Tigers Fans, It’s Time For Your Team To Sell

The Major League Baseball trade deadline is on August 2nd at 6pm eastern time.

And after a 37-55 season entering (and now exiting the All-Star Break), it's time for the Detroit Tigers to do the one thing they didn't want to do when this season started.  And I'll take a line from the classic 1984 movie "Trading Places", which starred Eddie Murphy and Dan Akroyd.

"Wilson, For C&$#@t Sakes, Sell!!"

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Yep, the Tigers aren't going to turn it around this season and challenge for the American League Central title or any of the three Wild Card spots in the American League.

Therefore, they need to sell their impending free agents before the deadline and get whatever they can for them now.  Otherwise, they risk losing them for nothing to free agency after the season is over.

That's if they can, there are some teams that won't want any of their free agents.

Here are their impending free agents after the 2022 season:

ROBBIE GROSSMAN

He (pictured above) was signed to a two-year contract as a stopgap signing in the outfield two years ago while their outfield prospects (Riley Greene, Daz Cameron) got more seasoning in the minors.  He was serviceable in 2021, hitting .239 with 23 home runs and 67 Runs Batted In (RBI).

This year, he's been awful.  He's hitting .205 with only 2 home runs and 19 RBI.  You probably won't get much for him in the trade market, but they need his roster spot to give to a younger player.

TUCKER BARNHART

The Tigers traded for the veteran catcher after the 2021 season.  While he's been fine defensively, his offense has been bad.  He's hitting .207 with no home runs and only 9 RBI in 59 games played.  He's been platooning a lot more recently with Eric Haase behind the plate.  They have Dustin Garneau in the minors, and Jake Rogers could come back after Tommy John surgery in September.  A potential playoff team might want him if they need a backup catcher.

MICHAEL PINEDA

The veteran pitcher was signed to a one-year deal last offseason and has battled injuries all season long.  He'll likely not re-sign this coming off-season, and some playoff team might want him to join them for a playoff run.  Either as a bullpen guy or as a starter.

MICHAEL FULMER

The former AL Rookie of the Year recovered from Tommy John surgery to become a pretty good setup man for the Tigers.  But he's a free agent after this season, and he could be a valuable bullpen piece for a contending team.  He might bring the most in a return from a playoff team before the deadline.

WILY PERALTA

He's currently out with a hamstring injury, and has battled injuries during his time in Detroit.  But when he's been in there, either as a starter or a bullpen guy, he's been pretty effective.  If he gets healthy before the deadline, the Tigers could get something for him in a trade.

NOTE:  Jonathan Schoop and Andrew Chafin have player options for 2023 and not included in this list.

This season has been a major disappointment which I talked about earlier this week.  Most fans hoped for the team to be buyers at the deadline this season.  Well, that's not happening this year.  In my opinion, the Tigers need to trade the above players for whatever they can get and reset for this coming offseason.

It's really their best option.