The Detroit Tigers are in a rough stretch after getting swept by the Pittsburgh Pirates this week. Detroit have won once in their last nine games, dropping series to the Seattle Mariners, Texas Rangers, and now the Pirates.
It’s a long season and every team, regardless of how good they are, have their dips over a 162-game schedule. Nonetheless, this lousy stretch could be a sign for the Tigers to make a trade and inject fresh blood into the team ahead of the MLB trade deadline.
On Tuesday’s edition of “Intentional Talk,” former MLB pitcher Ryan Dempster picked the Tigers when asked what team have to add to their current squad to bolster their chances of making the World Series this fall.
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“Everybody in this network knows how much I’ve been on the Detroit Tigers,” Dempster said. “But you have to add — find one that has won a World Series in the past few years. Everybody adds; you have to inject your clubhouse with life.
“[Tigers’ president of baseball operations] Scott Harris, I know you’re watching the show right now. He knows this. Impact arm, impact bat, get better. I’m not talking about a little bit. I’m not talking just a little piece. I’m talking a big piece. This is your time. You have this window. You have this great ballclub who is thirsty.
“They are hungry. They want to go get it. You have to add. If you expect to go to the World Series and go all the way, you need that impact bat or that impact arm or both. It doesn’t matter who they are. Look at the numbers. Every team that wins adds somebody at some point during the season in order to get them over the hump.”
The Tigers are 1-7 in their last 8 games 📊
“You HAVE to add [before the Trade Deadline] if you expect to go to the World Series…” – @Dempster46 pic.twitter.com/8d5lX01PxG
— Intentional Talk (@IntentionalTalk) July 22, 2025
Detroit’s schedule isn’t getting any easier, and their losing streak could stretch longer with a four-game series coming up against another strong American League team, the Toronto Blue Jays.
The Tigers currently hold an eight-game lead over the Cleveland Guardians, so their division lead isn’t in immediate danger.
However, this slump could impact how they’re viewed as serious World Series contenders. Because of that, Dempster might be right—making a bold move at the trade deadline could be exactly what the team needs to break out of this funk.
