Detroit Tigers: Division Rival Trade Targets

Detroit Tigers general manager Al Avila will soon navigate baseball’s annual trade deadline. If Detroit buys (which they should), the team could find some useful pieces on some division rivals’ rosters.

Detroit Tigers players have so far propelled the team to a 49-46 record. As of Thursday, that’s good enough for second place in the American League Central and 4.5 games out of the second American League wild card place.

In climbing to second place, the Tigers have leapfrogged fellow division rivals such as the Kansas City Royals and Chicago White Sox, while staying ahead of the Minnesota Twins.

While Kansas City seems likely to stay in contention considering their status as defending champions, the other two teams below Detroit may end up selling.

Minnesota is beyond out of the playoff race at this point, thanks to a 35-59 record and a 21-game deficit in the Central. The Twins are sellers at this point, and it looks like Chicago will be joining them. According to USA TODAY Sports’ Bob Nightengale, Chicago has a number of pieces “in play.” The reporter tweeted, “The #WhiteSox expected to keep rotation intact, but everyone else, except SS Tim Anderson, are in play at trade deadline.”

While that effectively rules out a Chris Sale trade—which probably wasn’t going to happen anyways—it does open up the possibility for the Tigers to poach some talent from their division rivals.

Here are four players from the White Sox and Twins who could improve the Detroit Tigers.

Justin Morneau, White Sox First Baseman and Designated Hitter

The Detroit Tigers don’t really have a need for Morneau to occupy a starting spot. Nine times out of 10, Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez’ names will be penciled in at first base and designated hitter respectively.

However, one player who could provide a solid alternative to the two is Justin Morneau. Entering Thursday, the former Twin has gotten into five games with the White Sox. In those five contests, he’s hit .231 with a .333 on-bae percentage and a .308 slugging percentage. Morneau has also added a pair of walks, a double, a run scored and an RBI.

While he hasn’t played much this season, the veteran is only a year removed from a two-season stint in Colorado that saw Morneau hit .316 with an .850 OPS in 184 games, posting numbers extremely to the ones he put up in his heyday with the Twins.

From Torii Hunter and Delmon Young to Joe Nathan, the Tigers have made a practice of employing former Twins, and Morneau could be the next. The veteran would provide Brad Ausmus with another alternative to Jarrod Saltalamacchia as a pinch hitter off the bench. In Morneau’s career, he’s hit .297 with a 1.017 OPS as a pinch hitter.

The 35-year-old is also on an expiring contract and is a .282 career hitter at Comerica Park with 51 RBI, 37 extra-base hits and 31 walks in 77 games. He’d be an ideal fit.

Fernando Abad, Twins Relief Pitcher

Another player on an expiring contract, Abad could be the extra relief pitcher that the Detroit Tigers have been seeking.

Detroit doesn’t necessarily need a late-inning arm like Aroldis Chapman or Andrew Miller thanks the presence of Justin Wilson as well as the emergence of Shane Greene in a relief role. Abad would likely be another option for the seventh inning or earlier.

Despite Minnesota’s poor record, the team’s bullpen has largely been solid. Despite pitchers like Tayler Rodgers and Brandon Kintzler having fine seasons, Abad may be the team’s best relief pitcher this season.

The former Oakland Athletic has settled in since joining from the A’s, pitching to a 2.73 ERA and 27 strikeouts in 29.2 innings pitched. Abad would provide an excellent option behind Wilson and Greene, while also easing the pressure on Bruce Rondon should the young reliever struggle at any point.

Adding Abad would also allow the Tigers to rely less on pitchers who have spent the season split between Detroit and Toledo like Warwick Saupold, Bobby Parnell, Blaine Hardy and Buck Farmer.

Considering the current Minnesota reliever is on an expiring contract, Detroit probably wouldn’t have to give up too much in a trade either.

Eduardo Escobar, Twins Utility Player

The Detroit Tigers need bench help, and utility player Eduardo Escobar could be the perfect addition.

Able to play third base, shortstop, second base and left field Escobar is controllable through 2018. However, he’s stuck behind Eduardo Nunez at shortstop. What’s more, Minnesota employs two other players in Miguel Sano and Danny Santana, who also can play multiple positions, lessening the need for Escobar on the Twins bench.

On the season, Escobar is batting .259 with 22 RBI, eight doubles, three home runs and two triples. From 2014 to 2015, the 27-year-old averaged 48 RBI, 33 doubles, nine home runs, three triples and two stolen bases in 130 games per season while hitting .268 with a .312 on-base percentage.

Basically, he’s everything the Tigers were looking for when they signed Mike Aviles.

Escobar would be an upgrade to Aviles offensively, while still bringing the same positional flexibility. What’s more, he’s controllable, so Detroit could be getting a semi-regular contributor for the next two-and-a-half seasons.

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Considering he’s a bench piece for the Twins, Escobar may be easier to acquire than everyday players like Lawrie or Nunez. Detroit could conceivably get a deal done without having to dip into the team’s better mid-level prospects like Jose Azocar, Gerson Moreno and Paul Voelker.