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These Trade Targets Could Make or Break the Tigers Season

Originally posted on Athlon Sports | By Thomas Byrne | Last updated Jul 1, 2025 4:03 PM ET

The trade deadline is now less than a month away and evolves with every win and loss across the league. The Detroit Tigers might be the biggest buyer, and Jeff Passan’s got a list for us to see what might be out there for them.

Their number one target, with a big gap between anyone else, should be Walker Buehler. Only ranked 28th by Passan, the ERA this year is bad, but a couple rough starts during this regular season should not scare Detroit off. Postseason experience is so valuable, and Buehler has a career 3.04 ERA in the playoffs with 114 K’s in 94 ⅔ innings, even getting the save to close out last year’s World Series. He is a known quantity in the playoffs, and that has to be what the front office is prioritizing with their team in such a strong position.

If we are approaching the list with that mindset, the relievers available this year have got to be intriguing for the Tigers. Their bullpen is already good, but if they want to be one of the best in the league and have a big time advantage, there are arms to be had.

One of the worst ways to lose games in the playoffs is to have the whole team fight and scrap their way to a tie late, then watch the other team put up 5 runs because the one guy who you were praying didn’t come in, did. Emmanuel Clase is the 13th ranked option on Passan’s list and has shown that he can be dominant. His Yankees history would worry me if they were the matchup, but he still has the stuff to bounce back against them, and the rest of his postseason career is nearly spotless. The price will be extra high trading within the division, but these are teams so behind they could be desperate. It might be the perfect time to take advantage.

If they were to address a weakness, something on the left side of the infield would make a big impact. Eugenio Suarez is the second-highest ranked available third baseman by Passan, but he could be the best option for Detroit. At 34 years old, it would be a great way to get a veteran into one of the youngest locker rooms in the league. Great power numbers, experience and in a contract year, go get him off of the snakes.

The Tigers are going to make a trade this month: will it be big? Huge? A terrible mistake? Be THE reason they win the World Series this year? All we know is the Passan bomb is coming, but when?

This article first appeared on Athlon Sports and was syndicated with permission.

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