Tigers' reported asking price for Spencer Torkelson explains why trade won't happen

If fans are able to hang onto anything during the Tigers' quiet, underwhelming offseason, it's the fact that multiple members of Detroit's young core look primed for a breakout.

Tarik Skubal already did it, but we're waited with bated breath to see how he'll follow his Cy Young season; Riley Greene was an All-Star last year but is getting early AL MVP buzz; Parker Meadows and Colt Keith both showed marked signs of improvement. The rest — Trey Sweeney, Jace Jung, Justyn-Henry Malloy, Wenceel Pérez, and so on — are also a credit to the Tigers farm system, and they're actually sort of justifying the front office's prospects-first approach.

In terms of position players, Spencer Torkelson is on the outside looking in. Torkelson, in contrast with fellow demotee Meadows, didn't improve much after he was sent down to the minors for a two-and-a-half month stint, and there were question marks around his future in Detroit as soon as the offseason rolled around. Evan Petzold of the Detroit Free Press made it sound like the Tigers were prepared to move on and deal him.

Torkelson still has some of that former first overall draft pick, top prospect shine on him, and his 30+ homer 2023 kind of looks like a flash in the pan, but it could also be interpreted as a sign that he just needs something a little extra to get him back to that place.

On top of some speculation that the Mets could use Torkelson as a replacement at first for Pete Alonso, MLB Trade Rumors put together a list of possible destinations that basically includes half the league. If there are takers out there, then what's stopping the Tigers?

Oh ... the reported ridiculous asking price!

MLB Trade Rumors lists multiple teams where Spencer Torkelson could land in a Tigers trade

MLBTR's "best fits" were the Giants, Mariners, Marlins, Padres, and Rockies, and "plausible long shots" were the Blue Jays, Brewers, Reds, and Twins. There are a few top-ranked farm systems included in that list — the Twins and Mariners especially. None of those teams are giving up two top-15 prospects for Tork. It's just not happening.

Seattle would probably be difficult for Torkelson, who struggled with power all season at Comerica and would almost certainly fare worse at T-Mobile, but the Mariners could give back a couple of their surplus pitching prospects in return. The Twins also have a few lefty pitchers a little further down in their pipeline to fill a need for Detroit's farm system. Maybe one top-15 prospect? That could be doable.

A lot of these teams have another thing in common: they've barely done anything with their offseasons. The Marlins, Padres, and Twins all have yet to make a notable deal or trade, and the others aren't doing much better. So why would they pull off an expensive trade involving a player who took a huge step back last season?

With the Tigers promising second base to Gleyber Torres, which will move Colt Keith to first, there just isn't room for Torkelson anymore. If the Tigers are going to trade him, it should probably be now instead of after a year of underwhelming performance off the bench, and they shouldn't worry about getting the best possible price.