Tigers fans are about to flip out if division rival injured possible trade target

It's no secret that the Detroit Tigers are in the market for a third baseman ahead of the MLB trade deadline, and a reunion with Eugenio Suarez remains one of the more realistic options for the team. Injuries have forced the Arizona Diamondbacks to consider selling at the deadline, and if they do, Suarez will be one of the best rental bats available.

Considering the need he would address on the Tigers roster, he must be protected at all costs before Detroit can make the move.

In other words, if you're a pitcher for the Chicago White Sox, please don't hit Suarez. The Diamondbacks opened a three-game set on Monday against the White Sox, and in Suarez's first plate appearance of the game, he was hit in the hand by White Sox starting pitcher Shane Smith.

Tigers Rumors: Eugenio Suarez remains trade deadline candidate for Detroit

The bad news is that Suarez was immediately removed from the game, and he didn't have a chance to pad his stats against the White Sox on Monday night. The good news, however, is that X-rays on Suarez's hand were negative, and it seems that the veteran third baseman dodged a serious injury. While Suarez was not in the lineup for the Diamondbacks on Tuesday night, it seems that he will avoid a trip to the IL. With that in mind, Suarez remains one of the top bats available ahead of the deadline.

It would be just the Tigers' luck that the White Sox were the reason why they weren't able to land Suarez — something that would take "spoiler" to a whole new level. The Tigers have essentially locked up the American League Central race already, assuming they can maintain a semblance of this pace the rest of the way. Meanwhile, the White Sox are one of the clear sellers ahead of the deadline and are as hopeless as it gets.

Nonetheless, it would seem more likely that the Tigers would prefer a rental option like the veteran Suarez instead of adding Nolan Arenado or Ryan McMahon. Both Arenado and McMahon are under contract beyond this season, and that doesn't appear to be aligned with the direction the Tigers want to take at the deadline. Suarez likely remains the top target, assuming he's healthy and his hand issue doesn't worsen over the next couple days.

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