Tigers trade deadline reunion almost killed before it began by AL Central rival

Despite the Detroit Tigers' six All-Stars putting together a pretty terrible performance in Atlanta on Tuesday night, the game still managed to be a fun watch. The American League came back from a 6-0 deficit only to lose in a first-of-its-kind mini Home Run Derby thanks to a standout performance from Kyle Schwarber, who became the MVP for his efforts.

The game is always a good, usually unserious time, but a White Sox pitcher threatened to turn a moment in an exhibition into something that could have major implications for the trade deadline.

White Sox starter Shane Smith, the team's only representative, entered in the bottom of the eighth. Facing Diamondbacks rep and Tigers' fan-favorite trade deadline candidate Eugenio Suárez, his first batter, Smith could hardly find the zone. He got to a 2-1 count and then sent a fastball straight to Suárez's hands. It got him on his pinky, and Suárez went down quickly.

He stayed in the game, but he was notably scratched from the tie-breaking Home Run Derby and replaced by the Marlins' Kyle Stowers. It could've been precautionary, but if Smith killed a Tigers-Dbacks trade for Suárez in the cradle, it would give Tigers fans even more reason to hate the White Sox.

Tigers fans fuming after White Sox pitcher Shane Smith hit ideal trade deadline candidate Eugenio Suárez with a pitch during All-Star Game

The Tigers haven't been linked to Suárez in any real way that would get fans excited about a potential trade, but everyone is pulling to see a reunion. He would be the perfect stopgap third base option — the veteran with enormous power that the Tigers have been looking for. He's a free agent at the end of this season, but that makes him affordable, and he would at least allow Jace Jung more time to clean up his act in Triple-A.

Of course, other teams are going to want Suárez for similar reasons. The Yankees have notably been connected to Suárez for some time, and their need for a third baseman just increased after they DFA'ed longtime Bomber DJ LeMahieu.

Tigers fans would certainly prefer to see Suárez come back to Detroit than Alex Bregman eventually ending up here. It's a positive sign that he stayed in the game, even after replays made fans cringe and trainers attended to him for a few minutes, but Tigers fans might've been at Smith's door with pitchforks if it'd gone a different way.

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