Detroit Tigers: Five Players Who Could be Traded at the Deadline

Jun 18, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; Detroit Tigers left fielder Justin Upton (8) is congratulated by third baseman Nick Castellanos (9) and left fielder Steven Moya (33) after hitting a home run against the Kansas City Royals in the seventh inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 18, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; Detroit Tigers left fielder Justin Upton (8) is congratulated by third baseman Nick Castellanos (9) and left fielder Steven Moya (33) after hitting a home run against the Kansas City Royals in the seventh inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports /
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Five players on the Detroit Tigers’ 25-man roster who could be dealt by the August 1 non-waiver trade deadline.

Detroit Tigers
Jun 18, 2016; Kansas City, MO, USA; Detroit Tigers left fielder Justin Upton (8) is congratulated by third baseman Nick Castellanos (9) and left fielder Steven Moya (33) after hitting a home run against the Kansas City Royals in the seventh inning at Kauffman Stadium. Mandatory Credit: John Rieger-USA TODAY Sports /

The Detroit Tigers pulled into the All-Star break with a 46-43 record. That mark is good for second place in the American League Central standings, but the Cleveland Indians remain 6.5 games ahead in first place — the second largest division lead in all of baseball (behind only the Chicago Cubs’ seven-game lead in the NL Central).

Things are a bit closer in the Wild Card standings with the Tigers only four games out of playoff position. Two clubs stand between Detroit and a potential one-game postseason berth.

The Tigers are certainly in the thick of the race — both in the Wild Card and Division — but they’re perched precariously on top of a tightly packed group hovering at or just above the .500 mark. Four other American League clubs — the Royals, White Sox, Mariners, and Yankees — sit within a game of the Tigers.

A slow start to the second half could see the Tigers dumped as low as fourth place in the AL Central and as many as seven spots out of Wild Card contention. Because of the uncertainty that remains, the Tigers must prepare to act in either direction: Reload for a playoff push or sell assets for future value.

Here are five players currently on the major league roster who could be dealt away before the August 1 trade deadline passes.

Next: Steven Moya