Brad Ausmus not expecting Tigers to make any more trades

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MLB: Spring Training-New York Mets at Detroit Tigers
Mar 20, 2017; Lakeland, FL, USA; Detroit Tigers manager Brad Ausmus (7) talks with teammates before an MLB spring training baseball game against the New York Mets at Joker Marchant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

Earlier this week, the Detroit Tigers made the first of what fans expect (and perhaps want) to be several moves, dealing slugger J.D. Martinez to the Arizona Diamondbacks.

But if Tigers fans are holding their breath on additional moves, manager Brad Ausmus apparently isn’t joining them.

MLB: Boston Red Sox at Detroit Tigers
Aug 18, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers manager Brad Ausmus (7) on the field against the Boston Red Sox at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

“I thought (trading) J.D. was probably inevitable,” Ausmus said Sunday before Detroit’s afternoon matchup against the Minnesota Twins. “I’m not sure anybody else is.”

Though a prime trade candidate Detroit boasts is pitcher Justin Wilson, Ausmus doesn’t think that GM Al Avila will trade him just for the sake of making a move.

“He’s got another year of control. I think Al’s going to have to get what he wants,” Ausmus said. “I don’t think he’s just going to trade him for the sake of trading him. Because he doesn’t have to.”

Of course, there have been rumors swirling around pitcher Justin Verlander as well, though it doesn’t appear Avila is keen on moving him either.

“We as an organization would be extremely happy to keep Verlander here to the end of his career because we want him to walk into the Hall of Fame wearing a Tigers cap,” Avila said during an interview with MLB Network Radio on Sirius XM on Thursday. “But if things are different, where (a trade) makes sense for all parties, then you have to seriously consider it at this point.”

Because Verlander has spent his entire career in the Motor City, that’s how Avila wants Verlander to be viewed and remembered.

“As to how much money we would take back, that’s hard to say. He’s an icon in Detroit, a future Hall-of-Famer in our eyes and an original Tiger,” Avila continued. “We drafted him, we developed him and he’s been a great Tiger his whole career. That’s something you have to put in the equation, too.”

The MLB trade deadline is Monday, July 31.

H/T to MLive and CBS Local for the quotes used in this piece.