Despite only a half-game difference in the standings, the Detroit Tigers and Seattle Mariners took opposite approaches to the trade deadline on Monday.
The Tigers sent Tarik Skubal, the two-time reigning American League Cy Young Award winner, to the Los Angeles Dodgers on Saturday for three prospects, then dealt their No. 2 starter, Casey Mize, also on an expiring contract, to the San Diego Padres on Monday for two minor league pitchers.
The Mariners added a reliever (Seranthony Dominguez) and a right-handed batter (Taylor Ward), as well as a pair of minor-leaguers, and reduced the logjam in their rotation by trading Luis Castillo to the Chicago White Sox.
So it would appear the Tigers, who open a three-game series Tuesday in Seattle, are waving the white flag on the season despite being only 2 1/2 games back in the American League wild-card standings, while the Mariners, who were two games back in the wild-card chase were three back of first-place Houston in the AL West as of Monday afternoon, are going for it.
Seattle acquired Ward from Baltimore on Monday for reliever Alex Hoppe and a pair of mid-level pitching prospects. The move could address a season-long problem for the Mariners, who have struggled against left-handed pitchers.
“We are excited to add Taylor to our lineup,” Mariners GM Justin Hollander said in a statement. “He has proven to be a consistent performer that is among the very best in the league at getting on base. We are thrilled to be adding a player of his caliber to our team.”
The Mariners are also expected to activate Brendan Donovan, the team’s Opening Day third baseman, from the injured list on Tuesday, putting their lineup at full strength for the first time since early April.
Donovan has been out since May 16 due to a left groin strain, his second stint on the IL this season.
“There will be some days off (for Donovan),” Hollander said. “There’ll be some DH days just to build him back up. But he’s in a good spot and feels really good about how his body’s feeling.”
The Mariners defeated the visiting Minnesota Twins 7-6 on Sunday on rookie Colt Emerson’s walk-off single with one out in the bottom of the ninth inning. That came after Seattle blew a six-run lead in the final two innings, with three relievers each giving up a home run.
Cal Raleigh homered for the Mariners, who won the final two games of the three-game series.
The Tigers are coming off a three-game sweep of the Athletics in West Sacramento, Calif., winning the finale 11-0 Sunday.
“We played a really good series in the midst of a lot of different things swirling around us,” Detroit manager A.J. Hinch said. “This group’s pretty tough.”
Those in the Tigers’ clubhouse haven’t given up on the season, despite the trades.
“We’re in the chase for a spot in the playoffs, so that’s what we’re focusing on,” right-hander Keider Montero said through an interpreter after pitching six scoreless innings on Sunday.
Right-hander Emerson Hancock (6-5, 3.26 ERA) is slated to start for the Mariners on Tuesday, seeking his first victory since July 5. He lost his latest outing, giving up three runs in five innings during a 4-2 road defeat against the Los Angeles Dodgers on Wednesday.
Hancock has faced Detroit just once, a start on March 31, 2025, in which he allowed six runs on seven hits in two-thirds of an inning.
The Tigers had not announced their starter as of Monday evening.
–Field Level Media
