Detroit Tigers: Three Trades That Can Help Club Make 2017 World Series

Detroit Tigers general manager Al Avila wants to make the team younger and more financially sustainable. While the strategy includes shedding salary, it’s possible for Detroit to make the World Series.

Detroit Tigers fans will see a different team next season. With the days of bloated contracts coming to an end in the Motor City, general manager Al Avila could be busy this offseason.

However, the Tigers still have a chance to reach that coveted World Series next season. This obviously depends on the likes of Justin Verlander, Miguel Cabrera and Ian Kinsler sticking around, but if that happens, anything is possible.

Even if Detroit hangs on to the aforementioned trio, some players will be heading out the door.

J.D. Martinez, Cameron Maybin and Francisco Rodriguez seem the most obvious candidates to be moved, while transactions involving Anibal Sanchez, Mike Pelfrey and Mark Lowe aren’t entirely out of the question either.

Should the Tigers shed some payroll, the team will still return an excellent core from which to build around. Michael Fulmer, Daniel Norris, Bruce Rondon, Nick Castellanos, James McCann and Jose Iglesias seem likely to stay given their youth and years remaining under team control.

What’s more, key veterans like Verlander, Cabrera and Justin Upton will be difficult to trade given their contracts.

If the Chicago Cubs winning the World Series taught the world anything, it’s that young talent can be crucial to a team winning it all.

Here are three trades the Detroit Tigers can make to get younger, cheaper and potentially reach the World Series next season.