Tigers may have unique leverage with Dodgers involving veteran slugger

When most people speculate about a potential trade between the Detroit Tigers and Los Angeles Dodgers ahead of the trade deadline, they are usually thinking about a trade involving left-handed ace Tarik Skubal.

While the Dodgers definitely could make a play for Skubal, they also have an acute need at second base which could lead them to make some calls to Detroit’s president of baseball operations Scott Harris.

Gleyber Torres may currently be on the IL due to an oblique strain, but if he is back and healthy ahead of the Aug. 3 trade deadline, he could be a nice trade chip for a team looking for an upgrade at second base.

Before Torres went on the shelf, he was hitting .280/.395/.395 with four home runs and 18 runs batted in. He has a proven track record of being a consistent on-base presence, and the Dodgers, even though they have a literal superstar roster, do have a weak spot at second base.

It’s not that the Dodgers don’t have options. Tommy Edman, Hyeseong Kim, and Miguel Rojas are all viable, but none of them have really performed well enough to grab the role and run with it, or they’ve just been banged up and unavailable.

Tigers would be wise to get something for Gleyber Torres while they can

For a team like the Dodgers though, they are trying to go all-in and win a third straight World Series. If they think they are a Gleyber Torres away from doing that, the Tigers could be in a good position to take advantage and land a prospect or two. Torres is a free agent after this season, so the Tigers may as well get something for him while they can.

Even if the Tigers got rid of Torres, they have internal options at second base. Hao-Yu Lee has been on a tear as of late and the Tigers could just decide to roll with him at second base for the rest of the season.

Maybe the Tigers could even get the Dodgers to part ways with Kim, who is in the minors, as part of a deal so they get an interesting young potential replacement. Or maybe if the Tigers are feeling really frisky and decide they’re going to sell, they could trade Skubal and Torres to the Dodgers together.

Torres is a good trade chip for Detroit whether they decide to buy, sell, or even largely stand pat, so they should definitely see if Los Angeles has interest in the next month. 

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