Detroit Tigers Rumors: Starting pitcher in works after Shane Greene demotion?

The Detroit Tigers did kinda what we expected them to do by sending struggling starting pitcher Shane Greene to AAA. One national media member has heard rumblings that the Tigers are not looking internal for a replacement.

We say “kinda what we expected” because it sometimes takes the Tigers some time to do the right thing in order to not rile up the status quo. For instance, with Greene struggling so mightily, Brad Ausmus could have chosen to skip him through the rotation given the return of Justin Verlander and the two off days this week sandwiched around the Chicago Cubs’ series. Instead he sent Greene out there to get shelled for a third straight game.

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Since starting off with a 0.39 ERA after three starts, Greene’s season has gone off the rails. He is now sporting a 4.59 ERA and 1.397 WHIP.

Since the Tigers have been filling Verlander’s role with Kyle Lobstein and, after his injury, Kyle Ryan, you would expect them to fill that role with one of those young pitchers. Perhaps Drew VerHagen or Buck Farmer could fill that role as well.

Instead, at least according to Morosi, the Tigers are looking to make an early splash to stabilize the rotation.

It is no secret that Detroit’s rotation has been disappointing this season. While David Price has lived up to expectations for the most part and Alfredo Simon has overachieved, the rest of the rotation has been lacking.

The usual suspects in any trade rumor with any team these days is Cole Hamels, Johnny Cueto and Scott Kazmir.

Hamels would cost $23.5 million per year through 2018 with a $20 million option in 2019. Cueto and Kazmir would join Price and Simon as rotation members eligible for free agency at the end of this year.

Very high-priced/very risky options should the Tigers trade another piece of their barren farm system.

So Tigers’ fans, would you feel comfortable trading Steven Moya or another top prospect for a short-term and/or expensive option to shore up the rotation?

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