The Detroit Tigers find themselves in a unique position as the MLB Trade Deadline approaches. While some might speculate that Tarik Skubal could be a trade asset, the Tigers have no intention of trading him. However, they are open to offers for Jack Flaherty, who is experiencing a resurgence this season.
“The Tigers won’t trade Tarik Skubal but they’ll listen on Jack Flaherty, who is having a strong season with Detroit,” said Jim Bowden of The Athletic. “Flaherty (3.22 ERA, 11.64 strikeouts per nine innings) could bring back a haul.”
Flaherty, who signed a one-year, $14 million contract with the Tigers in the offseason, is an attractive trade piece. If the Tigers are out of contention by the deadline, Flaherty could be a valuable rental for a contending team, either as a back-end starter or a long reliever in the playoffs.
So far this season, Flaherty has posted a 3-4 record with a 3.22 ERA in 12 starts, according to MLB.com. He ranks sixth in MLB with 94 strikeouts, just behind Skubal’s 96. This season marks a comeback for Flaherty after struggling with injuries in 2022 and 2023, positioning him for a better contract next offseason, especially if he contributes to a playoff run.
As of now, the Tigers sit at 32-33 after a series loss to the Milwaukee Brewers, looking to bounce back against the Washington Nationals. They are currently fourth in the American League Central, trailing the Cleveland Guardians by 10.5 games, the Kansas City Royals by six games, and the Minnesota Twins by 2.5 games.
The Twins occupy the last wild card spot, with the Boston Red Sox half a game ahead of the Tigers in the wild card standings.
The Tigers still have a shot at the playoffs but will need to perform well over the next month and a half to remain in the race and avoid being sellers. The team’s performance will dictate Flaherty’s future. If the Tigers are within reach of a playoff spot, it is likely Flaherty will stay.
Adding to this, the Tigers have not been playoff contenders for a long time. They last made the playoffs in 2014 and haven’t finished above .500 since 2016. With new young talent emerging, the organization might prefer not to sell if they are still in the playoff conversation by late July.
