Not many teams are willing to pay big money for Miami’s talented closer Tanner Scott, so the team is looking for other left-handed relief pitchers in a market that includes veterans Andrew Chaffin (Tigers), Justin Wilson (Reds) and the Rays duo of Garrett Clevinger and Collin Posch.
That’s why the White Sox are in talks with multiple teams, including the Mets, about Tanner Banks, who won’t even be arbitration-eligible this offseason despite turning 33 in October, and is viewed as more of an option on the market than a top prospect.
In 40 games this season ending Monday, Banks had a 4.21 ERA with a 25.9% strikeout rate while being limited against lefties (.505 OPS) and overpowered by righties (.846). Relievers like Ian Hamilton and Tim Hill struggled for the White Sox and performed well for the Yankees, so some teams may think Banks has untapped potential.
Miami Marlins player Tanner Scott (No. 66) plays against the Baltimore Orioles on July 23, 2024. Getty Images
The Tigers have removed right-handed pitcher Jack Flaherty, who is likely to be traded, from the starting lineup for Monday night’s game as an injury precaution.
This leaves Detroit’s starting rotation narrowed down to Tarik Skubal, who is currently the front-runner for the American League MVP award.
The Tigers’ 10-man bullpen includes pitchers Cader Montero, who joined the starting rotation in late June with a 6.38 ERA, and Kenta Maeda, who was removed from the starting rotation this month with a 7.26 ERA. Maeda was used as a relief pitcher in Sunday’s game.
Reese Olson and Casey Mize are currently on injured reserve.
The Tigers, who were 52-55 before the weekend, are in selling mode, with Flaherty, relievers Chaffin and Shelby Miller and utility pitcher Mark Cagna all in their retirement years and likely to be traded before Tuesday’s 6 p.m. deadline. Skubal’s departure is highly questionable, but even if he stays, it’s clear Detroit will desperately need to find some starting pitchers to finish the season.
Justin Turner singled in the first at-bat of Monday’s doubleheader against the Orioles, finishing his Blue Jays career with 14 hits in his final 24 at-bats. He was removed from the game shortly after the first-inning single because he was traded to the Mariners.
The 39-year-old Turner isn’t his former self — his OPS-plus of 106 as of Monday was his lowest since his final season with the Mets in 2013 — but among the 12 best-hitting Mariners this year, he ranks third on a team with a .218 batting average (second-worst in the majors) and 3.85 runs per game average (third-worst).
Justin Turner added the final hit to the Blue Jays record book. AP
The Mariners acquired Randy Arozarena in a trade with the Rays with Julio Rodriguez and J.P. Crawford on the disabled list, and the Mariners hope Turner can help them bounce back in the pennant race and help their offense, which is batting .215 (lowest in the MLB) with a .668 OPS (sixth worst), especially against lefties. Turner hit .292/.793.
