cbssports
The San Diego Padres have bolstered their starting rotation ahead of the trade deadline, acquiring right-handed pitcher Casey Mize and infielder Gage Workman from the Detroit Tigers, as reported by the New York Post. In exchange, the Tigers will receive left-handed pitchers Kash Mayfield and Jackson Wolf, according to The Athletic.
Mize, who was originally scheduled to start for Detroit on Friday, was scratched from that outing, a strong indication that a deal was imminent. The 29-year-old is set to become a free agent after the season and is enjoying the best year of his career on a rate basis. Through 16 starts in 2026, he has posted a career-best ERA+ of 159, along with personal bests in FIP, strikeout-to-walk ratio, and strikeout rate. His increased reliance on his slider has been a key factor in his success this season.
Selected first overall out of Auburn in 2018, Mize holds a career ERA+ of 107 and earned his lone All-Star nod in 2025. He is owed the remainder of his $6.15 million salary for this season before hitting the open market this winter. In San Diego, he will join a contending rotation that already features Michael King, newly acquired Robbie Ray, and Walker Buehler. Mize brings postseason experience, having made brief playoff starts for the Tigers in both 2024 and 2025, combining for six innings, two runs allowed, three hits, seven strikeouts, and four walks.
Key Analysis
The Padres are clearly in win-now mode, and acquiring Mize alongside Ray addresses a critical need for starting pitching. While giving up Mayfield, the No. 2 prospect in San Diego's system per MLB Pipeline, is a significant price, Mize's performance when healthy—despite a nagging groin injury that has sent him to the injured list three times this year—makes this a calculated risk for a team with championship aspirations. Workman adds useful infield depth as a bonus.
For Detroit, this trade signals the end of an era. Mize and Tarik Skubal were once seen as the future front of the rotation for a contending Tigers team, but both have now been dealt as rentals, bringing back a total of four prospects and a depth arm. Mayfield, who has a mid-rotation ceiling, is a promising addition but remains in Single-A and is years away from contributing at the major league level. While the Tigers made a sound baseball trade in a vacuum, the move raises questions about when the rebuilding process will finally yield a competitive team on the field.
Originally reported by cbssports.