Detroit Tigers Trade Deadline Preview
By Ron Juckett
Struggling at .500, the Detroit Tigers will be buyers at the trade deadline, although they would be smarter to sell.
The Detroit Tigers are at a crossroads.
After a weekend sweep by the American League Central leading Cleveland Indians, the Tigers sit at 38-38 and seven games out of first. Even in the Wild Card race, Detroit does not control their own destiny.
Starting Sunday June 26 2.5 games out of the second Wild Card, the Tigers are fourth in the chase. With a 12-16 record in the AL Central, they must claw and scratch to pass the defending champion Kansas City Royals to have a shot. If the playoffs are a realistic thought, they must improve on their 2-5 record against the Royals and 0-9 mark against Cleveland.
For most teams, the bag holding the proverbial white towel will be open at this point poised for a toss. As long as owner Mike Illitch runs the team, however, conceding the season this early is not an option. With two AL Championships in the last 11 years and two more trips to the ALCS on the card, Illitch wants that championship.
General Manager Al Avila has tough decisions to make. This team has huge holes on offense and in the starting rotation. Few prospects are Major League ready and are not high enough on the food chain to cash in to a puzzle piece. Yet when Dave Dombrowski suggested last year was lost, he left and Avila grabbed the job. As Dombrowski reaches for the aspirin bottle to deal with his current headaches with the Boston Red Sox, Avila has to be realistic and offer hope at the same time.
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