The Detroit Tigers are having their best season in a decade and everyone on the roster has pitched in. While Tarik Skubal has stolen most of the headlines with another Cy Young Award-worthy campaign, the Tigers have gotten contributions from Spencer Torkelson, Riley Greene and Javier Báez to post the best record in baseball entering Friday’s series opener against the Seattle Mariners.
With that in mind, the Tigers still need to make additions to the squad with the MLB trade deadline approaching. With a need for a right-handed bat and some help on the mound, someone will have to go in order to make room for the upgrade. It leaves one underwhelming player on the chopping block and could be sent down if Detroit pulls the trigger on a big move.
Tigers Outfielder Matt Vierling Is on the Chopping Block Ahead of MLB Trade Deadline
The Tigers haven’t had many disappointments this season but one of them has been outfielder Matt Vierling. The 28-year-old was one of the key components to Detroit’s run to the postseason last year, hitting .257/.312/.423 with 16 homers, 57 RBI and 3.0 WAR in 144 games, but a shoulder injury halted his production in 2025.
In 11 games this season, Vierling is hitting just .156/.317/.188 with four RBI. While he’s posted some promising metrics like a 14.6% walk rate and 17.1% strikeout rate, he hasn’t been able to get things going through a pair of stints on the injured list, going 3-for-30 at the plate with six walks and six strikeouts since he returned from his latest IL stay on June 28.
Vierling told Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press that he feels confident in his shoulder as he returns to the field. But the Tigers need him to come around quickly if they want to make a deep run in October. Kerry Carpenter had been battling through a hamstring injury before he landed on the IL last month and Detroit could use an offensive upgrade over Parker Meadows (.200/.273/.300, 2 HR, 9 RBI) in center field.
The Tigers could wait for Vierling to find his form, but their foray into the trade market means that someone has to go. Detroit has a few candidates who could hit the blade in the next month, but Vierling will have to produce to prove his shoulder is healthy or risk another trip to the injured list or a trip to Toledo.