With each passing day, hour, minute and second as we inch closer towards Monday’s MLB trade deadline, the trade rumors will continue to ramp up. Expect the Detroit Tigers to be involved in said rumors at least once a day.
The latest surround the ‘selling’ Tigers comes courtesy of Jon Morosi, who is reporting that Detroit is in trade talks with the Milwaukee Brewers regarding a couple of their players.
Source: #Tigers, #Brewers engaged in ongoing discussions involving Ian Kinsler and Justin Wilson; trade is not imminent. @MLB @MLBNetwork
— Jon Morosi (@jonmorosi) July 25, 2017
Second baseman Ian Kinsler had not been garnering much interest from other clubs up until the last week or so. This is the second time that the Brewers have reportedly checked in on Kinsler, after they were reportedly linked to him this past weekend. Ian offered these “classic Ian” comments when that first materialized.
Kinsler overall has not played up to his standards this season but he would still be a supreme upgrade for a Milwaukee team that has gotten just a .248 batting average at the second base position this year, 24th in MLB (DET is 21st in that same split).
Much of that low production for the Beer Makers is the by and large due to the drop off from Jonathan Villar. After having a career year in 2016 (.285, .826 OPS, 62 SB), Villar has mustered just a .223 BA and the OPS has dropped nearly .200 points. It got to a point where Milwaukee promoted veteran Eric Sogard from the minors earlier in the season. Sogard has performed well above his pay grade, posting a .900 OPS in 45 games played. He was injured and miss some time, but was recently activiated off the disabled list.
The Brewers could certainly still pursue Kinsler if they feel a) Villar will not heat up and rekindle some fraction of his ’16 campaign, or b) Sogard will inevitably cool off considerably, thus needed that steady anchor at second base.
As for Justin Wilson, just about every team is pursuing a trade for him at this point. Hell, the rec league down the street from your home has probably called Tigers general manager Al Avila about him.
Since becoming the full-time closer back in May, Wilson overall has been very effective and efficient when called upon. He’s rebounded very well this year after a bit of a roller coaster campaign in 2016. Wilson is striking out opposing batters an alarming rate. In fact, he’s ten shy of his K total from a year ago (65) and having faced nearly 100 less batters.
He would only lengthen a Milwaukee bullpen that will undoubtedly improved in the run-prevention department as well as form a formidable 1-2 punch with Brewers and former Tigers farmhand Corey Knebel.
Mikwaukee is one of a handful or so teams that have been connected with the Tigers as potential trade partners for multiple pieces in the last couple weeks. It was reported last week that the Brew Crew were also “kicking the tires” on Tigers pitcher Justin Verlander, who continues to be one of the hotter names in the trade rumor mill lately.
