The Detroit Tigers are sellers yet again.
The 2022 Detroit Tigers season has been a bust in just about every way imaginable. The offense has gone AWOL, Spencer Torkelson struggled his way back to Triple-A Toledo, and the starting rotation is a MASH unit.
But, in a cruel twist of irony, the Detroit Tigers boast one of the best bullpens in baseball. Even after a few recent hiccups, Tigers relievers own the 5th best ERA (3.18), 4th best fWAR (4.2), and 3rd best FIP (3.30) in the majors this year.
That’s cold comfort to fans of a team that also has the third-lowest winning percentage in baseball this season, but it should at least make the next week interesting. This year’s trade deadline is August 2nd, and plenty of contenders will be looking to upgrade their bullpen.
So let’s take a look at which Detroit Tigers players are most likely to be moved by next Tuesday.
Detroit Tigers Trade Candidate 1: RHP Michael Fulmer
The 2016 American League Rookie of the Year once looked like the new foundation of Detroit’s rotation. But injuries and a bumpy transition to the bullpen have once again led to the Tigers holding onto a player well past his peak value. Fulmer turned into an elite reliever last year, but he’s taken a step back this year, particularly against lefties, who are hitting .300/.403/.480 against him. Still, Fulmer absolutely shuts down right-handed hitters (.378 OPS), and he has allowed just one home run all season. That should make him an attractive target for plenty of clubs.
Chance to be traded: 90%
Potential fits: Every contender, but specifically Toronto, St. Louis, Seattle, San Diego, and Philadelphia