CBS Sports journalist and insider Jim Bowden set off alarm bells in Detroit by asserting that the Tigers are going to "do the right thing" and become the main attraction of this year's trade deadline. According to his report, Tarik Skubal, Casey Mize, Gleyber Torres, and Kenley Jansen are now expected to be traded before Monday, the day the market closes at 6:00 p.m. ET.

If confirmed, this wouldn't be a simple roster adjustment, but rather a near-total overhaul for an organization that reached the postseason in both 2024 and 2025.

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The numbers behind the decision

Detroit entered Friday with a 51-58 record, 6.5 games behind the Chicago White Sox in the American League Central Division and 4.5 games out of the final wild-card spot. That gap—short enough to spark debate, but wide enough to tip the scales toward a trade—is what has led president of baseball operations Scott Harris to consider parting ways with his most valuable veterans rather than chasing a crowded postseason.

Skubal, a two-time consecutive Cy Young Award winner, enters this stretch after reaching his 1,000th career strikeout in his most recent start against the Orioles, in which he allowed three runs on four hits and one walk in 6.2 innings. Mize, who was scratched from his scheduled at-bat on Friday as a precaution against a potential trade, is having the best season of his career with a 2.70 ERA, a 0.99 WHIP, 85 strikeouts, a 159 ERA+, and 2.9 WAR in 86.2 innings, numbers that earned him his first All-Star selection.

Torres, meanwhile, is batting .270/.383/.392, while Jansen maintains a 3.77 ERA out of the bullpen. While not dazzling for the closer, these numbers remain attractive to contending teams seeking ninth-inning experience.

A Fast-Moving Market

The short time remaining before the trade deadline has led several rival executives to assume that Skubal's departure is practically a done deal, although Detroit has not officially confirmed any moves. Teams like the Dodgers, Rays, and Brewers have been repeatedly mentioned as the most aggressive in the race for the left-handed ace, while Mize, Torres, and Jansen could be traded separately to different contenders.

Who Are the Players on Their Eyes?

Tarik Skubal, a 29-year-old left-hander, is a two-time consecutive American League Cy Young Award winner (2024-2025) and will be a free agent at the end of this season. Casey Mize, a 29-year-old right-hander and former first overall draft pick, is having the best year of his career. Gleyber Torres, a Venezuelan second baseman, joined Detroit as a free agent in 2025 after years with the Yankees. Kenley Jansen, a 38-year-old Dominican closer and former World Series champion with the Dodgers, is one of the most experienced relief pitchers still active in the major leagues.