Detroit Tigers: Laying out an ideal trade season

Deal away non-essential veterans

These include Jose Iglesias and Francisco Rodriguez. The Detroit Tigers need to save money and both Iglesias and Rodriguez are replaceable.

At shortstop, Detroit can turn to Dixon Machado, who is every bit as dependable of a fielder as Iglesias is.

Elsewhere, the Tigers bullpen is thriving without Francisco Rodriguez.

With Justin Wilson closing and Shane Greene and Alex Wilson serving as setup options, Detroit doesn’t need Rodriguez to pitch late in games.

Dealing him to save money certainly makes sense as the likes of Blaine Hardy, Bruce Rondon, Joe Jimenez, Chad Bell, Arcenio Leon and Daniel Stumpf provide manager Brad Ausmus with more options.

The Tigers will also need to eventually make room for promising relief prospects Victor Alcantara and Jairo Labourt.

Both pitchers, who can light up the radar gun, should be in the Majors by 2018 if they continue producing in the minors.

Alcantara has pitched to a 2.08 ERA in Triple-A Toledo, with five strikeouts in 4.1 innings.

He recently made the jump to Toledo after posting a sparkling 1.96 ERA and 19 strikeouts in 23 frames for Double-A Erie.

Labourt recently was promoted himself, going from Advanced-A Lakeland to Double-A Erie.

The left-hander pitched to a 0.66 ERA with the Flying Tigers. He’s struck out 16 compared to just two walks in 11 innings for Erie so far. His ERA currently sits at 3.27 in Double-A.