Mize is expected to open the 2025 season as Detroit's No. 4 starter, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
The Tigers informed Kenta Maeda that he will begin the season in the bullpen and later optioned Keider Montero, leaving Mize and Jackson Jobe to round out the Tigers' Opening Day rotation. Both players should have some runway with Alex Cobb (hip) expected to miss at least the first month. Mize put up a 1.13 ERA, 0.94 WHIP and 18:7 K:BB in 16 innings this spring, a vast improvement on his regular-season numbers from a year ago (4.49 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 78:29 K:BB in 102.1 innings).
Mize tossed three scoreless innings in Saturday's Grapefruit League game against the Phillies. He walked one and struck out two.
It's early, but Mize has now tossed five scoreless innings through two outings this spring with five strikeouts and a 0.60 WHIP. The former No. 1 overall pick is making a strong case for a rotation spot to begin the year, and while some of his prospect shine has worn off, Mize could still be a useful starting option if he's fully healthy. Fantasy managers should keep an eye on him moving forward even if he's not yet a must-add player.
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Tigers' Casey Mize: Strikes out three in spring debut
Rotowire
Mize tossed two scoreless innings in Sunday's Grapefruit League game against the Yankees. He allowed two hits and struck out three.
Mize made the start for the Tigers and helped blank New York along with five Detroit relievers. The 27-year-old was making his return from Tommy John surgery in 2024 and posted a 4.49 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 78 strikeouts across 102.1 regular-season innings. Mize mostly worked as a starter last year, though the Tigers did shift him to the bullpen down the stretch. It's unclear what his role will ultimately be in 2025, but the Tigers will likely give the 2018 No. 1 overall pick every opportunity to win a rotation spot this spring.
Mize figures to compete for a back-end rotation spot in spring training, though he may ultimately end up in a long-relief role in 2025, Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic reports.
Tarik Skubal is the unquestioned staff ace, and Reese Olson and newcomer Alex Cobb figure to slot in behind him. Top prospect Jackson Jobe also seems likely to grab a rotation spot this spring, which would leave Mize and the likes of Brant Hurter, Keider Montero and others to compete for the fifth spot. Mize, the top pick of the 2018 draft, has flashed potential as a starter in the majors but has yet to truly live up to his potential. Injuries have been part of the issue, so the Tigers may decide to shift the 27-year-old into long relief in the hope of keeping him healthier and more effective.
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Tigers' Casey Mize: Under contract for 2025
Rotowire
Mize and the Tigers avoided arbitration after agreeing to a one-year, $2.34 million contract Thursday, Mark Feinsand of MLB.com reports.
The Tigers declined Mize's $3.1 million club option for 2025 earlier in the offseason, but the 27-year-old right-hander will stick around in Detroit at a more team-friendly price. The No. 1 overall pick in the 2018 First-Year Player Draft has struggled to bounce back from his June 2022 Tommy John surgery, which cost him the entire 2023 season. He broke camp last season as a member of Detroit's rotation but proceeded to turn in middling ratios (4.49 ERA, 1.47 WHIP, 10.8 K-BB%) over his 102.1 innings with the big club spanning 22 appearances (20 starts), and the Tigers ultimately moved him to the bullpen down the stretch. Mize will likely have to compete for a back-end spot in Detroit's rotation once again this spring.
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Tigers' Casey Mize: Arbitration eligible
Rotowire
The Tigers declined Mize's $3.1 million club option for 2025 on Monday, but he will remain under team control and is arbitration eligible, per Cody Stavenhagen of The Athletic.
Mize and the Tigers almost went to an arbitration hearing last winter over a $25,000 difference before reaching a one-year, $840,000 deal that included the club option, per Jason Beck of MLB.com. Mize appeared in 22 regular-season games (including 20 starts) for the Tigers in 2024 and posted a 2-6 record with a 4.49 ERA, 1.47 WHIP and 78:29 K:BB across 102.1 innings.
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Tigers' Casey Mize: Not on ALDS roster
Rotowire
Mize isn't included on the Tigers' ALDS roster.
Mize was a starter for Detroit for much of the campaign but moved to the bullpen for his final two appearances of the regular season. The right-hander struggled in that role, giving up three runs over 3.1 innings, which may have contributed to the Tigers' decision to make him inactive for the division series. Keider Montero was added to the team's ALDS roster after being inactive for the wild-card series versus Houston.
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Tigers' Casey Mize: Pitches in relief Thursday
Rotowire
Mize allowed one run on three hits across two innings of relief in Thursday's 4-3 win over the Rays. He struck out four.
Detroit started Reese Olson, who covered just four innings in his third game back from a shoulder injury. Mize then worked the middle of the contest and was fairly sharp overall, particularly with the four strikeouts. Detroit appears headed to the postseason, and it remains to be seen how Mize will be used. The 27-year-old missed two months with a hamstring injury this year, which contributed to an uneven campaign and a 4.37 ERA and 1.45 WHIP across 101 innings. However, at his best, Mize could give the Tigers a decent starting option to pair with staff ace Tarik Skubal during a playoff run.
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