The Detroit Tigers opted to go a different route than some of the other top contenders at the MLB trade deadline. Instead of landing a star reliever or starting pitcher, the Tigers went for quantity over quality.
In some cases, it did work. Kyle Finnegan has been a great addition, and before his brief stint on the injured list, he hadn't allowed a run for Detroit. But, for the most part, it hasn't gone well.
One of the biggest misses was starting pitcher Charlie Morton. He struggled during his time in Detroit, so much so that the Tigers DFA'd the veteran with a week left of the regular season. Morton, in a piece from David O'Brien of The Athletic, spoke on his time in Detroit and his feelings as his 2025 season comes to an end.
Charlie Morton speaks on his 'really tough' end in Detroit
"The past couple weeks in Detroit was really tough," Morton said. "Down the stretch, they need me to perform, they need me to pitch well, and I had some starts where it was just really bad. And in a really bad time of the year for that to happen."
The 41-year-old pitcher began his Tigers tenure on a solid note. Across his first four games, he went 2-2 with a 3.63 ERA and 29 strikeouts across 22.1 innings. He allowed 16 hits, nine earned runs, and three homers with eight walks to begin his Tigers stint.
But, after that, it's been a complete disaster. Detroit is 0-5 in its next five starts, and it allowed 24 hits, 15 walks, four home runs, and 22 earned runs in 17 innings pitched for an ERA of 11.65. He also struck out just 18 batters, 11 fewer than the 29 he had to begin his Tigers stint across one fewer start.
His ninth and final outing came against the Atlanta Braves, where he's now signed after the Tigers released him. In Detroit, Morton allowed six earned runs in 1.1 innings pitched in his worst start for Detroit, and his entire 2025 season as well.
Morton's implosion has coincided with the Tigers' collapse in September. After being up 15.5 games at one point in the year and having a 9.5 game lead on September 10th, the Tigers have allowed the Cleveland Guardians to make up all of that ground and take first place in the AL Central.
MORE: Tigers finally activate trade deadline pickup after long injured list stint
Morton pitched in nine games for the Tigers, and despite a decent start to his time with the team, he's completely squandered it and now sits at a 7.09 ERA with a 2-3 record in nine outings since being traded at the deadline.
With Chris Paddack in the bullpen, and the rest of the trade deadline pickups either off the team or struggling, this deadline for Detroit has been an abject disaster.
For Morton, an 18-year veteran who's been in the league since 2008, his final outing for Detroit was a brutal way for his season to come to a close. He didn't mince words when discussing his Tigers stint, as he not only called his outings "really bad," but also said that his final weeks in Detroit were "really tough."
With five games left, and no longer in the lead for the AL Central title, the Tigers could have an even tougher end to the year. Morton is a part of this collapse, but there are plenty of other players and people to blame.
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