alex

https://www.mlbtraderumors.com/2025/07/orioles-trade-seranthony-dominguez-blue-jays.html Jays get RP. This is mostly what goes on. You should/do not have to trade a top 100 prospect for a decent RP. Heck, this prospect might rank in top 15 on Detroit's list - yet, maybe Baltimore rates him a bit higher from their end.

Yes, this happens way more than not, meaning everyone speculates one has to give up Top 100 guys to get anyone of significance - and it rarely happens (not never). Then the sought players of trade interest are dealt for much less in terms of 'prospect status' in the fans mind. However, teams have their own way to 'evaluate' and often do get more than what fans think was obtained up (ex last years Flaherty deal). Hopefully SHarris can put a deal (or two) together with another GM and get someone to help the club. Though the Paddock deal on the surface may seem insignificant, it might very well help Detroit. Also, it shows that Harris did put effort into a deal and completed it. That is a good thing in and of itself. I have been questioning this part of his job. Goal: Not having to move the teams very top prospects (unless acquiring a good player with multiple years of control) and getting value in return.

Regardless of who gets who, teams are not trading top 100 or let alone top 50 MLB prospects to get a player who may help. For whatever reason, it seems if Detroit is to make a deal for a player (not a mediocre RP, but I am ok with that) that for some reason, WE/Detroit have to give up the farm? That is not going to happen. My point has been you can get a decent player or two without having to 'gut the farm system (giving up 1 or 2 of your top 5).' Where do people come up with that. My second point is the question, does SHarris have the ability to acquire a MLB player or two that can help? The team can use a 'shot' in the arm. Heck, it cannot hurt at the rate things are going now. The players, the front office, coaching - they ALL need to step up. Then let the chips fall where they may. Anything can happen still (see last year and many other examples). We can move forward or continue to slide backwards just as well. There will also be injuries.

So the Mariners acquire Josh Naylor. A player that 'could' help make a difference for them. A proven bat. Good work by the GM. They are going for it this year. Now, my question is what did they give up? Two top 50 MLB prospects (according to various baseball pundit outlets)? two top 100 MLB prospects? Not. People think for some reason we would have to give up that for a good rental bat and/or RP? I disagree. What would be equivalent from the Tigers system to both Brandyn Garcia and Ashton Izzi? Seriously... I doubt it is Clark or McMonigle or Rainer or Briceno at all! Try one guy in the top 10 and another maybe another in the 15-20 range. Yes, different teams have different values for the various players. I understand that. Andrew Vaughn was basically going nowhere for the Chisox. Batting .189 and a .219 OBA. After they traded him to Milwaukee he got hot for a bit. Ten games and 12 RBI with a .395 OBA. Milw continued on a very hot streak and even MLB Network admitted that he came out of nowhere and contributed big time to this. I am not saying anyone we get can do this. I am saying we should not have to give up what some people think to get someone to help. It just happened in Seattle! Again, Harris has done well in most areas - no question. However, IMHO, he needs to step up here as well and try to interject a player or two that might help. Forget theses AAAA types and the Toledo shuffle (or is it shuttle, lol). So I ask, can SHarris get something done to 'potentially' help this team? The team needs a little help. Maybe, just maybe, a small shakeup has to be done. A player or two moved? Is this team too comfortable? What are they going to do for the next 58 games? Is Harris going to say 'We need a core' (that again) and wait for the next wave of prospects? Point being what difference does it make if he cannot help by acquiring MLB players via trades, players who are proven talents. If not, then maybe hire a GM that has that ability. Chris I. can keep Scott on as the CEO with a VERY good salary and extension. I am beginning to think Greenberg should maybe be at Jimmy John's Field perhaps. What is he doing with the Tigers? Just some venting as this 'streak' continues - yet, I do feel something needs to be done and I am curious if SHarris is the man to get deals done. Does he have that 'knack', that ability? We are here now standings wise. Let's not wait another 10 years with a new front office to start over.

IMHO, I would not give up Rainer for that package.

Not fascinated with TWard myself (but could help). I like your Baltimore package deal. That is on the lines of what could help. Point being we do NOT have to give up a top 4 to prospect per say, but if getting two players the likes of Liranzo, Jung or Lee could do it for that type return (or similar).

