The MLB trade deadline is still more than a month away but the trade rumors surrounding several players has begun to heat up. This is especially the case for the Detroit Tigers who at this point in the season are very much in contention for the AL Central. They also seem like a team that can be very active come the trade deadline due to the amount of holes they have to fill on the roster.
So who could they go after? John Heyman of SI.com has highlighted several players that could be playing for new teams after the July 31st deadline. One player in particular that he names could be headed to Detroit is Mets outfielder Carlos Beltran. Here is what Heyman has to say regarding the veteran outfielder…
Mets people have determined they would be willing to eat most or even all of the rest of Beltran’s $18 million 2011 salary if they can get a decent young piece or two back, and that should help grease the skids for a trade after 6 ½ up-and-down years in Queens for the multitalented player. Beltran has looked close to 100 percent this season — he has a .500 slugging percentage — after a spring training in which he was limited to parts of only three games because of knee concerns, so they shouldn’t be limited to examining deals with only American League teams, though that’s still where the logical interested teams reside. The Red Sox have long liked Beltran (top assistant Allard Baird was the GM when Beltran was starring in Kansas City), with the White Sox and Tigers other possibilities. The Yankees were making some sense when DH Jorge Posada was struggling from the right side and rightfielder Nick Swisher from the left, but the Yankees appear very focused on upgrading their pitching staff at the moment. Beltran also has no-trade powers, but he is said to be likely to accept a deal to a contender.
Ok, so Heyman lists some other teams along with the Tigers as a possible destination for Beltran. However Beltran is a player that the Tigers need to stay clear of. You never know exactly what you will get from Beltran and he is a player that is often injured. As a trade he isn’t worth the risk since New York is more than likely going to want a good young prospect in return, something the Tigers can ill afford to do given the condition of their farm system.
Source: SI.com
