers or Sellers?

Unless the Tigers catch onto another hot streak, it looks more likely they’ll sell. It doesn’t nor shouldn’t be a full teardown, however. Players such as Skubal and Greene are guys to build around, and the Tigers aren’t too far off from contending; 2025-26 is a good and realistic target for this team, so trading off select players to retool is smart.

Jack Flaherty

It’s been a rough time for Flaherty since his 2019 season when he finished fourth in the NL Cy Young voting. He signed a one-year deal with the Tigers this past offseason and is finding his old self. Flaherty has a 5-4 record with a 2.92 ERA, 0.97 WHIP, and 108 strikeouts in 83 innings. His current 11.7 SO/9 is the best of his career so far.

Flaherty was traded at last year’s deadline, going from the Cardinals to the Orioles. This time, the package for him should be much bigger.

Flaherty is still a rental piece, so the Tigers won’t get a huge return. But given his season so far, the Tigers are in a perfect spot to cash out for some younger players in a package.

Mark Canha

Canha is also in his first season with the Tigers and will be a free agent after this year. The 35-year-old is slashing .244/.353/.368 with six homers and 30 RBIs in 72 games.

It hasn’t been the best season for Canha, but his on-base skills and solid glove make him a solid target for a trade.

Jason Foley

Like most of the Tigers bullpen, Foley still has three years of control left. The 28-year-old has produced a solid career in Detroit, currently sporting a 2.67 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, 22 strikeouts and 13 saves in 27 innings.

If the Tigers have plans to contend in 2025, Foley doesn’t need to be traded. Bullpen arms can be easier to find and develop, however. So if the Tigers get a deal that would push them up for next season, it’s worth exploring.

Detroit Tigers Send Spencer Torkelson to AAA

It’s nice to see the Tigers inching closer to contending again. While it most likely won’t be this year, the trade deadline could set the Tigers up nicely for the 2025 season if they play their cards right.

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