The Detroit Tigers lost their two best starting pitchers at this year’s trade deadline—and another one of their starters is in his feelings about their absence.
Two-time reigning AL Cy Young Award winner Tarik Skubal was traded to the Los Angeles Dodgers over the weekend, in what was the biggest trade of the deadline by far.
Then, right-handed hurler Casey Mize was traded to the San Diego Padres right in the final moments before the deadline struck on Monday.
Jack Flaherty is one of the starters still on Detroit’s roster. And he had the perfect reaction to Skubal and Mize’s exit on Monday afternoon.
Flaherty posted the GIF of Will Smith looking around an empty room then sighing during an episode of The Fresh Prince of Bel-Air to his X account.
The clip has become a timeless internet meme, meant to be used when someone feels like they’ve been abandoned by the ones who were just with them a short time ago. And it makes sense why Flaherty is feeling this way right about now.
Flaherty is no stranger to being dealt at the trade deadline. He was traded to the Dodgers at the deadline in 2024 and was a key part of Los Angeles capturing the World Series that season. Therefore, he knows better than anyone that this is an unavoidable part of the sport.
Still, Flaherty is well within his rights to lament two guys who were surely not just colleagues, but friends. Plus, the Tigers trading both indicates they’re more or less giving up on competing this season.
Flaherty is hoping to compete again this season, after landing on the injured list with right flexor inflammation at the end of June. This injury is likely why he wasn’t at risk of being traded.
