Mets are teasing Tigers after Spencer Torkelson trade rumors surface

The Tigers have made a decision. Gleyber Torres is now their everyday second baseman. Colt Keith is their everyday first baseman. That leaves Spencer Torkelson as the odd man out.

Torkelson is two years removed from hitting 31 home runs and being a staple in the middle of the Tigers order, but calling last season a disappointment would be an understatement. Torkelson was sent to Triple-A Toledo to rework his swing. That turned into an extended stay in the minors where rumors of stubbornness flew around the city.

Because of the questions around Torkelson's status with the team, the Tigers were expected to see what the market was like for him as soon as Torres arrived (if not even earlier). There were rumors that the Pirates had interest, but nothing ever materialized. There was also speculation that the Tigers may have been interested in Pete Alonso or Christian Walker to fill the spot with a higher-profile candidate.

Another team that lost their superstar first baseman entering the offseason was the New York Mets. Pete Alonso has been in free agency all winter, and that rumor mill has been crazy. One day he is a Met. The next, he is a Blue Jay, before becoming a Met again. It has been an odd ride for the slugger, and New York's posturing has led to a few alternate theories, one of them involving Detroit.

Recently, the Mets have been said to be in conversations with the Tigers about a Spencer Torkelson trade.

Do the Detroit Tigers have an opportunity to capitalize on the Mets' misfortune?

The question being posed is whether the Mets are truly interested in Spencer Torkelson. Is this genuine interest, or just a way to gain leverage in what has been an "exhausting" negotiation process with Alonso? Either way, the ball may be in the Tigers' court, and they may have an opportunity to pounce.

If there is interest in Torkelson, now is the time to act. Teams are trying to round out their rosters in the final weeks of the offseason. For most teams, pitchers and catchers report in a week, and last-minute moves can be risky. Jordan Montgomery proved that with the Arizona Diamondbacks last offseason.

Not only is urgency on their side, but the Mets are a good suitor to have involved in any conversations. They have been willing to upgrade and spend money all offseason long. They also have a good farm system with prospects that could bolster an already impressive Tigers farm system.

All of this being said, here is to hoping that this is genuine interest and not just a show that the Mets front office is putting on to lure Pete Alonso back to Queens. This wouldn't be the first time a team shows "interest" in a player to show they don't need a different player. It is a mental tactic. It should be interesting to see where Tork ends up on Opening Day.