The Detroit Tigers put an end to a six-game losing streak with a 2-1 win over the Texas Rangers on Sunday night. They still have the best record in Major League Baseball and lead the American League Central by 11 games.
The trade deadline is fast approaching. Last year, Detroit had a fire sale, only to go on an unprecedented surge to capture a Wild Card spot.
This year, Detroit will be buyers rather than sellers and will look to enhance their roster for a run at their first World Series title since 1984.
Jeff Passan and Kiley McDaniel of ESPN listed the Top 50 trade candidates and possible fits. The Tigers were listed as a possible fit for Nolan Arenado.
“Arenado is around a career best in strikeout rate and is still an above-average defender, but his power and patience are trending down to around the worst of his career. He’s a solid starter but no longer a star, and the team taking him on a deal would have to pay him like one. Potentially complicating any deal: a full no-trade clause.”
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The St. Louis Cardinals tried to trade Arenado last offseason. They had a deal with the Houston Astros before Arenado rejected it.
Arenado’s list was limited, and the Tigers were not on his original list. However, with St. Louis falling out of contention and Detroit at the top of the standings, things may change.
The Tigers likely won’t have to give up a haul of prospects given where Arenado is at this point in his career, but they would have to take on a large sum of his remaining contract that runs through 2027.
Arenado is still a strong defender and would improve the Tigers infield drastically. His bat is a different story, but he is still a serviceable player that could give the Tigers a major boost.
It will be interesting to see if they target him or if Arenado is willing to expand his list of teams he’ll accept a trade to.
More MLB: Tigers interested in ‘fortifying’ lineup at trade deadline
