4 pitchers Tigers must trade for after Tarik Skubal injury

May 5, 2026 - 23:15
4 pitchers Tigers must trade for after Tarik Skubal injury

The Detroit Tigers are going to have to move on from the sudden injury to star pitcher, Tarik Skubal. Seeing one of the best pitchers in the game go down makes the game worse, but the Tigers still contain a very good roster worthy of winning the AL Central division once again.

Manager AJ Hinch recently spoke about the injury to Skubal.

“I spent some time with Tarik late into the night with our trainers and doctors, and had conversations about him not pitching on Monday, that was evident based on how he was feeling,” Hinch said via the MLB Network. “And the more conversation happened to where surgical intervention was needed. The timeline, he was tolerating a lot throughout the season, and then it got to the public event in Atlanta, then it got to the catch play, and he needed to get this fixed and taken care of. It would be better for himself, for us, to get him healthy.”

The Tigers are in a bit of a predicament right now. Skubal is not the only starter on the injured list. Justin Verlander and Casey Mize are both on the IL, leaving just three hurlers on the current rotation. Detroit has had to use Tyler Holton as an opener twice. Jack Flaherty, Framber Valdez, and Keider Montero are the three starters in the rotation as of Tuesday.

Since the injury to Skubal, rumors have floated about who the Tigers could be interested in. Mark Feinsand suggested New York Mets starter Freddy Peralta and Boston Red Sox’s Sonny Gray. In this article, we name four starters who will come at a much lower price for the Tigers. All four of these names (In no particular order) could serve as a viable option as a filler in the rotation for the remainder of the season.

Jose Soriano – Los Angeles Angels

No starter is having a better start to the season than right-hander Jose Soriano of the Angels. Soriano began the season allowing only one run all season until he had to face the Chicago White Sox in two consecutive outings. He allowed a combined eight runs in 9.0 innings, and his incredible ERA rose to 1.74. He now owns the 6th-best ERA in the league after having the best until April 28.

The Angels now own the worst record in baseball at 13-23. LA could take advantage of his value off the hot start and trade him to the Tigers. Soriano and Valdez would emerge as a solid 1-2 punch until Skubal returns.

Taj Bradley – Minnesota Twins

Bradley is not a big-name pitcher but is someone who could fill the void in the rotation all season long. Bradley has been the most consistent pitcher on the Twins this season with a 3-1 record, 2.85 ERA, 1.22 WHIP, and 44 strikeouts in 41.0 innings. The right-hander has always been a good innings eater, reaching at least 111.1 innings every year of his career.

Trading within the division is rare in MLB; however, the Twins are not going in the right direction, and with the way Bradley is pitching right now, like the Angels, Minnesota could take advantage of Bradley’s higher-than-normal value and trade him to the Tigers.

Zack Littell – Washington Nationals

Zach Littell should never have signed with the Nationals. Coming off a solid season in which he pitched for both the Tampa Bay Rays and Cincinnati Reds, Littell signed with the Nationals this past offseason and has not done well. He owns a 7.24 ERA and 1.61 WHIP in 32.1 innings.

Littell needs a change of scenery badly, and the Tigers could be a good place for him. The Nationals are not going anywhere anytime soon and have some very questionable starting pitching on the roster.

Sandy Alcantara – Miami Marlins

Are the Marlins ever going to trade Alcantara? It honestly may not happen any time soon. The right-hander was one of the best starters to begin the season, and he now owns a 3.04 ERA and 1.16 WHIP. He dominated the Los Angeles Dodgers in his last outing, and the Tigers could seriously use him on the roster right now.

Like Soriano, the Tigers’ 1-2 punch with him and Valdez would be deadly until Skubal returns. Then, you have three legit aces for the postseason.

The post 4 pitchers Tigers must trade for after Tarik Skubal injury appeared first on ClutchPoints.

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