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Detroit Tigers trade deadline preview: Jack Flaherty and other players on trade block in 2024
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- Detroit Tigers trade deadline preview: Jack Flaherty and other players on trade block in 2024
Welcome to the 2024 trade deadline.
Once again, the Detroit Tigers are sellers.
The Tigers are listening to everything — but not shopping everyone — in the second trade deadline under president of baseball operations Scott Harris , seeking to improve the team for 2025 and beyond. The trade deadline is 6 p.m. Tuesday, less than five hours after the 1:10 p.m. first pitch at Comerica Park.
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Right-hander Jack Flaherty , an impending free agent, is all but guaranteed to be traded to a postseason contender in exchange for prospects. The 28-year-old has a 2.95 ERA with 19 walks and 113 strikeouts across 106⅔ innings in 18 starts. He is the best two-month rental pitcher on the trade block.
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Detroit Tigers pitcher Jack Flaherty (9) delivers a pitch against Cleveland Guardians during the first inning at Comerica Park in Detroit on Thursday, July 11, 2024.
Left-hander Tarik Skubal , the frontrunner to win the American League Cy Young Award who is under team control for two more seasons, won't be traded — unless the Tigers receive a franchise-changing offer that they can't refuse.
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The Tigers are listening to offers for Skubal, but barring a return like the Washington Nationals accepted from the San Diego Padres in the Juan Soto trade at the 2022 deadline , the ace of the Tigers' pitching staff will remain in Detroit through this year's deadline, though he could be an offseason trade candidate.
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The Tigers also have two controllable relievers who have generated some interest: right-hander Jason Foley (free agent after 2027 season) and right-hander Will Vest (free agent after 2027 season). It's unlikely — but not impossible — the Tigers will trade those two relievers because there isn't any urgency to move them.
Again, the Tigers are listening to everything.
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A sneaky trade candidate is infielder Andy Ibáñez .
Ibáñez, a right-handed hitter, doesn't become a free agent until after the 2028 season, but he could help contending teams who struggle against left-handed pitching . The 31-year-old is hitting .378 with a 1.021 OPS against lefty pitchers, but he is virtually unplayable against right-handed pitchers.
The Tigers have pulled rookie second baseman Colt Keith , a left-handed hitter, from games in favor of Ibáñez in pinch-hit situations against left-handed pitchers, but in the final two months of the season, the Tigers want to develop Keith to the point where he bats against all pitchers in all situations, which takes away from Ibáñez's opportunities.
Here are the six players on the trade block:
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Jack Flaherty , RHP
Age:28.
Free agent:After 2024 season.
Stats:18 games (18 starts), 106⅔ IP, 2.95 ERA, 0.956 WHIP, 1.6 BB/9, 11.2 K/9, 2.5 fWAR.
The buzz:Flaherty is at the top of wishlists for contenders because he is pitching like a No. 1 starter, with the Los Angeles Dodgers expressing interest. The Tigers are believed to have a high asking price in early Flaherty negotiations. Flaherty, who signed a one-year, $14 million contract last offseason, is tagged with two things that will impact trade talks: a lower back injury and the qualifying offer. As for the back injury, Flaherty received two injections to treat lower back pain this season, along with one injection for the same issue last season. As for the qualifying offer , Flaherty is eligible to receive the one-year contract — approximately $21 million — from the Tigers, but only if the Tigers keep him past the deadline, which would be a risky choice for health reasons. Here's how the qualifying offer works: If Flaherty declines and signs for at least $50 million in free agency, the Tigers will get a pick between the first round and Competitive Balance Round A; if he declines and signs for less than $50 million, the Tigers will get a pick between Competitive Balance Round B and the third round. Essentially, the Tigers will compare the value of trade returns with the value of the potential draft pick. If the Tigers extend Flaherty the qualifying offer rather than trading him, they will need to be confident in the long-term health of his lower back, just in case Flaherty accepts. Another note: Top pitching prospect Jackson Jobe won't replace a traded Flaherty in the Tigers' rotation — the Tigers want Jobe to pitch in Triple-A Toledo before making his MLB debut .
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Carson Kelly , C
Detroit Tigers catcher Carson Kelly (15) bats against Cleveland Guardians during the first inning at Comerica Park in Detroit on Thursday, July 11, 2024.
Age:30.
Free agent:After 2024 season.
Stats:59 games, .242 AVG, 7 HR, .720 OPS, 8.4 BB%, 19.3 K%, 106 wRC+, 1.6 fWAR.
The buzz:Ready for Dillon Dingler , a 25-year-old catcher hitting .308 with 17 home runs in Triple-A Toledo, to make his MLB debut? The Tigers will promote Dingler if they trade Kelly, whom they're shopping but unsure if they'll be able to trade. The bad news: There are at least four catchers on the trade block, including a few with better track records and better performances this season compared to Kelly. With only a couple of teams needing catchers, it's not a guarantee the Tigers will find a fit for Kelly. But they're trying to trade him, which would open the door for Dingler's arrival. Kelly, a former top prospect who signed with the Tigers last August , is making $3.5 million in 2024 . He is a quality all-around catcher after improving his offense and defense.
