Austin Konenski
The Detroit Tigers are struggling as summer approaches. Through 42 games, the Tigers are tied for last in the AL Central with a 19-23 record. The 2026 MLB season was expected to be a good one for Detroit; however, injuries have significantly impacted the organization.
Now, the Tigers could be on the verge of selling some of their key pieces ahead of the 2026 MLB trade deadline.
Detroit Tigers labeled as potential sellers at 2026 MLB trade deadline
USA TODAY’s Bob Nightengale listed the Tigers as a team to watch as a seller at the 2026 MLB trade deadline. As of now, Detroit only sits 1.5 games back of the final Wild Card spot and three behind the Cleveland Guardians in the AL Central.
There is plenty of time for the Tigers to turn their season around, but it is very notable that they are being labeled as potential sellers. In fact, this puts the focus on starting pitcher Tarik Skubal, who is expected to miss one to two months following elbow surgery to remove a loose body.
Skuabl is set to enter MLB free agency after the 2026 season. If Detroit truly becomes sellers and falls out of contention, it would make sense to trade the back-to-back Cy Young Award winner to maximize his value. If not, the Tigers would waste Skubal’s last season in Detroit and lose him for a draft pick.
There are other players, such as Jack Flaherty and Gleyber Torres, who will become free agents as well. It is early in the 2026 MLB season, but the Tigers need to change the direction of their campaign. The goal should be turning themselves into buyers, not sellers.
How the Detroit Tigers can become buyers during the 2026 season
Detroit is still firmly in contention, but the 2026 MLB season could be slipping away. The Tigers are dealing with an insane amount of injuries, most notably to their pitching staff. Only Flaherty and Framber Valdez are left from the original five starting pitchers in the rotation to start the season.
Meanwhile, Javier Baez and Kerry Carpenter headline the batters not in the lineup due to injuries. This doesn’t even include Parker Meadows, who is recovering from a broken arm. Needless to say, it is obvious what needs to happen for Detroit moving forward. If the Tigers want to become buyers, they must get healthy soon.
There are very few, if any, teams in MLB that can survive this many injuries. The Tigers had great starting pitching depth to start the 2026 MLB season, but it quickly disappeared. Detroit desperately needs its players to return and be healthy for the remainder of the regular season.
If not, the Tigers will continue to fall in the American League standings. As of now, the damage isn’t bad. Detroit is not even two games out of the 2026 MLB Postseason. However, the Tigers know they can’t sustain this many injuries, and things must improve to keep their postseason dreams alive.
Read More: MLB Rumors – New Tarik Skubal Contract Projection Emerges after Injury
