Detroit Tigers: Trade deadline passes and other news

Here at The Corner, we round up Detroit Tigers news and rumors around the Tigers blogosphere so that you don’t spend hours surfing the web searching.

The Detroit Tigers made just one move during this seasons trade deadline fiesta. They sent outfielder Leonys Martin and prospect Kyle Dowdy to the Indians for shortstop prospect Willi Castro.

Martin being traded to Cleveland wasn’t a surprise for our own Andy Patton. Patton wrote last night that Martin to Cleveland made sense for both sides. Castro is already the number ten prospect in the Tigers farm system according to Bless You Boys.

In the final thirty minutes of the deadline, various Twitter rumblings had Mike Fiers headed to Oakland, but that deal never happened.  Reportedly, the Fiers to Oakland deal was hung up on $2 million. That seems like a huge gaffe by Al Avila if its in any way true.

Earlier today, the Detroit Free Press reported that the Tigers probably wouldn’t be sellers today. That seemed more and more likely as the day went on.

In non-trade deadline news, Kurt Mensching, of the Athletic, writes (a subscription is required) that Victor Martinez is enjoying a second-half comeback. Martinez is retiring at the end of the season and his first-half of the season was abysmal.

At one point this season, V-Mart was the second worst batter in the American League. At that point his WAR was -1.5. His comeback has moved his WAR up to -1.2. Which still leaves him as the second worst batter in the American League ahead of Orioles slugger Chris Davis. Now for the Tigers comes the non-waiver trade deadline and the offseason. Last season the team dealt Verlander, Upton and Kinsler during those periods.

Michael Fulmer‘s value is likely to be higher when the off-season and next season comes around so it’s entirely possible he is traded away. The biggest story I think is Fiers not going to Oakland and what to make of that story.