After the trade deadline on July 30, the Detroit Tigers quietly completed a minor league trade with the Toronto Blue Jays. The Tigers, who were expected to be sellers, had already dealt away four key players—Carson Kelly, Andrew Chafin, Mark Canha, and Jack Flaherty—in exchange for several prospects and minor leaguers. This move effectively signaled their intention to rebuild for the next season, as they won’t be making the playoffs this year.
The trades were logical for a team out of postseason contention, particularly since Flaherty and Chafin were in the final year of their contracts and offered affordability and potential upside for other teams. However, these moves exacerbated the Tigers’ pitching woes, leaving them with a thin rotation and a weakened bullpen due to the loss of Chafin, a valuable left-handed reliever.
The Tigers’ management has appeared to be scrambling to address these pitching shortages, as evidenced by the call-ups of relievers Brenan Hanifee and Sean Guenther from Triple-A (with Guenther having since been sent back down). Manager AJ Hinch has stated that the team plans to manage the pitching deficit internally, but early results suggest this approach may be falling short.
In response to their depleted pitching staff, the Tigers made a low-profile move a few days after the deadline, acquiring minor league reliever Troy Watson from the Blue Jays in exchange for cash considerations.
Watson, 27, is still seeking his major league debut. He has been part of the Jays’ system since 2018 and showed promise initially. However, his performance faltered in Double-A with a 5.58 ERA in 2023, and his struggles continued in Triple-A with an 8.61 ERA this season.
This acquisition raises questions about the Tigers’ strategy, as Watson’s potential seems limited given his recent performance. If he is called up, it would suggest the Tigers are reaching for any available options to address their pitching needs.
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