Agree. However, should we become sellers and let the other GMs get into a so-called bidding war and get more 'core' prospects from another team? ex CMize (some control years as well)? Then just get a marginal SP for a prospect on our end and continue our run (see last year)? I really do not think any GM is going to gut a farm system for a rental. That is part of my point. The same question I ask; Does Harris have the ability to get some MLB talent to help for a stretch drive? Can he negotiate the equivalent of what others are going to give up and get it? This does not mean any top 50 type player! Is there a pattern here - we (Detroit) have to give up type A prospects to get someone - while in the end another GM has to give up much less (seemingly, in a so-called bidding war) to get the same player? Yet, if sellers, maybe we can sell and capitalize and get a top 50 guy or so 😉

For me that is not a 'benchmark' for Scott Harris. I mentioned he is doing quite well in other areas. It is a part of his ability that I question. Can he get MLB players to help his team in the time of need (now or when Clark, Rainer, etc. are here when/if they are contending then). I think you can get good MLB players in trades without giving up your absolute best prospects (and remember they are porspects - see Baltimore '24). We saw it last year, the year before, etc. No need to give up a top 50 MLB guy to help your team acquire a 'rental'. I will not be disappointed myself if he does not get Suarez, and Bednar and Clase, etc. I/people may very well be when we see 'what' other GMs give up to get the mentioned names who are dealt and what is the equivalent in our system. What to do with Riley in case of a Taylor Ward type? Riley stays in LF of course, lol. Yet, he cannot continue as is or no players are going to help. The acquired OF type player fits in where he can: LF at times (Riley can DH), RF, DH... If it is an INF then they will work that out with the group they have (there WILL be injuries for all teams). Heck, they should really evaluate PMeadows here. I do like him as a player. Yet, could LRobert Jr help (he has option years and will NOT cost a top 100 prospect)? Meadows cannot continue at this pace either. Yes he missed ST, but we are contending? As AJ said/asked (to his team supposedly) after last years deadline deals 'are we in development mode (like for the last 10 years) or are we trying to win games?' My question is and has been can Harris get MLB players to help his team in the time of need (now or when Clark, Rainer, etc. are here when/if they are contending). If not, then we may never be able to actually put ourselves in a better position to win a WS. As I mentioned also, what is Jeff Greenberg's GM role. Does he really have the ability to make a deal or is he just a 'guy' Harris has known, bounces ideas off of, etc. If that is the case, he should have gotten someone who has the ability to help 'negotiate' MLB deals to help him out. I hope to come back here and post a simple 'Yes, X and X player may help' way to go Harris (regardless of outcome) - and also evaluate (just my 2 cents) WHAT did the other GMs actually give up to acquire above said players (ex players you mentioned) and our own teams equivalent thereof.

You make a very good point. This has a lot of history, each team and esp their GM 'thinking' they have 'the guys'. I remember Al Avila saying he was getting many calls one trade deadline for the likes of: Fullmer, Norris and Boyd. His near exact words were "It is like I have gold"... ALL teams/GMs think that way about their prospects and fans buy into it - their fans, lol. IMHO, I think Harris has to learn this still. My next dilemma is what I have asked many times: 'Does Harris have the knack, the ability to make trades for MLB players who can help this team?' Not MLB players for prospects. Harris said before (paraphrasing) 'We need a core'... 'If we are in position we would like to add.' Well, here we are. Yes, a bump in the road recently. Yet, which team does not have this over 162 games? See Dodgers now where many are really on 'MBetts'. ALL teams have struggles during a season. Even the eventual WS winner. Question: Were the Tigers just a fluke for the first 90 games this year? For the last 130 games they played (counting the last 1/3 of 2024)? Yes, they may have played a bit over their heads - but not for 130 games. Right now - they are not this bad. If so, then they could finish 4th-5th in the Central. The Tigers ARE in first right now in the Central. Fans often only see what is in front of them (the last 14 games). Cleveland may actually sell still at this deadline (heck, we did last year and look what happened still). With said there will more than likely NOT be 3 teams into the postseason from the AL Central for 2025. Trades? No way would I deal Clark, Rainer, McMonigle or CRodriguez and or one of Liranzo or Briceno (unless you are getting a star player with years of control). Yet, no team is going to trade anything near equivalent to that get ESuarez or a package for him and say ZGallen. I do think the Tigers need to acquire some pieces to help take some pressure off the current team. This could be done trading prospects (not those mentioned above) for some help. Again, teams will not be trading (because they do not have) the equivalent to get the help they need. Harris needs to get creative. Deal 2 or 4 prospects for 1-2 MLB players who can help. Prospects rated in 6-20 pool are not garbage. If that is the case then there will be no hope for Detroit in the future (remember our system is rated very well). Let the other teams figure out 'what' they would like in that pool. You add Suarez (or someone who can help) and bring back Carp - the lineup is better. Greene, Tork, etc. are under a lot of pressure (yet, it IS part of the maturation process). This helps them be themselves. (note: BTW, that is why I feel AJ really wanted Bregman here. He has the grit, experience, leadership qualities, etc - to help during these competing times). If you would of been told the Tigers were in first place on July 24 before the deadline by 8 games with the first/second best record in the AL - you, Harris and AJ more than likely would of taken that in a NY minute! If that is not enough to be pro-active at the deadline - then nothing is. They have a chance this year. Skubal is here now. Unless the last 130 or so games were a fluke (maybe?) then they should go for it. Again, not trading the top 4-5 prospects I listed (unless acquiring a younger star player with control). Teams will package for the players they feel they want. This team needs a leverage RP, a second RP (maybe LH if the latter is not). Another bat. If not two RPs then 1 and a decent SP, then we can put another arm in the BP. What do I think will happen. We will find out more about Harris's ability to make deals. If he cannot do this - then when Clark, McMonigle, Rainer, etc. are here it more than likely will be NO different when/IF that 'core group is ever in position. We should at least come out with something like Bednar (or KFinnegan) and IKFalafa (or ASlater) along with another 'whatever' RP for a marginal prospect. Not sure that is going to help that much - but it could help some. Optimal one good to decent bat (Suarez, TWard, LRobert Jr, etc. - note: look at how much AVaughn has helped Milwaukee) to help take on some pressure off our hitters and a good high leverage RP who misses bats (Bautista, Duran, Smith, Helsley, etc.). Maybe another RP of some sort (heck ALange, TRainey, DSmith could even be that). The names may not be as important as the ability of the acquired player to help (scouting is key here). We do not and SHOULD not have to give up our very top prospects. A good GM/CEO can swing a deal or two to help make a contending team better. (BTW: I do feel SHarris has done very well with scouting, facilities, drafting, nutrition and looking more into physiology and injuries, etc.) I am not sure what role GM Greenberg really plays. The true improvement (back on the horse idea) must come from our current players. With said a shot in the arm from the GM could help. I hope Harris has the ability to do something here. This is what I have questioned all along - does Scott Harris have the ability to acquire MLB players, not players for prospects, to help the team? Also, there will be injuries for ALL teams. Some will be devastating. Depth is of utmost importance and a little 'luck' must be there as well. Go Tigers 😀

