2025 MLB Trading Deadline

[RatkoVarda]

7 weeks from tomorrow is the trade deadline, and for the first time since 2014, the Tigers will be buyers!

One real need: high octane bullpen arm to compliment Vest

Nice to have:

1. more pitching is always good and

2. they can add any bat at any position to this line up if 3B, CF or SS is struggling with health/performance. But if Vierling and Meadows are healthy and contributing, it will actually be difficult to improve the lineup. Harris would need to either get a star, or maybe he just gets a guy like Ibanez who does one thing really well.

My picks:

David Bednar's last 2 seasons have been rocky for Pittsburgh, but he looks good again, and I'd trust Fetter to get him right. He's an All Star at his best. Under control through 2026 as well.

Suarez makes sense if Arizona continues to crater, as long as we don't discuss who we got when DD traded him away.

Bregman would be the funniest addition ever.

Sleeper position: Catcher. Jake looks bad before and after injury, Dingler I suspect will wear down, and Hinch would love a LH compliment to DD.

[Shinzaki]

Suarez would be an interesting add....

[chasfh]

Bregman is hurt now, so I'm not sure I would trust him to be healthy the rest of the season. 

If defense is your thing, Suarez is not your guy. Unless you're fine punting on defense for sure for the promise of better offense? That would be the Gleyber Plan at a different position.

I'm starting to wonder whether the situation we have for third base isn't good enough to take us through this October.

[Tiger337]

6 minutes ago, chasfh said:

Bregman is hurt now, so I'm not sure I would trust him to be healthy the rest of the season. 

If defense is your thing, Suarez is not your guy. Unless you're fine punting on defense for sure for the promise of better offense? That would be the Gleyber Plan at a different position.

I'm starting to wonder whether the situation we have for third base isn't good enough to take us through this October.

Bregman would have to be fully healthy and performing for at least a week prior to the deadline.  If he is and Vierling is not healthy, then I could see them adding Bregman for the stretch drive and post-season.  If everyone is healthy at the deadline, I think they will just add pitching help.  

[romad1]

Who gets Chapman and is he worth it? 

[Tiger337]

18 minutes ago, romad1 said:

Who gets Chapman and is he worth it? 

I'd be happy if the Tigers got him.  

[theroundsquare]

This is Aroldis, I presume, rather than Matt

[Sports_Freak]

Let's play it backwards. Instead of wondering who the Tigers could get, let's ask who are we willing to trade away? I understand that in order to get talent, we need to offer talent in return. But I really hate to trade away young talent. And you better believe that other teams are eyeing our improved minor league talent.

[Mr.TaterSalad]

Is Ryan McMahon from the Rockies worth targeting for our need at 3B? Career .743 OPS and great defensive third baseman.

[Tiger337]

7 minutes ago, theroundsquare said:

This is Aroldis, I presume, rather than Matt

That was my assumption since Matt is injured.  

[romad1]

19 minutes ago, Tiger337 said:

I'd be happy if the Tigers got him.  

 

13 minutes ago, theroundsquare said:

This is Aroldis, I presume, rather than Matt

Yes...

[romad1]

Red Sox getting our prospects would hurt in exchange for something we have as a rental...but, lets see how Scott Harris cooks. 

[chasfh]

43 minutes ago, Mr.TaterSalad said:

Is Ryan McMahon from the Rockies worth targeting for our need at 3B? Career .743 OPS and great defensive third baseman.

He is if you don't mind not hitting.

[Tenacious D]

From ChatGPT:
 

Here’s a refined take on Detroit’s 2025 trade‑deadline outlook

📌 Team Needs

1. High-strikeout bullpen arm(s)
   • Tigers’ current pen ranks bottom five in key strikeout metrics. They could benefit from one or two late-inning arms with swing-and-miss stuff  .
2. Closer to lock it down
   • No established ninth-inning option. A dependable shutdown guy would be a major upgrade as Detroit pushes for October  .
3. Supplemental bat
   • The offense is solid, but adding another impactful bat—especially if any of their current key hitters miss time—could further fortify the lineup .
4. Catcher depth (bonus)
   • If Dingler or Rogers falter or get hurt, Detroit lacks left-handed catching insurance 

🌟 Top Trade Targets

1. Kyle Finnegan,  RHP (Nationals Closer)

• Why he fits: 18 saves, 2.38 ERA, 1.279 WHIP. Perfect veteran closer to stabilize late innings  .
• Bottom line: Fills need #2 practically overnight; cost likely moderate, manageable for a buyer.

2. Jeff Hoffman, RHP (Blue Jays)

• Why he fits: All-Star caliber arm, big contract Toronto might move .
• Bottom line: High-K reliever who strengthens the strikeout bullpen unit. Toronto’s motivation could mean Detroit gets great value.

3. Eugenio Suárez, 3B (Diamondbacks)

• Why he fits: Former All-Star slugger; won’t restrict Detroit defensively, and he brings solid gap power  .
• Bottom line: Provides offensive depth at a premium position; could complement Torkelson and Torres nicely.

4. Bo Bichette, SS/2B (Blue Jays)

• Why he fits: Electric bat, could lengthen the lineup offensively  .
• Concerns: Defense lapses, and he’d command a steep prospect price.

5. Nolan Arenado, 3B (Cardinals)

• Why he fits: Elite bat, clubhouse leadership .
• Concerns: Heavy $64 M through 2027, would require significant prospect haul.

