4hzglory

In 2027, we would have more internal options (a healthy Jobe with a year of recovery being a main one)to make up some of the loss of Skubal. We also should have McGonigle and Clark and maybe others. In other words, there are more opportunities for a Tiger team without Skubal to be better in 2027 than in 2026. Trading Skubal definitely would punt 2026 IMO-it could potentially improve 2027 and beyond. Keeping Skubal and letting him leave as a FA should keep us the favorites in the central and gives time for prospects/other options to help improve the overall team in 2027 and beyond.

You said it wasn’t punting on 2026 if they trade Skubal. I think they know they aren’t signing him beyond that and theoretically could use that money to improve while they still have Skubal.

What Skubal is expected to make in arbitration is basically what Flaherty made last year-you aren’t going to make many upgrades for that.

That’s rough for the O line and secondary.

Out of likes, but agree completely

I think there is close to zero chance they trade Skubal and that it’s considerably more likely they try and extend Mize rather than trade him.

The QO is for a set amount for all players. It’s expected to be around $22 mil for 2026. And yes, if he declines his option, we can offer it.

It appears they are taking it slow. As was said earlier, it is more important that we are ready for January than any game is in October.

Mize and Flaherty are both better than basically any FA option (not to mention Mize is much cheaper than he would be as a FA). Trading Mize is considerably less likely to improve the rotation no matter what subsequent moves are made (barring him being included in a package for someone like Skenes obviously)

Why would we be trading him at the deadline? Especially after 2 consecutive playoff seasons, and with the last year of Skubal, they are not going to be going into the offseason thinking "Is player x going to lose value by the trade deadline?" "They are going to be does player X help us get to the postseason again with a chance to advance?"

In the playoffs he has been treated the same as anyone not named Skubal. Obviously they don't trust him as much as Tarik, and in these must win scenerios, Hinch is going to go with the matchups. Doesn't change the fact that during the season, they did trust him and needed him to get to this position. In today's playoffs, you don't need your starters to go 5-6 innings consistently, but you do need that in the regular season, and Mize gave that while showing much more than he has any season. I see him continuing to earn more trust.

I think it's more likely Keith is at 3B next year as he seemed to handle it well this year and there are more 2B options internally (if Torres isn't back). Anderson/Lee would both be better 2B options than 3rd.

Trading Mize with 1 year affordable year on his deal doesn't seem like Harris' MO especially when they need more SP as this year has shown and Mize has improved significantly. I don't think you get back someone who is ready for next year (when they will for sure be trying to compete) who is likely to be better than Mize, otherwise, why would that team trade him? (Obviously can do a 3-way trade). I personally think it's more likely Harris tries to extend Mize somewhere around 4 years $60-66 million. He is due somewhere between 5.25-6 mil this year in Arbitration. (Trade rumors projects him at $5.4 mil) so that would give him $18/20 mil/yr for the 3 additional years. Considering what is available, that seems fair from the team side with Mize's upside and from the player's side it gives him a guarantee, especially with labor uncertainty in 2027. They are basically guaranteed to lose Skubal after 2026 (They will not trade him IMO, especially with the current playoff run) and they will need Starters for after that (hopefully there will be baseball in 2027). I think Mize has a better chance of being here after 2026 through an extension than he does being traded in the offseason.

Why do you say this? This is the first season he's had any significant injury issues since he's been here.

I do think it’s likely only location Naylor was tipping if anything at all. However, he could have potentially seen a tip, whether a grip or what Mize/Holton did on a certain pitch and was tipping that. Again, highly unlikely, but a runner on 2nd would have a better view of a pitchers hand in his glove.

Interesting enough, both teams have almost identical batting lines: Detroit: .217 BA, .285 OBP, .362 slug, .647 OPS Seattle: .219 BA, .285 OBP, .387 slug, .672 OPS And surprisingly enough, both teams have 38K and 12 BB. So yes, the Tigers are K'ing at an crazy rate, but so too are the M's. The difference in slugging is the Mariners have 2 more HR (6), while the Tigers have 3 more 2B (8). Both teams have 30 hits, the Tigers have 1 more AB. In other words, Both teams are performing almost identical.

I was going to say the same thing Also, the Tigers have scored 3 runs or less twice in this series while the Mariners have 3 times. 🤪

Naylor may have even been just giving location. Dingler has been praised in helping the staff by giving location early, but that would be something easy to pick up at 2nd and for Naylor to raise his right arm or left arm or both like he was doing throughout his time on 2b. They could switch it up and or "miss" the location, but it may make it a challenge for a pitcher to see the catcher holding his glove up and inside and throw the pitch away and low for example.

This is true since he didn’t pitch in games 2 or 3.

That would be huge.

I agree if going by the regular season their isn't a way to argue on average you would get a better game from Flaherty, but think it has to do with Flaherty having pitched in more big/postseason games (albeit with mixed results) and overall better stuff, especially swing and miss. Maybe Hinch thinks he's more likely to get 4-5 shutout innings from Flaherty than Mize, which for 3 potential games against Toronto (or NY) would be big. Obviously they need to get there and if they both win today and tomorrow, it's better yet, as it would be Skubal in line for the 3 starts.

As Motown said, in the other thread I posted from Pride of Detroit that showed the Lions are the top defense in the league with Arnold on the field and bottom 5 with him off it. He also held receivers to 50 yards in the last 2 games combined.

Pride of Detroit had an article that shows how much Arnold being in the lineup. They are the best defense in the league with him on the field and one of the worst with him off. He needs to know he's being watched by officials and hopefully clean that up, but he makes a huge positive impact . " Lions’ Week 5 defense with Terrion Arnold on the field (ranks are among 26 teams in Week 5 action so far): 44 plays 3 points allowed 4.1 yards per play (1st) 34.1% offensive success rate (1st) +0.34 EPA/play (1st) 3.9 yards/pass attempt (1st) 28.9 passer rating (1st) 2.3% explosive play rate (1st) 10.0% interception rate (2nd) Lions’ Week 5 defense without Terrion Arnold on the field: 14 plays 24 points allowed 10.1 yards per play (26th) 57.1% offensive success rate (24th) -0.80 EPA/play (26th) 13.3 yards/pass attempt (26th) 158.3 passer rating (26th) 21.4% explosive play rate (26th) 0.0% interception rate (t-9th)" "He’s now surrendered only 50 receiving yards combined over the past two games."

The good thing is Vest is more likely to be available than Munoz who also pitched 2 innings but threw 6 more pitches. Both of their pitch counts were low though (Vest only had 4 more pitches than Finnegan) and with the day off tomorrow I think they are both likely to be available.if they both had the same number of pitches but in 1 inning it would be guaranteed they’d be available.

Finnegan included? Montero has actually been reasonable also except of course last night