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MORE ABOUT HIM: How Tigers catcher Carson Kelly went from released to reliable in one year
Mark Canha , OF
Detroit Tigers left fielder Mark Canha rounds third base en route to scoring during the sixth inning against the Cleveland Guardians at Progressive Field on Monday, July 22, 2024 in Cleveland.
Age:35.
Free agent:After 2024 season.
Stats:91 games, .233 AVG, 7 HR, .693 OPS, 11.1 BB%, 20.6 K%, 100 wRC+, 0.7 fWAR.
The buzz:The Tigers acquired Canha in a trade with the Milwaukee Brewers in November 2023, then picked up his $11.5 million club option . The Tigers expected the veteran Canha to impact the development of young hitters with his approach and provide a valuable trade chip at the deadline. It's unclear if the Tigers will be able to trade Canha because of his poor performance. Since May 1, Canha is hitting .213 with two home runs in 62 games, though he still has a .307 on-base percentage in that stretch, only five points below league average. The Tigers should be able to get something for Canha as a short-side platoon option against left-handed pitching, considering his .869 OPS against lefties, but don't expect a huge return. An example of a potential Canha deal is the trade at the 2022 deadline in which veteran outfielder Robbie Grossman went to the Atlanta Braves for minor-league reliever Kris Anglin (who has since been released by the Tigers).
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Gio Urshela , 3B
Detroit Tigers first baseman Gio Urshela (13) looks at the ball after making an out against Toronto Blue Jays third baseman Ernie Clement (not pictured) during the third inning at Rogers Centre in Toronto on Friday, July 19, 2024.
Age:32.
Free agent:After 2024 season.
Stats:78 games, .245 AVG, 4 HR, .612 OPS, 5.0 BB%, 16.4 K%, 74 wRC+, 0.2 fWAR.
The buzz:Urshela is in a similar situation to Canha, except his contract is significantly cheaper. He signed a one-year, $1.5 million contract with the Tigers in spring training, but it's not a guarantee that contending teams will want to take a flier on his services. Since June 21, Urshela — once a .300 hitter — has a .189 batting average with a .502 OPS in 31 games. He avoids swinging and missing, but the contact-first hitter rarely drives the ball with power, and this season, he isn't making as much contact on pitches inside the strike zone. On defense, Urshela is an above-average third baseman. If Urshela gets traded, the Tigers will consider promoting prospect Jace Jung — a 23-year-old infielder hitting .267 with 14 home runs in Triple-A Toledo — for his MLB debut, but his arrival isn't a lock like the Dingler/Kelly situation because the Tigers aren't yet confident in Jung's defense at third base .
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MORE ABOUT HIM: Can newcomer Gio Urshela become everyday third baseman for Tigers in 2024 season?
Andrew Chafin , LHP
Detroit Tigers pitcher Andrew Chafin (17) throws against Washington Nationals during the ninth inning at Comerica Park in Detroit on Thursday, June 13, 2024.
Age:34.
Free agent:Team option for 2025 season.
Stats:40 games, 36 IP, 3.25 ERA, 1.361 WHIP, 3.8 BB/9, 11.8 K/9, 0.7 fWAR.
The buzz:The Tigers don't need to trade Chafin, not after signing him to a one-year, $4.25 million contract with a $6.25 million club option , which means he is under team control through the 2025 season. Chafin has made a compelling case for the Tigers to pick up the option, but he needs to maintain his success. He generates strikeouts, swing-and-miss and chase at elite rates, making him the best reliever in the Tigers' bullpen, even though he is inducing ground balls at a career-worst 36.2% rate. He used to be in the 45-50% range, but the lack of ground balls only becomes a problem if he stops missing bats. The Tigers view Chafin like the other controllable relievers: If it makes sense to trade him, either as a standalone trade or as part of a package, they'll do it, but if not, they'll likely bring him back for 2025.
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Shelby Miller , RHP
Detroit Tigers catcher Jake Rogers (34) celebrates with pitcher Shelby Miller (7) after defeating the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre in Toronto on Saturday, July 20, 2024.
Age:33.
Free agent:Team option for 2025 season.
Stats:33 games, 36⅔ IP, 4.66 ERA, 0.900 WHIP, 2.0 BB/9, 7.9 K/9, -0.2 fWAR.
The buzz:Just like Chafin, the Tigers don't need to trade Miller, but they will if it makes sense. That's because Miller signed a one-year, $3 million contract with a $4.25 million club option for the 2025 season . The Tigers are interested in picking up Miller's club option, even though he has struggled at times. He has been torched by home runs, but his 0.900 WHIP ranks 16th among 181 qualified relievers. He also owns a career-best 5.4% walk rate. Both Chafin and Miller have more value than two-month rental relievers of similar performance because, if traded, the teams acquiring them will also have the choice of exercising the club options for 2025.
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MORE ABOUT HIM: Tigers' Shelby Miller had elite fastball, but Dodgers helped him complement it
Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold .
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This article originally appeared on Detroit Free Press: Detroit Tigers trade deadline: Jack Flaherty and others on trade block
