After being scratched from his start on Monday, it’s expected that the Detroit Tigers are going to trade right-hander Jack Flaherty. Flaherty, one of the top starters on the market, should bring a return back that helps the future of this team.

Due to taking a one-year, prove-it type of deal, the Tigers find themselves in an interesting position with him. Flaherty could re-sign with the team, and reports have indicated that they’re willing to offer him a deal in free agency, but that’s a risk that might not be worth taking.

Losing him in the offseason for nothing would be bad work by the front office.

He has multiple suitors, and according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the New York Yankees are currently in trade talks for Detroit’s No. 2 starter.

“The New York Yankees are in extensive trade talks for Tigers starter Jack Flaherty, and plan to trade starter Nestor Cortes if they land Flaherty.”

The Yankees would be a great team to trade with due to having an above-average farm system. With this being a buyers’ market due to the third Wild Card and contending teams always needing pitching, the Tigers should land a favorable deal in a trade with New York.

It’s uncertain who they’d be willing to give up, but there are multiple players in their farm system who could be great additions to the big league roster as soon as this season.

No matter where he gets dealt, the focus for Detroit has to be finding the best package. If the Yankees are the team that’s going to do that, they should move him there.

Detroit Lions general manager Brad Holmes told local radio station 97.1 The Ticket Monday morning that left tackle Taylor Decker has signed a three-year extension with the team. Decker was entering the final year of his deal, but now he’ll be signed through the 2027 season.

As of right now, there are no contract terms publicly known about the deal other than the length.

UPDATE: the deal is reportedly worth three years for $60 million with nearly $32 million guaranteed, according to his agency.

Last week, we asked Decker is there was any progress made with contract talks, and the left tackle was optimistic about progress.

“I’m hoping to hear fairly soon, but as far as like anything of numbers, substance, I haven’t had too much,” Decker said. “I will say, it’s something that I am hopeful of, I mean, I’ve even gone up and I had some conversations with Dan during OTAs just to talk to him about it. I feel good about the messaging.”

The Lions have spent the offseason rewarding their own players. They handed out mega-extensions to Amon-Ra St. Brown, Penei Sewell, and Jared Goff. With Decker’s deal now done, the Lions’ tackle bookends are now tied up for the foreseeable future.

There’s a new catcher in town.

The Detroit Tigers are calling up catcher Dillon Dingler from Triple-A Toledo for his MLB debut, according to multiple sources not authorized to discuss roster moves publicly.

Dingler, already a member of the 40-man roster, will be activated for Monday’s series opener against the Cleveland Guardians at Comerica Park. Trading catcher Carson Kelly, an impending free agent, to the Texas Rangers for a pair of minor leaguers opened the door for Dingler’s promotion to the Tigers.

The catching tandem is now Dingler and Jake Rogers.

THE OFFSEASON: Tigers catcher Dillon Dingler’s glove is MLB-ready. His bat, however, needs work

Dingler, the No. 38 overall pick in the 2020 draft out of Ohio State, is the third Tigers pick from his draft class to be called up, following first-rounder Spencer Torkelson and fifth-rounder Colt Keith.

Dingler, who turns 26 in mid-September, hit .308 with 17 home runs, 30 walks and 61 strikeouts across 71 games this season with Triple-A Toledo, posting a .938 OPS.

Dingler was on a heater for the Mud Hens in his last 22 games before the Tigers called him to Detroit, hitting .368 with nine homers and a 1.181 OPS. That included a .396 run with seven homers and a 1.360 OPS in his final 13 games.

THE TRADE: Tigers trade C Carson Kelly to Rangers, opening spot for Dillon Dingler

The breakthrough on offense stands out, but Dingler is considered a defense-first catcher because of his game-calling expertise. For years, pitchers have raved about their trust in throwing to Dingler, including top pitching prospect Jackson Jobe. He also features one of the best arms among all catchers in the minor leagues, which helps him control the running game.

Dingler has developed as a hitter in 2024.

He is making better swing decisions and making more contact while continuing to hit the ball hard.

Here are the Triple-A numbers: Dingler hit .261 (with a .237 expected batting average) and a 29.8% whiff rate in 26 games in 2023, but in 2024, he hit .308 (with a .301 expected batting average) and a 25.3% whiff rate in 71 games. His whiff rate against sliders improved from 47.1% in 2023 to 28.3% in 2024.

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Dingler, though, could be tested by high-velocity fastballs. He hit just .154 without any power against fastballs at the Triple-A level that registered at least 95 mph on the radar gun.

The bat is bound to go through ups and downs in the big leagues, but the Tigers expect Dingler to be solid behind the plate regardless of what happens with his bat.

Anthony Bemboom, a 34-year-old journeyman, will remain in Triple-A Toledo, providing depth at the catcher position in case of an injury to Rogers or Dingler in the final two months. Bemboom has played 82 MLB games in parts of five seasons.

Contact Evan Petzold at epetzold@freepress.com or follow him @EvanPetzold.

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