Tigers Rumors: Red Sox inquired about Detroit star who thankfully wasn't traded

The Red Sox were on the prowl for a new catcher at the trade deadline and ended up getting two — an injured Adley Rutschman and former Tigers backup Jake Rogers from the Orioles.

Rogers became a productive hitter almost as soon as he slotted into Boston's lineup before being DFA'ed to make roster space for Rutschman, who was quick to come off the IL, so things panned out quickly for them despite the massive haul they sent back to Baltimore. Rogers was DFA'ed on Tuesday, but he filled the role they needed him to.

But, as reported by Alex Speier of the Boston Globe, the Red Sox also checked in on another Tigers' catcher. While casting a wide net in search of their next backstop, they inquired with Scott Harris about Dillon Dingler.

Helpfully, Speier immediately calmed Tigers' fans nerves by adding that Dingler was "viewed as off-limits." We hope that Harris laughed at Craig Breslow for a long time before finally hanging up the phone.

Boston gave up four prospects (along with a player to be named later or cash) for 1.5 years of Rutschman and half a year of Rogers. Even if Dingler had been on the table, they would've had to empty their farm for him and his 4.5 years of team control.

Red Sox reportedly checked in with Tigers on Dillon Dingler during their trade deadline search for a catcher

Sure, catchers are always in demand and any team looking for one is just doing their due diligence by making every possible phone call — but Breslow is a funny man if he thought he had even the slightest shot at Dingler.

The Tigers have an All-Star in his prime — maybe even an MVP candidate — and they're not even required to pay him more than league minimum until 2028. Giving up Dingler would've been Harris spitting in the face of everything he's preached as long as he's been at the helm of the Tigers organization. They cultivate homegrown talent and protect it fiercely. Dingler has become invaluable to this team on both sides of the ball.

If he keeps playing at an MVP-caliber level, there's no way he's going anywhere before he becomes a free agent in 2031, at age-32.

Maybe Breslow assumed that by selling Tarik Skubal earlier than they strictly had to, the Tigers were opening up for a fire sale. He assumed wrong. Dingler stayed exactly where he belongs, and thank the baseball gods for that.

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