Detroit Tigers Links: Drew Smyly should start, J.D. Martinez may be a fluke, Tigers interested in Steve Cishek?

Mandatory Credit: Matthew Emmons-USA TODAY Sports

Drew Smyly belongs in Tigers’ rotation, not bullpen – Shawn Windsor, Detroit Free Press

"It’s easy to forget because of the grand slam and the elated Boston police officer and the tumbling Torii Hunter. But three batters before David Ortiz lifted that gut-bomb over the rightfield wall last year in Game 2 of the American League Championship Series, Drew Smyly issued a walk.To a lefty.He was asked to get one guy out and couldn’t. That didn’t undo a stellar year in relief duty for Smyly, of course. But to suggest he belongs in the bullpen overlooks his role in the Game 2 collapse.It also ignores his talent.Relief pitchers need one or two great pitches. Smyly has four good ones."

Smyly has the stuff to be a starter, and while he would strengthen the bullpen, some people oft forget that a good bullpen is nothing if you don’t have a starter that can hand the game to them with at least a shot of the team winning. Drew Smyly is young, and despite a few poor outings, has been fairly consistent in the rotation. The only time Smyly should be in the bull pen is for the playoffs.

Hard to say if J.D. Martinez’s season with Tigers is a fluke or the real deal – Kurt Mensching, Detroit News

"Like in a fairy tale, J.D. Martinez has escaped the lowly Astros to find a new life with the penthouse-inhabiting Tigers.With a new swing, a new coaching staff and a new team that knows how to succeed, Martinez, 26, has flourished in Detroit. It’s easy to second-guess the Astros, who seem to have given up too soon on a good player, and to praise the Tigers for being smart enough to snatch him up when they did.Martinez has earned his home in the middle of the Tigers’ batting order by hitting .330 with a .367 on-base percentage and .616 slugging average, which is to say, really well.So well, in fact, it’s hard to take him out of the lineup even for a day off, let alone to make room for anyone else to play.But when any player seemingly comes out of nowhere and finds a fair amount of success, you’re left wondering just how long he can keep it up and when he might turn back into a pumpkin."

So much has been made, with good reason, about J.D. Martinez and his success with the Tigers this season. And while we’d all love to know what is going to happen tomorrow, the nest day, next week, in October, the truth is, no one knows when J.D.’s magic bat will stop. So we might as well sit back and enjoy it while it’s here. Because it’s been pretty fun to watch so far.

MLB trade rumors: Could Tigers trade for the Marlins’ Steve Cishek? – Patrick O’Kennedy, Bless You Boys

"As the Major League Baseball trade deadline approaches, the Tigers are looking around for some bullpen help and maybe a corner outfielder. They might want to look to a familiar trade partner: the Miami Marlins. CBS writer, Jon Heyman, suggests that the name of Miami closer Steve Cishek might signal that the Marlins are ready to sell."

The Tigers need help in the bullpen, this isn’t news to anyone. Any possible name that could come up will come up, especially for the perpetually SELL NOW Marlins.