While there is not yet a firm indication that the Detroit Tigers will be sellers at the trade deadline, there is indication that the incentive to do so is increasing.
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By now you are probably as sick as I am about the question of whether or not the Detroit Tigers should be buyers or sellers as the trade deadline approaches. It’s not his first time on the rumor mill.
The Dodgers are a team that has been urgently seeking some new pitchers of late and clearly felt that Wednesday was for them as they went out and acquired RHP Mat Latos from the Miami Marlins alongside 1B Michael Morse. According to Bob Nightengale at USA Today, there could be an “all-out bidding war” over Price if the Tigers decide to trade the pitcher and teams like the Los Angeles Dodgers, Yankees and Blue Jays could be interested. It’s hard to imagine Farmer being much worse, but he has struggled in spot-duty with the Tigers this year, posting a 9.22 ERA with 12 strikeouts and four walks in 13 2/3 innings over two starts and one relief appearance.
We will just have to wait and see who goes where when the bidding war gets the go-ahead to do so, determining where Price goes, and possibly who may end up with Hamels, the Philadelphia Phillies’ ace.
“For guys that have been in the big leagues for a few years, they understand there’s a little different atmosphere before the trade deadline, ” Tigers manager Brad Ausmus said. In the prime of his career, he could be in line for the kind of contracts signed by current teammate Justin Verlander (seven years, $180 million) and former teammate Max Scherzer (seven years, $210 million).
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Of course, this necessitates that the Tigers admit to being sellers and make Price available. They’re always trying to add pieces and looking to the postseason and beyond, ” he said. “If we can play the way we’re capable of playing, we’ll be playing baseball in October”. If you were to tell me that if you get traded, the mound is going to be 70 feet away, then that changes things. As reported multiple times after the completion of the deal, the club is still considering bringing along another reliable starter similar to Price as the rotation continues to be derailed by injuries. “That’s the way I look at it”.
