Detroit Tigers have abundance of trade bait at deadline

May 30, 2014; Toledo, OH, USA; Detroit Tigers general manager Dave Dombrowski in the stands against the Charlotte Knights at Fifth Third Field. Mandatory Credit: Andrew Weber-USA TODAY Sports

The Detroit Tigers are struggling. There’s no other way to put it. Nor is there a way to look the other way and ignore it.

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Just a few short months ago the team looked like they were on their way to a glorious season filled with incredible feats and endless victories.

Now the calendar says July and things aren’t going so well. The Kansas City Royals and Minnesota Twins continue to best Detroit in the AL Central standings and the suffering just doesn’t seem to ever end.

That means it time Dave Dombrowski and Mike Illitch set up a couple of lawn chairs and have a garage sale. The Tigers have quality merchandise aplenty heading into the deadline and some of the team’s premiere talent could be used as intriguing trade bait.

Let’s take a look at the most interesting/trade-able players Detroit has…

David Price

Apr 27, 2015; Minneapolis, MN, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher David Price (14) delivers a pitch in the first inning against the Minnesota Twins at Target Field. Mandatory Credit: Jesse Johnson-USA TODAY Sports

Let this be clear: David Price is one of the most talented pitchers in all of baseball. And that is the exact reason why Detroit has to squeeze every last ounce of talent out of potential suitors in exchange for him.

Price, 29, is in the midst of another great season. Being a free agent come season’s end, he is lining himself up for a huge payday. But the Tigers are not going to be the team that signs the check. The only reason a team would sign a pitcher such as Price is if a championship is within reach. Detroit missed their window for a World Series title and signing Price would invest so much money in one player it would be idiotic.

General Managers would be lining up outside Comerica Park just for a chance to land the former Cy Young Award winner. Trade the man and get a nice return for him rather let him walk and receive nothing.

Alfredo Simon

Jun 14, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Alfredo Simon (31) pitches in the first inning against the Cleveland Indians at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Simon’s situation is quite similar to that of Price as he is also a free agent at the end of the season. In this case though, it’s not so much a decision based on dollars and cents, rather a decision based on the future of the team. Going forward should Simon be a part of the rotation?

At 34 years old he’s a ways away from being a spark plug, yet he does his job and consumes a good amount of innings. Teams looking to make a deep playoff run might be looking at guys such as Simon as he’s a sturdy arm and won’t cost an entire farm system to acquire.