MLB insider urges Tigers to add starting pitcher at trade deadline

Matt Sullivan

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MLB insider urges Tigers to add starting pitcher at trade deadline image

The Detroit Tigers, sitting atop the American League, have a strong 1-2 punch atop their starting rotation. Very few teams can compare to Tarik Skubal and Casey Mize atop their rotation, but the depth is a major issue.

MLB insider Ken Rosenthal on Foul Territory urged the Tigers to resolve this issue by acquiring a starting pitcher at the trade deadline.

"A starter," Rosenthal said. "Or at least they should be. It just seems to me, to be the postseason team they want to be, they just need one more. I would like to see them get one more big starter if possible."

A huge reason why Rosenthal is urging the Tigers to land a good starter is the struggles of Jack Flaherty and the injuries in the rotation. Both are major issues and need to be considered as the deadline approaches.

Flaherty has struggled, and if he were playing well, the Tigers might not need a high-profile starter. But in 2025, he's been significantly worse than he was a year ago. In 2024, Flaherty had a 3.17 ERA in 28 starts between the Tigers and the Los Angeles Dodgers.

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This season, he has a 4.80 ERA in 16 starts, going 5-9 and sitting at a 1.23 WHIP. But, he's still notching solid strikeout numbers, as he sits at 100 on the year. His main issue is the long ball. He's given up 16 home runs this season.

The other major issue is the lack of depth. With Jackson Jobe, Alex Cobb, Reese Olson, and now Sawyer Gipson-Long all on the injured list, the Tigers are out six starting pitchers. It's a major issue for the Tigers and is a huge reason for Rosenthal's urging of the Tigers to land a new starter.

Skubal and Mize can only carry the Tigers' rotation so far. For a team with World Series aspirations, another starter is a major need at the trade deadline. Rosenthal not only wants the Tigers to get a pitcher, but also land one of the top options on the market as well.

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Matt Sullivan

Matt Sullivan is a freelance writer for The Sporting News, predominantly covering MLB. Matt is a native of Pennsylvania and has worked with Athlon Sports, Last Word on Sports, and other outlets.