So with the MLB trade deadline just 13 days away and holes to fill on the Tigers' roster, who do you think they will/should pursue, and who do you think they will/should give up in return? According to Dombrowski, the top priority right now is SP and maybe 3B. Some of the names I've heard circulating around for SP have been Ubaldo Jimenez, Hiroki Kuroda, Wandy Rodriguez, Derek Lowe, and Jeremy Guthrie. I've also heard David Wright's name mentioned for 3B a few times, but I don't think he is a realistic (or wise) move at this point. Another rumor I've heard about is a possible package deal for Rodriguez and IF Jeff Keppinger.
Overall, the trade market seems pretty thin right now, but out of the pitchers mentioned above, I'd rank them in this order: Jimenez, Rodriguez, Kuroda (only for 1 year), Guthrie, Lowe (please no). I think Kuroda would probably be the best short-term solution, but at 36 I don't think it really makes sense to try to sign him to anything more than 1 year. I think Rodriguez or Jimenez would probably be the best options for more than 1 year, but it's likely that neither one will come easily, or inexpensively. Also, there have been mixed reports about Houston's willingness to deal, so I don't know how feasible that would be in the first place.
As far as who we should give up in return, that is hard to say. It doesn't really make any sense to give up anybody in our current rotation, but I would hate to see any of our promising young arms go. Apparently though, the Mud Hens pitched Furbush in relief last night because, as coach Phil Nevin put it, the Tigers told him to play him for one inning. Also, Furbush's scheduled start for tomorrow has been nixed and Fu Te Ni will be pitching in his place. That could mean nothing, but it also could have been a chance for the scouts in attendance to get another look at him.
It's tough to say, but I think we definitely need to make some move to bolster our rotation if we want to finish the second half above .500 for the first time in a decade. And it would be nice to do something to improve the black hole of production that is third base for us.
