The Detroit Tigers are on the cusp of playoff contention in the AL and that may push the team to trade David Price and Yoenis Cespedes, this summer, as both players are heading into free agency and the team is still waiting for the return of Miguel Cabrera and at the deadline teams like the NY Yankees, Los Angeles Dodgers, Chicago Cubs, NY Mets, Kansas City Royals and Pittsburgh Pirates could be interested.
The Tigers have not been as good as they were last season and according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, the team could be sellers at the deadline. The team has not been a true seller at the deadline for a number of years, but this season they may have no choice. Price and Cespedes are likely to leave in free agency and GM Dave Dombrowski may try and get what he can in return for them. Price is more likely to be traded than Cespedes, as there is a ton of interest in pitching on the market.
Nightengale writes that the team may wait and see for a week or two how things go, but there is not much time left before the trading deadline and the team is hovering at .500 this year. The team remains in the mix in the wild card race, but the Royals look locked in at the top of the central division for now. The July 31 date is for the non-waiver trade deadline and Cabrera could be out for another month with an injury, leaving the Tigers in a tough spot and an odd one. The team is 10 games back of the Royals and that could put the division title out of reach.
Price and Cespedes are strong players and they could net some solid prospects in deals for the Tigers. Players like Johnny Cueto and Cole Hamels are also available on the market and Price is looked at as a rental player, as he is heading towards free agency. Price is just 29 and he is pitching very well this season with a 2.32 ERA and 127 strikeouts in 132 innings of work. Price is going to get some attention along with James Shields, Mike Leake and Cole Hamels at the deadline and there are numerous teams in need of pitching.
The Dodgers, Yankees, Baltimore Orioles and Texas Rangers are all interested in adding a pitcher, while the Houston Astros also could be in the mix. Price could be an ace for any team that he joins and could help push for the playoffs if he leaves the Tigers. Cespedes is also 29 and he is heading into free agency and that likely means he will be on the move. Cespedes is having a solid year and is hitting near .290 with 13 home runs and 52 RBIs this season. Other players on the market include Justin Upton and Ben Zobrist and teams like the Cubs, Pirates, Orioles and Mets could be interested in making a deal.