1 trade candidate from each MLB team the Detroit Tigers should target

Detroit Tigers trade ideas: American League East

Baltimore Orioles

Richie Martin

The Tigers are in the market for a big-name shortstop, but if they don’t land a superstar, they need to plug and place different players until one sticks.

Richie Martin is a former first-round draft pick of the A’s who found his way to Baltimore via the Rule 5 draft a few years back. Martin has yet to claim the shortstop position for the O’s, and another change of scenery could do him wonders.

Martin has another three years of arbitration control including 2022.

At the very least he’d add some much-needed competition until someone sticks in the role, whether it be somebody already on the roster or eventually a top shortstop prospect.

Boston Red Sox

Austin Davis

The southpaw has become a bit of a journeyman already in just a few big-league seasons, but left-handed relievers are always a hot commodity.

Davis won’t be the only lefty reliever on this list, but he’s cheaper than the rest. Including 2022, Davis has four years of club control and won’t be requiring a hefty financial commitment for quite some time.

His career 5.50 earned run average isn’t all that enticing, but his strikeout numbers are encouraging enough to let him have a crack at the 2022 Tigers bullpen which needs lefty help.

New York Yankees

Jordan Montgomery

The Tigers are in need of starting pitching depth, even after signing former Red Sox left-hander, Eduardo Rodriguez, to a five-year deal.

Montgomery is one of several Yankees who are in their later arbitration years, and the Bronx Bombers can’t afford to keep all of them and go after big free agents.

Montgomery is a veteran left-hander at this point and could provide Motown with a reliable left-handed starter every fifth day. Montgomery could fill that spot vacated by Matthew Boyd early in the season while Matthew recovers from injury, that is if Boyd is still a member of the team come 2022.

Montgomery started 30 games in 2021 and finished with a 3.83 ERA. He’s set to earn about $4.25 million in 2022, and is controlled through 2023.

Tampa Bay Rays

Pete Fairbanks

The right-handed reliever has found a home in Tampa Bay over the last couple of years, and with four years of club control remaining it will take quite a bit to pry him from Kevin Cash’s squad.

It might be worth it for the Tigers to give up a prospect or two for Fairbanks. Fairbanks has experience closing games and coming in at crucial moments throughout the game whenever needed.

Fairbanks struck out 56 batters in 42 and 2/3 innings this year. He’d add stability to the Tigers ‘pen which greatly needs it.

Toronto Blue Jays

Cavan Biggio

Biggio is one of several young stars along with Vladimir Guerrero Jr. and Bo Bichette who are sons of former big league all stars playing in Toronto.

While the son of Hall of Fame Astros infielder Craig Biggio is still young and very controllable (through 2025) a change of scenery may do him well.

Biggio would instantly compete for the starting second base job and most likely would have the edge. That is until Spencer Torkelson claims first base and Jonathan Schoop heads back over to second base.

Another year of facing big-league pitching may just be the ticket to Biggio succeeding full time in “The Show.”

I find it unlikely Toronto gives him up for cheap, but with Jordan Groshans and Orelvis Martinez coming up there may be an infield logjam they have to clear out. Another reason the Tigers would benefit from his presence is another reason the Blue Jays may want to hang onto him. Biggio’s versatile and can play all over the diamond.