Who are the Tigers' best trade-deadline matches?
All good things must come to an end.
The Detroit Tigers' recent 11-year run of success started with a shocking pennant in 2006 - three years after losing an AL-record 119 games - and has since given the state of Michigan another pennant, four more playoff appearances, and the chance to watch Hall of Famers and franchise legends bring excellence to the "Old English D."
But even manager Brad Ausmus appears to see the writing on the wall following his veteran squad's disheartening loss in Seattle on Wednesday, which dropped them seven games below .500 for the first time since 2015 while the rival Indians pull away in the AL Central.
"We're playing like crap, overall," Ausmus bluntly assessed Wednesday.
With a mediocre farm system and an aging, high-priced roster, it's time to finally start the rebuild in Detroit. Naturally, if names like Cabrera, Martinez, and Kinsler hit the market, no shortage of contenders will line up to bid, high salary or not. Let's try and find the most logical landing spots for each of the Tigers' primary trade pieces this summer.
OF J.D. Martinez
2017 Salary: $11.75M
Remaining Contract: Free agent
Key 2017 Stats: 1.065 OPS, 12 HR, 1.3 WAR
Best Fit: Dodgers
Martinez, a free agent this winter, is the most likely to be dealt this July - and while there are plenty of logical fits for his services, the best one is the Dodgers. Adding the right-handed hitting Martinez would balance out an already lethal top five that could go left-right-left-right-left and wreak havoc on opposing arms; he'd also allow Cody Bellinger to replace the injured Adrian Gonzalez at first base full time. The Dodgers have the prospect capital to satisfy Detroit, and the financial resources to absorb an additional mega-deal like, say, Justin Verlander, if that's what it takes to get J.D. to L.A. and make the Dodgers prohibitive National League favorites.
Other potential fits: Cardinals, Nationals, Astros, Twins, Indians
2B Ian Kinsler
2017 Salary: $11M
Remaining Contract: 1 year, $10M (club option)
Key 2017 Stats: .748 OPS, 7 HR, 1.6 WAR
Best Fit: Blue Jays
The Blue Jays, somehow, are still in contention, but they need big-time help at second base. Devon Travis is injured again with an unknown timetable, leaving good-D/no-hit backups Ryan Goins and Darwin Barney to man the keystone, which just isn't cutting it full time. Kinsler's a great fit in Toronto for this reason, and he'd also fix the club's black hole in the leadoff slot. Kinsler did reportedly block a trade to Toronto in 2013, but this version of the Blue Jays is different - they're now winners, and that should help sell him. If Kinsler can be convinced to come north, it would do wonders for the playoff hopes of a team that needs to win now.
Other potential fits: Dodgers, Cardinals, Brewers, Rays
C Alex Avila
2017 Salary: $2M
Remaining Contract: Free agent
Key 2017 Stats: 1.024 OPS, 10 HR, 2.3 WAR
Best Fit: Diamondbacks
General manager Al Avila has to put family ties aside and trade his son Alex for the good of the Tigers. The red-hot Diamondbacks are playing .600 ball despite their catchers giving them less production - minus-0.5 WAR - than any team in baseball, while Alex is in the midst of a comeback season that's currently even better than the year he won a Silver Slugger. He wouldn't cost Arizona a ton in return given his one-year deal and his age (30), making this a perfect match for a team desperate to improve behind the plate.
Other potential fits: Rockies, Pirates
1B/DH Miguel Cabrera
2017 Salary: $28M
Remaining Contract: 8 years, $184M plus two club options
Key 2017 Stats: .803 OPS, 7 HR, 0.6 WAR
Best Fit: Yankees
Here's where it starts to hurt. This isn't just dealing a bad contract: Miggy's an inner-circle Hall of Famer who will wear the Tigers cap into Cooperstown, and he's still capable of producing excellence. But for the franchise to rebuild properly, he has to go - and only the Yankees have the ability to take it all on. If they agree to take most or all of that money, perhaps they surrender slightly less in prospect capital for their much-needed 2017 solution at first base. Then, as Cabrera ages and sets more records in New York, he can slowly shift to the DH slot as the key veteran of the next great Yankee dynasty (think Wade Boggs in the '90s). Aaron Judge, Miggy, and Gary Sanchez would make one scary middle of the order for years to come - and we didn't even mention who could join them after 2018.
Other potential fits: Astros
SP Justin Verlander
2017 Salary: $28M
Remaining Contract: 2 years, $56M plus $22M vesting option in 2020
Key 2017 Stats: 1.449 WHIP, 11.2 K/BB, 1.3 WAR
Best Fit: Astros
Another face of the franchise, Verlander might be a bit less painful to part with since he's an aging pitcher on a bad contract. If his deal isn't packaged with Cabrera's, Verlander will still draw suitors, though - and none better than the league-leading Astros. Maybe getting a playoff chance pitching alongside Dallas Keuchel and Lance McCullers will help Verlander find his Cy Young form again as he gets his shot at a ring. For Houston, he may be the best option available, and the time's right to cash in a prospect or two and push for the franchise's first championship with one of this generation's great arms in tow.
Other potential fits: Dodgers, Mariners, Rangers, Yankees
OF Justin Upton
2017 Salary: $22.125M
Remaining Contract: 4 years, $88.5M (Upton can opt out after 2017)
Key 2017 Stats: .853 OPS, 14 HR, 1.9 WAR
Best Fit: Nationals
This deal might be hard to do, and if Upton chooses to opt out at season's end it might look worse. But he's rebounded after an awful debut season in Detroit, and the Nats could use the extra outfielder for the stretch run with Adam Eaton now injured - not to mention going forward in case Bryce Harper departs. Al Avila might take any offer that lets him get out of this contract, so Washington might be able to trade less to get Upton. Even for a few months and an opt-out, that could be appealing.
Other potential fits: Dodgers
RP Justin Wilson
2017 Salary: $2.7M
Remaining Contract: Arbitration eligible in 2018
Key 2017 Stats: 1.098 WHIP, 12.8 K/9, 5 SV, 0.5 WAR
Best Fit: Nationals
He's a southpaw reliever having a career year - someone's gonna nab Justin Wilson. The Nats' bullpen struggles are well-chronicled, so whether he's attached to an Upton deal or not, it would be wise for the Nats to acquire him and give Dusty Baker at least one relief option he could place a semblance of trust in.
Other potential fits: Blue Jays, Diamondbacks
(Photos courtesy: Action Images)