2 trade rumors Tigers fans hope come true, 2 they hope don't

It's crunch time.

Emma Lingan

Houston Astros v Arizona Diamondbacks / Chris Coduto/GettyImages

For the first time in nearly a decade, the Detroit Tigers will be buyers at this year's MLB trade deadline thanks to their performance dating back to last August.

President of baseball operations Scott Harris has preached pragmatism and faith in Detroit's current roster when it comes to his deadline approach, but the Tigers can't afford to be too risk-averse as they look to pursue their first American League pennant since 2012.

When it comes to reinforcements, Detroit definitely needs some more bullpen depth. They could also use another bat or two, and they have been linked to various starting pitchers as well. What's everybody hoping for? And what's everybody hoping the team avoids?

2 trade rumors Tigers fans hope come true

Eugenio Suárez returns to Detroit

A reunion with Eugenio Suárez would be the ultimate dream for Tigers fans. He's playing for an Arizona Diamondbacks team that has gone into full sell mode, and he's expressed interest in returning to Detroit in the past. Admittedly, though, Harris is probably going to take a more conservative approach at the trade deadline – one that will likely leave the Tigers watching from the sidelines as other contending teams engage in an aggressive bidding war for the slugging third baseman.

Tigers acquire David Bednar from Pirates

The Tigers don't want to part with any of their top offensive prospects, but they're probably going to have to if they want to land a shutdown closer like David Bednar. It could be worth it, though, as the Pittsburgh Pirates right-hander is a two-time All-Star and still has another year of team control remaining before he hits free agency in 2027. Relievers with Bednar's pedigree don't come available midseason that often, so the Tigers would be wise to dangle one of the big bats in their farm system to strike a deal with the offense-hungry Pirates.

2 trade rumors Tigers fans hope don't come true

Tigers acquire Mike Soroka from Nationals

In addition to relief help, the Tigers could probably use another starter. The Athletic named Washington Nationals right-hander Mike Soroka as a potential fit, but Detroit should probably aim higher than a guy who looks like a more injury-prone version of Jack Flaherty. Soroka has been a nice story, but he's far from a solidified commodity that will help a genuine contender.

Tigers acquire Jhoan Duran from Twins

Minnesota Twins reliever Jhoan Duran actually would make sense as a fit for the Tigers. The problem, however, would be Detroit's expected return in a potential trade. Harris probably isn't (or, at least, he shouldn't be) wild about the idea of sending prospects to an American League Central division rival. Detroit's bullpen is good. It needs some reinforcement, but not one of Duran's caliber that would cost them an arm and a leg.

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Emma Lingan

Emma Lingan is an MLB Staff Writer for FanSided primarily covering the Pittsburgh Pirates. She has been covering baseball for more than a decade dating back to her time as a student at Wake Forest University, and she has won two gold medals as a member of the U.S. National Team delegation (2016 Pan-American Championships & 2017 World Baseball Classic). A native of Washington, D.C. and current resident of Nashville, Tenn., she is also entering her seventh season as a credentialed NHL media member and currently covers the NHL’s Nashville Predators for The Hockey News. When she's not watching hockey, baseball or football, she enjoys podcasting, reading, going to the gym, consuming large amounts of coffee and taking long walks with her dog, Minkah. You can follow her @Emma_lingan on Twitter and Instagram.