Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Michael Fulmer surprisingly found his name in the rumor mill at this years trade deadline. While every team would love to add someone like Fulmer, the Atlanta Braves were a surprise contender for his services.
It’s no secret that the Detroit Tigers were considering trading Michael Fulmer at the trade deadline.
The question is, why? In an age where controllable starting pitching is craved, why would the Tigers, who appear set to rebuild soon, trade someone like Fulmer?
The 24-year-old isn’t a free agent until 2023.
He’s also coming off a Rookie of the Year season with a top-10 finish in Cy Young voting.
Every team in baseball would love to add a guy like Fulmer. One team that was heavily interested already has a lot of controllable starting pitching, the Atlanta Braves.
According to Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, the Braves were in on the young starter and still have lots of interest in him.
"“The Braves were interested in Sonny Gray before the non-waiver deadline, but they were even more interested in Michael Fulmer. Their thinking was, if we’re going to trade big prospects, why trade them for Gray? A pitcher with less control than Fulmer and greater injury risk.”"
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This is certainly a good point that Rosenthal points out. Gray, eventually traded to the New York Yankees, is 27 and has just two more years of control left.
So, why else would the Braves want to gain Fulmer’s services? Well, he’d solidify their rotation of the future.
R.A. Dickey and Julio Teheran figure to be gone sooner than later. Right now, it’s about auditioning the team’s talented bunch of prospects like Lucas Sims, Sean Newcomb, and the emerging Mike Foltynewicz.
Down in the minor leagues, four of the Braves top ten prospects are all left-handed starters. They also have three right-handed starters in the top ten.
To acquire Fulmer, they would given up a good amount. Would top guys like Vanderbilt-product Kyle Wright or 19-year-old outfielder Ronald Acuna still be with the organization?
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Rosenthal went on to say that “The big question remains. Will the Tigers even trade him? They’ll address and revisit that this offseason.”
Perhaps the Braves will revisit the idea, too.