The Tigers declined their $3.1MM option on Casey Mize. That’s a procedural transaction, as Mize does not have the requisite six years of service to become a free agent. He remains under arbitration control and is projected by MLBTR contributor Matt Swartz for a $2MM salary. Detroit also outrighted Bligh Madris, Ryan Vilade and Bryan Sammons off the 40-man roster.
Mize took the ball 22 times this past season. The former first overall pick still hasn’t developed as hoped. He turned in a 4.49 ERA with a middling 17.3% strikeout rate. That limited his earning potential in arbitration. The modest $2MM projection means the Tigers will very likely bring Mize back to compete for a spot at the back of the rotation. He’ll be eligible for arbitration one more time before reaching free agency in the 2026-27 offseason.
Madris, Vilade and Sammons all played small roles for the Tigers in 2024. Madris and Vilade made a handful of appearances off the bench. Sammons, a rookie left-hander, pitched 27 1/3 innings of 3.62 ERA ball as a bulk pitcher. All three players can become minor league free agents.
Unfortunately he’s still getting $2M.
No surprises here… I hear rumors about the Tigers thinking about trading Mize this offseason which I believe would be a mistake as the Tigers still don’t really know what they have in him. I met Denny McLain once at a memorabilia show at his house and he said Mize would never amount to anything… still holding out hope he’s wrong
I met Denny a couple years ago at one of those events. We talked for quite a while. He had some good stories. I too asked him about Mize and denny said he was a waste from the start
I agree, he should be given more time, his injury kept him away quite a while. big off season and spring for Casey. fingers crossed.
Did Denny give you any investment advice?
Yes…2 pieces of advice…don’t bet on the horses and don’t try to rob the mob
Another number 1 bust for the Tigers, consecutive with Torkelson.
I wouldn’t give him more than 1.2m. He’s a nearly 5 e.r.a pitcher that’s hurt often. They’ve spent too much on him already when you consider the huge bonus that came with him being a 1-1 pick. Trade him or non tender
Now would be the worst time to give up on Mize, just as his health has returned. I’m inclined to see what he shows next spring. Same with Faedo. Both lost time to injuries and they’re part of the group that lost that invaluable time to covid, so I think needing a little more time to realize their potential shouldn’t be surprising.
“Worst time to give up on Mize”…I tend to agree. Pitching is hard to find and it’s not like he’ll bring anything above a bag of chips(perhaps a Cheetos upgrade)in trade.
The Tigers only wise course of action is to hold him and hope injury is the main issue behind his lack of development.
Brad Holmes would never have drafted Casey Mize in the 1st Round. Second or third? Sure. He’s had some bustaroos scattered in there among his genius draft choices.
I have put on hold lobbying for Holmes to moonlight with the Tigers during his off-season because we may be forced into trusting Scott Harris (probably thanks to AJ Hinch) for a little while.
The tigers have certainly missed on some high draft picks
So has everyone else.
In all fairness, the Mize and Tork draft years were really weak as of now, it’s not like they passed over star players. It wouldn’t surprise me if both players are not on the Tigers opening day roster.
Singer was probably the strongest pitcher in that draft. Tigers took a guy that threw fairly hard with poor command and a college trick pitch. Currently the ML hitters eliminate the trick pitch and swing at the below average heater down the middle of the plate.
Keep in mind the Tigers drafted Skubal in the 9th round the same year they drafted Mize…. Just saying
Denny McLain bought a laytent meat packing company, assigned himself as the trustee to the pension fund, created an offshore shell corporation then plundered the pension fund and left the deserving aging recipients penniless. Denny McLain is a walking bag…