Detroit Tigers: 5 potential trades, remembered Yoenis Cespedes trade, Brad Ausmus scapegoat

Much has been discussed about who the Detroit Tigers should bring in as free agents this coming off-season, but it is always hard to envision the type of trades the team will make.

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It is especially tough to gauge now with Al Avila in charge instead of Dave Dombrowski. Will he continue the trend toward speed/defense type players, and if so, should some of the sluggers be dealt to meet that goal and/or improve the pitching staff?

There are a lot of unanswered questions for this team’s future, but Brad Faber takes a look at some interesting potential trades for YOUR 2016 Detroit Tigers.

Speaking of Dave Dombrowski, he talked with ESPN about the factors that went into the trading of Yoenis Cespedes. It seems like forever ago when Yo graced the left field of Comerica Park, doesn’t it? In the time since he has become one of the most mentioned players in the game as he is on the verge of helping his new team earn a playoff spot for the first time since 2006.

Finally, many of us here at Motor City Bengals and the readers we hear from will probably not agree with this, but some of the players in the Tigers’ clubhouse think that Brad Ausmus is getting a raw deal in his likely departure from Motown after this year.

I feel as if Ausmus is not entirely to blame for this season, however he never should have been given the keys to the castle of a team with championship aspirations. While Brad certainly seems like a stand up guy, his future is clearly elsewhere.

5 Players Detroit Tigers Should Try To Trade For Over Offseason – Brad Faber, Rant Sports

"Right now, the Tigers’ starting rotation ranks last in the AL in ERA (4.85) and 12th in WHIP (1.35). It goes without saying that they will be looking to add starting pitching this offseason. One name that began popping up in trade rumors over the summer was James Shields, who signed a four-year deal with the Padres back in February. Shields hasn’t necessarily been having his best year, going 12-6 with a 3.80 ERA and a 1.33 WHIP, but he would still give the Tigers a dependable veteran workhorse."

Yoenis Cespedes to Mets: Dombrowski recounts his side of story – Gordon Edes, ESPN

"“If we’re going to get the guy we want for [Yoenis] Cespedes,” Dombrowski told Ilitch, “this is going to come right down to the wire. Do I have your OK to make this deal? I know we can trade him for sure, but do you want me to trade him even if it isn’t a good deal?”Until the phone rang in Dombrowski’s suite at 3:45 p.m., 15 minutes before the deadline, the deal was far from certain. Ilitch’s reply to Dombrowski had been this: “If you can’t get the deal you want, we’ll keep him.”"

Ausmus a scapegoat for Tigers’ struggles, player says – Fox Sports

"The Tigers’ disappointing season, however, is not their manager’s doing, Castellanos says.“I guess a lot of people are frustrated because we are not where we want to be. Do I think it’s Brad’s fault? No, not really,” the 23-year-old third baseman said. “He’s done a good job managing and putting people in the best possible positions to succeed. It hasn’t exactly worked out, but you always need someone to blame, and most of the time it’s the manager.”"

Next: FSD to bring 3-4 analysts back for 2016 Tigers season