5 Detroit Tigers Among MLBTR Top Trade Candidates

Detroit Tigers trade deadline candidates:

4. Matthew Boyd

Matthew Boyd checks in at #4 in the MLBTR trade rankings. Boyd has cooled off a bit following his terrific start, but he can certainly help provide serviceable innings for one of the many teams dealing with injuries in their starting rotation.

Boyd has had success generating whiffs with his offspeed pitches and his changeup has been particularly effective at neutralizing right-handed batters. That being said, his evergreen home run problem has yet again begun to rear its ugly head this year.

MLBTR is extremely optimistic that Boyd will be dealt due to his impending free agency following the 2022 season. I am less sure, as the Tigers may still value Boyd leading their group of young arms into 2022 and it is hard to imagine them receiving an overwhelming offer.

18. Jose Ureña

The trade possibilities regarding Jose Ureña are dependent on his health after he was placed on the 15-Day Injured List with a forearm strain.

Despite being a surprisingly solid option for the Tigers this season prior to his injury, Ureña has outperformed his underlying metrics. His roughly 1.5 strikeout to walk ratio and concerning batted ball profile suggest that potential trade partners could proceed with caution.

Ureña does throw hard and has pitched deep into games this year, so it’s possible that a contender may consider him a cheap alternative to some of the pricier options on the board. The Tigers should jump at just about any meaningful offer and consider themselves lucky.

33. Spencer Turnbull

Spencer Turnbull is a far superior asset to Boyd but is less likely to be dealt. He will undoubtedly be the subject of plenty of disagreements among Tigers fans leading up to the trade deadline.

Despite missing his first few starts with COVID-19, Turnbull is in the midst of a career year. He has clearly benefited from the tutelage of new pitching coach Chris Fetter, who has helped Turnbull harness the natural cutting action on his fastball as a weapon to pair with his sinker and slider.

It seems like a longshot that the Tigers will deal Turnbull right when he is seemingly starting to put it all together, but teams will certainly be calling.