7 AL Central stars who could be traded by deadline to the Tigers' advantage

With the trade deadline approaching, the Detroit Tigers find themselves in an advantageous position. With a nearly insurmountable lead in the AL Central, they are forcing their division rivals to take a long, hard look at their own positions and the viability of making a run.

So while Detroit is focused on buying, be it a high-end impact addition like Eugenio Suarez or a more budget-friendly (in terms of prospects) addition that won't get fans' motors running, the rest of the division may have some tough decisions to make ahead.

We all know that the White Sox are in fire sale mode, but the Guardians, Twins, and Royals are all treading water at best. Three other clubs sit between the AL Central triumvirate and the final Wild Card spot, meaning the next week will be crucial for how these clubs attack their trade deadlines.

Another thing to consider is how the division landscape looks beyond just 2025. Detroit boasts the league's best farm system, meaning that the Tigers not only can buy whatever they desire before the deadline, but also have a robust talent pipeline ready to assert divisional dominance for the foreseeable future.

Those circumstances may not force total rebuilds, but they seemingly have the rest of the wanna-be contenders in the division looking at selling off short-term assets in favor of improving their long-term outlook. Some of their stars will hit the trade block as a result, giving the Tigers the opportunity to pounce on a former foe to upgrade their roster while also signaling a clearing of the path of sorts within the division. Simply put, this is all good news for Detroit.

Tigers watch with glee as these rival AL Central stars may hit the trade block

Cleveland Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase

Since arriving in Cleveland, Guardians closer Emmanuel Clase has long tormented the Tigers and many others with his dominant stuff and ability to shut the door. The two-time Mariano Rivera AL Reliever of the Year award winner established himself as probably the best closer in baseball last season, posting a razor-thin 0.61 ERA over 74 1/3 innings, racking up 47 saves in the process.

This season, the 27-year-old has been more human, and his struggles at times have seen his ERA rise substantially from last year's ridiculous mark. Still, a 2.80 ERA is nothing to sneeze at. With a contract that runs through 2026, and then includes reasonable $10 million club options for 2027 and 2028, Clase is extremely affordable compared to the value he provides.

Recently, it has come to light that the Guardians are listening to offers for Clase, knowing full well that his production and affordability should net an absolute haul. The Tigers have a huge need in their 'pen that Clase would fill beautifully, but if they can't deal with their division rival, they can take solace that he's likely to be shipped elsewhere, limiting his chances to terrorize them in the future.

Cleveland Guardians reliever Cade Smith

Much of what can be said about Clase also applies to Smith, a dominant setup man with the potential to close out games in the ninth if given the opportunity. The same rumors that are attached to Clase also apply to Smith, as Cleveland looks to turn valuable but limited pieces into long-term contributors that can provide greater impacts than that of a late-inning reliever.

Smith is still in arbitration and doesn't hit free agency until 2030, meaning the Guardians can set a high asking price. That should unnerve the Tigers when the club thinks about the future, but their matchups with Cleveland over the next couple years will be much more pleasant without having to worry about the two-headed monster that lurks late in games.

Cleveland Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan

One of the better contact hitters in the game, Guardians outfielder Steven Kwan has been the subject of a rollercoaster-like ride on the rumor machine. At times, it looked like Cleveland wanted to hold on to the sweet-swinging lefty, and at others, it looked like he's a goner.

Kwan, a two-time All-Star and three-time Gold Glover, might not be a fit for the Tigers themselves, but it's looking more and more likely that his past performance will make him more and more expensive as he continues through the arbitration process, making him likely a goner at the deadline.

Should that happen, the Tigers will rejoice as they'll no longer have to deal with the pesky Kwan at the top of the Guardians lineup.

Minnesota Twins closer Jhoan Duran

After some Tommy Kahnle meltdowns to marinate in Tigers fans' brains heading into the All-Star break, the idea of getting a lockdown closer should make the Detroit faithful salivate. They might get that opportunity courtesy of the division rival Minnesota Twins.

Jhoan Duran might have supplanted the aforementioned Clase as the best in class closer in baseball with his performance this season. With a triple-digit velocity fastball and bowling ball sinker that has generated a whopping 69.4% groundball rate, Duran has been nearly untouchable with a 1.94 ERA on the season.

Plenty of teams are expected to jump into the fray for the righty, and with two years of team control remaining he'll fetch a hefty sum. That may ultimately make him too rich for Detroit's blood, but one way or another, they'll be happy to see him call somewhere else home.

Minnesota Twins setup man Griffin Jax

With a 37.9% strikeout rate, Griffin Jax has been one of the best high-octane bullpen strikeout artists in the league this season, a quality the Tigers' bullpen is sorely lacking. Despite playing for a division rival, that should put him at the top of the Tigers' deadline wishlist.

Jax might not have the closer tag associated with him, which will depress his price, but like his teammate Duran, he comes with two additional years of team control, making him a valuable asset and offsetting some of the "non-closer" discount.

Regardless of whether or not he ends up on the Tigers or finds a home elsewhere, Detroit will be happy once they don't have to see his wipeout stuff anymore in the late innings.

Minnesota Twins outfielder Harrison Bader

Harrison Bader was somewhat overlooked as a free-agent signing this past offseason, agreeing to a one-year, $6.25 million contract which also includes $2 million in incentives and a mutual option for 2026.

Known for his speed and defense, Bader's power has at times gone silent throughout his career, though in 2025 that has not been the case. With 12 dingers and a .248/.328/.433 line, he has been solid offensively while playing mostly left field due to the presence of Byron Buxton.

Still, Bader came up as a center fielder, and in the 27 games of action he's gotten out there, has shown he still has the goods defensively with three defensive runs saved at the position so far this year. While not a true superstar, Bader is a useful complementary piece who could be a Tigers' target to shore up center field.

Kansas City Royals starting pitcher Seth Lugo

Unlike some of the other players on this list, it's not a foregone conclusion that the Royals will trade Seth Lugo, although it looks more and more likely with each passing day.

The 35-year-old is likely to decline his player option and become a free agent after a second-place finish in the AL Cy Young award race last season and another strong showing in 2025, which currently has him with a 2.94 ERA.

That kind of performance sets him up nicely for a big payday, one which Kansas City likely can't afford, making it likely they'll move him at the deadline rather than risk losing him for nothing in the offseason. Lugo would look nice alongside Tarik Skubal atop Detroit's rotation, but more importantly, having him move on to greener pastures outside of the division (and not in KC beyond this year) helps the Tigers.