Detroit Tigers: 4 Matt Manning trade proposals

Proposal 2: Manning to the Reds

The Reds are another team with an emerging young core. The hitters are pretty much all there, but the rotation still needs a lot of work. They've added Nick Martinez, but that's not going to cut it. They need more if they want to compete in 2024.

The Reds also have a very deep farm system. They could also acquire virtually anyone with the prospect riches they have.

We take a bit of a different approach with this one. Instead of getting someone who could help the team right now, the Tigers get their heir apparent to Javier Baez at shortstop in Edwin Arroyo. Arroyo was acquired by Cincy in 2022 as part of the Luis Castillo trade.

At 20 years old and having just reached Double-A, he's still a ways away. However, he could be ready by the time the Tigers either move Baez to second base, or choose to move from him entirely. Credit Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press for this idea on the "Days of Roar" podcast.

We chose to add Tejay Antone as well to give the Tigers another reliever for the bullpen. Antone had Tommy John surgery and missed the entire 2022 season, and missed most of last season with a forearm injury. So there's some serious injury history here.

However, when he's been on the mound, he's been quite good. He has a career 2.41 ERA and 11.33 K/9. If he's able to stay healthy, this could be a serious weapon in the Tigers bullpen.