Proposed emergency Tigers trade sees Detroit land $64.5 million 2.89 ERA starting pitcher to save Tarik Skubal's last season in Detroit

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Proposed emergency Tigers trade sees Detroit land $64.5 million 2.89 ERA starting pitcher to save Tarik Skubal's last season in Detroit originally appeared on The Sporting News. Add The Sporting News as a Preferred Source by clicking here.

The Detroit Tigers have had a mediocre start to the 2026 season going 4-4, but luckily, they are still in second place in the AL Central. However, being .500 will not get them the championship they wanted with their Cy Young, Tarik Skubal, before he inevitably leaves this offseason.

They need more help, and with Justin Verlander down on the 15-day IL, some more pitching could be the answer. FanSided’s Christopher Kline proposes that the Tigers get in contact with the Colorado Rockies, and trade for their star starting pitcher Kyle Freeland.

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The trade would look like this:

Tigers get: LHP Kyle Freeland

Rockies get: DET No. 25 prospect UTL Trei Cruz

“Freeland was Colorado's Opening Day starter by default for the ninth year in a row, but he's not an ace. He is, however, a durable lefty, good for 150-plus innings in three of the last four seasons. Detroit could use the stability, the availability, even if Freeland is nothing more than a fifth or sixth starter at this point in his career…Freeland will not miss a ton of bats, but he commands the zone and does not surrender many free bases. Moreover, a lot of the catastrophic home runs he gives up at Coors will turn into long pop-outs at Comerica. The added margin for error and competitive thrust in Detroit could work wonders,” Kline wrote.

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So far this season, Freeland has had a strong start, at least by Colorado standards. He’s posted a 0-1 record, a 2.89 ERA, eight Ks, and a WHIP of 1.393 in nine and a third innings pitched.

He’d also only cost $16 million this season, and has a conditional player option for $17 million next season, as long as he pitches in 170+ innings in 2026. For the Tigers, this is definitely doable, especially if Skubal leaves, and they need a replacement in the rotation.

Hopefully, the Tigers get on this trade soon, so they can take command of the AL Central, and try for one more championship run with their superstar Cy Young.

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