I think one player/RP the Tigers could look into, as could many other teams, is David Robertson. He was pretty good last year, has a history on winning teams and would NOT cost any prospect capital.

I noticed Brewer Hicklen had a big day for Toledo as well 4-6, 2B, 3B, 2 RBI. Just wanted to give you an assist. Great Job with these reports!

Hmm, this is why every time someone says/asks - 'When we are at Full Strength who is going to be sent down?' I just shrug at it because NO team is ever at 'Full Strength' except during the off season, lol. Teams need a lot of Depth this day and age.

Realistically, no team is really ever full force this day and age. Gone are the days of 3 SP's pitching 200 innings on a team and 7-8 position players starting 150+ games per year. Just simply the facts that take many of us who have followed the game for awhile (myself included) - a bit of time to come to this realization. It is good to have a lot of depth. Organizations are now much more aware of this. What baseball could do, to help alleviate some of the injuries? IMHO, is to have a few less games, maybe 28 man rosters, scheduled by-weekend ends a couple times each year for every team (not no baseball played, just different teams getting a weekend off, like what football does) and maybe a couple other things. Yes, it is about money from the viewpoint of some, but people want to see the star players 'play'. Maximum efforts, especially with Ps, requires optimum recovery time. Athletes are only as good and consistent as the allotted recovery time will allow. Actual rest and nutrition are also factors. The trainers are much more versed on these things now - but the actual time off is still 'not' there IMHO. How could the players of yesteryear do it? I suspect one reason was that their bodies were not in the same peak physical condition as many of the players of today are. A well peaked physical player (strength, speed, nutrition, etc.) that plays 5 days in a row is simply putting more demand on the body than a player of 25, 40+ years ago - that was not in the same physical condition. I am 'not' saying the players did not play hard years ago and many were great players. I am saying today the players are more and are more precise with their conditioning and peaking their skills by means of greater knowledge of physiology and use of certain technologies. Their body fat is also lower. They are simply 'overall' expending more energy with the games and conditioning than the players of before ever did. IMHO, that is 'part' of it.

Agreed. Hopefully people with a bit of a passion and some knowledge come into play. IMHO, York, Keating and Kane all did a really good job. I appreciated them and even more now that they have 'not' been on the scene. Have not seen Trevor Thompson recently either on any Tiger pre or post game shows.

Sounds about right - however, you may be missing the IL as someone will be on it. Just simply an annoying fact for ALL teams.