5 players the Tigers could trade this winter

This could be the end of an era in the Motor City.

After narrowly missing the playoffs, Detroit Tigers general manager Al Avila made a pronouncement that might come as a surprise to some fans who watched the team spend freely for several years.

"The goal is to shed payroll and get better," Avila told Jon Morosi of MLB.com. "Are there going to be good, viable trades out there? We will find out. If there are not, we will wait."

If Avila really is going to trim the budget, though, he might have to start by shedding players whose absence might send Detroit into a full-on rebuild. But there are plenty of big names wearing the Old English D who would fetch a lot of value in return. Should they go this route, here are five players the Tigers could look to trade this winter.

Justin Upton

Remaining contract: 5 years, $110.6M (can opt out after 2017; can block trades to 20 teams)
Potential fits: Dodgers, Giants, Cardinals, Phillies, Orioles, Blue Jays

Why the Tigers should trade him?
Avila gave Upton a big contract last winter, and the result was one of the worst full seasons of his career. Though he finished with 31 home runs, which tied his career high, Upton's .246/.310/.465 slash line was a career low; not even a late-season surge (.292/.382/.750, 13 homers in September) could boost his numbers. This might be a deal the Tigers have come to regret, and a payroll purge could easily start with a powerful three-time All-Star who's still just 29 years old despite his numbers in 2016. Someone is bound to take a gamble on Upton having a bounce-back campaign next year, even with the knowledge that another season like this past one means he won't exercise his opt-out.

Justin Verlander

Remaining contract: 3 years, $84M ($22M vesting option 2020; full no-trade protection)
Potential fits: Astros, Rangers, Red Sox, Yankees

Why the Tigers should trade him?
He's a Cy Young finalist, a former MVP, and one of the greatest pitchers in Tigers history whose excellent 2016 might have put him back on track for Cooperstown. In a market that's incredibly thin on starting pitching, the Tigers would have no trouble drumming up interest for their six-time All-Star; thanks to a fairly friendly number on his remaining contract when compared to other top starters in their 30s, they might even be able to start a bidding war, and they'd undoubtedly net a grand return. Trading Verlander might hurt the Tigers in other ways, however, given that he's both a franchise legend and one of the team's most popular and visible players.

Victor Martinez

Remaining contract: 2 years, $36M (owns 10-5 rights and can block trades)
Potential fits: Astros, Mariners, Rangers, Orioles, Red Sox, Blue Jays

Why the Tigers should trade him?
V-Mart has put together a remarkable career in Detroit, where he's quietly put up excellent numbers as a DH in Miguel Cabrera's shadow. Though he can play some first base, he's strictly a DH at this point, but a team-friendly contract - not to mention his 27 homers and .826 OPS this past year at age 37 - make him a viable trade alternative for teams who miss out on free agents like Edwin Encarnacion, Jose Bautista, Mike Napoli, or Carlos Beltran. Trading Martinez could make even more sense if the Tigers opt to keep Cabrera, as it would free up the DH spot and allow him to speed up a possible transition away from the infield while netting a solid return.

Jordan Zimmermann

Remaining contract: 4 years, $92M (full no-trade clause through 2018)
Potential fits: Rockies, Braves, Marlins, Twins, Orioles, Yankees

Why the Tigers should trade him?
Here's another big free-agent grab from last winter that didn't work out for the Tigers. Zimmermann struggled in 2016, battling a slew of injuries to finish with a career-worst 4.87 ERA over just 19 appearances. While injuries and a very big contract might scare some suitors, Zimmermann's still a two-time All-Star with a top-five Cy Young finish on his resume, and that might trump the negatives for some teams in need. This might be another classic change of scenery case, though among these possible targets he could bring back the least in return - especially if Avila asks teams to take on his full contract.

Miguel Cabrera

Remaining contract: 7 years, $212M ($30M vesting option 2024,2025; full no-trade clause)
Potential fits: Astros, Rangers, Red Sox, Blue Jays

Why the Tigers should trade him?
Now this one would hurt. Cabrera is one of the greatest pure hitters of this or any generation, and a lock for the Hall of Fame - where he'll likely wear a Tigers cap on his plaque. He's also showing no signs of slowing down despite turning 33 this year, as he paced the Tigers in multiple categories and ranked in the top five or top 10 in the AL across the board, so trading this franchise cornerstone and his contract that could become cumbersome even if he keeps this production up likely signals a full-scale Tigers rebuild. There's no team that wouldn't want Cabrera on their side - at least one team is already reported to be chasing him - so if the Tigers want to rebuild and someone can convince him to waive his no-trade clause, the potentially mammoth return for Cabrera could kick start that process.