Detroit Tigers Rumors: Avila Isn’t Going to Give Away Players

Detroit Tigers Al Avila may have suggested that the team will be sellers in the off-season; but as sellers, he’s not giving anyone away.

The Detroit Tigers are a team with big names and bigger numbers. And Al Avila knows it.

This is why he is going for the jugular in trade talks. And it sure is refreshing to see.

According to Anthony Fenech with the Detroit Free Press, it appears that the Cameron Maybin trade might have been a fluke. When the New York Mets came calling for J.D. Martinez, Avila countered with Michael Conforto. The Mets said no. Instead, they re-signed Yoenis Cespedes.

Tigers are Asking for Big Returns

It appears that the Mets isn’t the only team that thinks the Tigers are looking to get something for their players. In fact, according to Fenech, one American League scout said the Tigers, “want too much. Way too much.”

For Tigers fans, this is a good thing.

It appears that Avila is actually holding the cards. And, the team might not be in as bad a position as was once thought. With the new CBA agreement unfolding, the Tigers could easily be under the luxury tax threshold. Once the 2017 season is over, the Tigers lose some albatross contracts like Anibal Sanchez, Mike Pelfrey, and Mark Lowe. Moving players like this would give the Tigers room to give a quality contract to J.D. Martinez to keep him in the Old English D.

The 2016 Team Could be a Good 2017 Team

It is nice to know that the Tigers are not going to give away the top players. Remember in 2016, the Tigers were not a bad team – just an inconsistent team. There were clear strengths – like the pitching from Verlander and Michael Fulmer, the hitting from Nick Castellanos, J.D. Martinez, and Justin Upton (in the back half of the season). Even the bullpen had some positives last year.

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And, remember, the Tigers had to suffer through injuries to J.D. Martinez, Nick Castellanos, James McCann, and Cameron Maybin. There were very few games where the Tigers had the “original” 25-man roster on the field at the same time. It is safe to say that the injuries prevented the 2016 Tigers from reaching their fullest potential.

With Avila in the driver’s seat and the winter meetings approaching, there could be some serious excitement on the horizon. If other teams want the Tigers’ assets, they will have to pay. The 2016 team was a good team; but with the power Avila holds, the 2017 team could be even better.

Next: Why the Hot Stove Season is So Cold Right Now

Maybe those “in the know” actually got the whole thing wrong. Could it be that the press exaggerated the situation with the Tigers? It’s a good possibility, especially after hearing that Avila is not just giving it all away. Here’s hoping that the Tigers are still contenders in 2017.