✅ Trade Strategy Summary

Priority	Add-on	Purpose	Risk/Cost
1	Kyle Finnegan	Closer (need #2)	Moderate prospect cost
2	Jeff Hoffman	High-K bullpen arm (need #1)	Toronto cap relief, reasonable cost
3	Eugenio Suárez	Offensive 3B/bench bat (need #3)	Moderate-to-high prospect package
4	Bo Bichette	Lineup spark	High prospect cost, defense concerns
5	Nolan Arenado	Superstar bat	Massive cost, salary commitmenY

🎯 Final Take

• Absolute must: Acquire a closer (Finnegan is the top target) and at least one high‑K reliever (Hoffman, Bednar, or similar).
• Strong consideration: A middle-of-the-rotation bat like Suárez—boosts depth and lineup versatility.
• Go for gold only if value is right: Bichette and Arenado are headline moves but come with steep costs and risks.

 

 

 

 

[Sports_Freak]

35 minutes ago, romad1 said:

Red Sox getting our prospects would hurt in exchange for something we have as a rental...but, lets see how Scott Harris cooks. 

I would love a 3rd baseman or a couple shutdown relief pitchers but I wouldn't trade away any of our top prospects. I'm not sure Harris will either. At least, I hope not.

[monkeytargets39]

Personally, I don’t really want to see us do too much to upgrade the offense at this point.  I’d really just like two bullpen upgrades for Brebbia and Brieske.

[Shinzaki]

52 minutes ago, Sports_Freak said:

Let's play it backwards. Instead of wondering who the Tigers could get, let's ask who are we willing to trade away? I understand that in order to get talent, we need to offer talent in return. But I really hate to trade away young talent. And you better believe that other teams are eyeing our improved minor league talent.

On the farm?  Franyerber, Anderson, Jace Jung...maybe Matt Manning

[RatkoVarda]

some combo of Hamm + Jung and/or Lee and/or Malloy and/or Anderson should get Harris a good player. Of course other teams will hold out for one the elite prospects.

[Nate7474]

I wouldn’t do it but there is another name that I think could be available in a trade that would be attractive. Colt Keith. I like him and his personality on this team but he is a cost controlled young player. 

[gehringer_2]

9 minutes ago, Nate7474 said:

I wouldn’t do it but there is another name that I think could be available in a trade that would be attractive. Colt Keith. I like him and his personality on this team but he is a cost controlled young player. 

that's an interesting one.

He's walking more, hitting more doubles, K rate is stable, going to the opposite field more. All good things in terms of his bat to ball skills but no major breakthroughs and not doing much in the power department. OTOH, McKinstry is on the wrong side of 30 and if Keith can make the move back to 3b his value to the Tigers could  go up quite a bit. The biggest red flag is that he's been useless against LHP pitching this year after doing quite well in that department last season. If he can't find his good approach against LHP again he's not an everyday player.

[RatkoVarda]

either way, Harris is going to have to ship out talent. I trust the organization to know its prospects and young players better than anyone else and will keep who they should keep.

[Nate7474]

2 minutes ago, gehringer_2 said:

that's an interesting one.

He's walking more, hitting more doubles, K rate is stable, going to the opposite field more. All good things in terms of his bat to ball skills but no major breakthroughs and not doing much in the power department. OTOH, McKinstry is on the wrong side of 30 and if Keith can make the move back to 3b his value to the Tigers could  go up quite a bit. The biggest red flag is that he's been useless against LHP pitching this year after doing quite well in that department last season. If he can't find his good approach against LHP again he's not an everyday player.

All correct and on top of that not a great fielder. If he can transition to 3B absolute keeper but as a 2B… I think on the farm we have a lot of options that are going to start to push him off of there in the next 1-2 seasons. 

[RandyMarsh]

FWIW Keith did sign that extension before last year for 6/28 guaranteed plus club options, don't know how it effects his trade value at all but it's worth noting that if you are trading him to a notoriously cheap team they will take him knowing that they owe him a guaranteed 20 something million whether he flames out or not. 

[RedTeamGo!]

I am going to ask these two on both the reds forum www.redszone.com and here and compare. I will report back. I think the Reds are somewhat keeping their heads above water right now but by the deadline will be solidly out of it. The offense just isn't good enough. The Reds really need OF help, and the Tigers seem to really be lacking in OF prospects (I am not including Clark because I am assuming he is untouchable), so probably not a good fit. Please feel free to reply back with what you think would be a good return as well. 

Emilio Pagan for INF Hao Yu-Lee

Emilio Pagan for RHP Troy Melton and Justice Bigbie

Before you scoff at Pagan, he has been really solid this year - .87 WHIP and I think he is the perfect reliever for Comerica Park's dimensions. 

TJ Friedl for one of McGonigle, Ranier, or Briceno

I would prefer the Reds extend Friedl, but I wasn't born yesterday, so I know that is not happening. 

What say you?

Edited Thursday at 03:47 PM by RedTeamGo!

[Tenacious D]

18 minutes ago, RedTeamGo! said:

I am going to ask these two on both the reds forum www.redszone.com and here and compare. I will report back. I think the Reds are somewhat keeping their heads above water right now but by the deadline will be solidly out of it. The offense just isn't good enough. The Reds really need OF help, and the Tigers seem to really be lacking in OF prospects (I am not including Clark because I am assuming he is untouchable), so probably not a good fit. Please feel free to reply back with what you think would be a good return as well. 

Emilio Pagan for INF Hao Yu-Lee

Emilio Pagan for RHP Troy Melton and Justice Bigbie

Before you scoff at Pagan, he has been really solid this year - .87 WHIP and I think he is the perfect reliever for Comerica Park's dimensions. 

TJ Friedl for one of McGonigle, Ranier, or Briceno

I would prefer the Reds extend Friedl, but I wasn't born yesterday, so I know that is not happening. 

What say you?

We’ll get back to you after this weekend