Former top pick Casey Mize reflects on Tigers' decision to trade him, best friend Tarik Skubal

PHOENIX — While Tarik Skubal was making his Los Angeles Dodgers debut at Wrigley Field, Casey Mize, his former teammate and close friend, was sitting in the visiting clubhouse at Chase Field cheering him on.

>Skubal and Mize were drafted together by the Detroit Tigers in 2018, came through the minor leagues together, arrived in the major leagues together in 2020, and within 48 hours became ex-Tigers together.

>Mize, who like Skubal said the Tigers never made a contract extension offer to keep him, was traded to the San Diego Padres on Monday afternoon, just minutes before the 3 p.m. PT trade deadline in Seattle.

>He packed up his suitcase, took a flight to Phoenix that was diverted to Las Vegas because of the Phoenix dust storms, and Tuesday afternoon was wearing a Padres’ brown uniform.

>“Very excited to be here,’’ he said, “chasing a championship. Got a really good group here. I'm excited to be a part of it.’’

>When the Tigers blew a 7-0 lead last Wednesday to the Baltimore Orioles with Skubal on the mound, Skubal knew he would be traded, he revealed at his introductory press conference with the Dodgers.

>Mize knew that Skubal would be traded, too.

>He just didn’t know his own status.

>“I thought he might be gone, but for myself,’’ Mize said, “I still didn't know the direction in which the organization was going to go.’’

>Even when Skubal was traded Saturday night to the Dodgers, Mize was unsure of his status. Were the Tigers going to keep him and still try to make the postseason? Or were they going to make a clean break and dump him, too?

>“We were kind of up in the air after the Skubal trade,’’ Mize said. “I thought it would be more likely, and then the clock just kept ticking, and I was like, 'I don't know.' And then at the very last second, it happened. I wasn't sure what was going to happen, but you know, excited with how it turned out.’’

>Yet, just like Skubal, Mize also shed some tears with his teammates and coaching staff before he left town. He was a first-round pick by the Tigers (taken first overall). He loved the organization. Loved the city. And loved the fans.

>Now, he’s starting all over, and just like Skubal, will be a free agent after the season.

>Only he’ll be earning a little less money in free agency than Skubal, who’s expected to receive in excess of $400 million.

>“It was a pretty emotional day all the way around,’’ said Mize, who’s scheduled to start Wednesday against the Arizona Diamondbacks. “You know, been living (in) Detroit for eight years. Met so many special people there. People that have changed my life and my career. So, it wasn't like I was trying to get out of there or anything. That place means a lot to me. It was really special, and certainly sad to leave. …

>"You know, your mind goes to so many different places. It's just, you have to say goodbye to so many people that you really care about. ... But I couldn't be more excited and happy for this opportunity. I landed in a great situation. Mixed emotions, but I'm happy with how everything turned out.’’

>The Padres are ecstatic the way it worked out, landing not only Mize, but also San Francisco Giants No. 2 starter Robbie Ray, who’s scheduled to start Friday when the Padres return home. They are battling for a wild-card berth, entering Tuesday night two games behind the Philadelphia Phillies and Diamondbacks in the wild-card race.

>“We’re trying to win,” A.J. Preller, Padres president of baseball operations, said. “We don’t apologize for it. We’re trying to win championships. We’re trying to get to the postseason and do it year after year.”

>Now, with the acquisition of Mize and Ray, the Padres have doubled their starting rotation. They had been using just Michael King and Walker Buehler as traditional starters while going with an 11-man bullpen. Now, they can go the conventional approach.

>“It really comes back to maximizing our roster and making sure we have the pitching depth to get through August and September,’’ Preller said. “You have to beat the best teams to get to where you want to go, so having guys like Robbie and Casey gives us starting options that we feel can stack up against anyone in October.”

>The Padres hope that the upheaval doesn’t adversely affect Mize's and Ray’s routine. Ray’s last start was July 30 with the San Francisco Giants, when he gave up just four hits and one run in six innings against the Padres. Mize, scratched by the Tigers before his last scheduled start to prevent a potential injury before the trade deadline, hasn’t pitched in 11 days. His last start was July 25 against the Kansas City Royals. He has had bullpen sessions, but it’s hardly the same as pitching in games.

>“I’m ready,’’ he said. “It’s been a little bit. So, I’m ready to get out there.’’

>And, yes, he’s looking forward to catching up with Skubal again.

>They spent their entire career together in Detroit, and now they’re separated by a 90-minute drive, competing in the same NL West Division as fierce rivals. The two teams face off one last time in the regular season, Sept. 22-24 at Dodger Stadium.

>“It'll be pretty cool,’’ Mize said. “It's interesting. We come from the AL Central, and now the NL West is kind of out of left field for us. But, you know, we'll cross paths, and I look forward to it.

>“He's my best friend, so obviously, hoping the best for him, but just not when he plays the Padres.’’

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>This article originally appeared on USA TODAY: Former top pick Casey Mize reflects on Tigers' decision to trade him, best friend Tarik Skubal