Detroit Tigers Trade Rumors: Hector Santiago a Possibility

The Detroit Tigers are rumored to be in contact with the Los Angeles Angels about starting pitcher Hector Santiago.

According to Jayson Stark of ESPN, there are industry rumors and rumblings about the Detroit Tigers and Los Angeles Angels starting pitcher Hector Santiago.

The Tigers have been rumored to be in the starting pitching market, but asking prices are high and the Tigers don’t want to weaken their current major league club for what would amount to a marginal upgrade in the first place.

Someone like Santiago isn’t a slam-dunk upgrade over Daniel Norris or Matt Boyd, so giving up the team control that both youngsters offer would not make sense.

And, for what it’s worth, it’s not even clear that Santiago would be a great upgrade over Mike Pelfrey going by some of their season-to-date numbers.

Santiago has more success in his recent past but his walk and home run rates have jumped this year. He probably is better than Pelfrey — at least in terms of upside — but he’s more of a guy the Tigers would be looking to buy low on. And the way the trade market is shaping up, teams aren’t willing to sell low on anyone.

The Tigers don’t need a massive upgrade in the rotation, jut another solid option to keep the house of cards from caving in should Pelfrey implode or Norris or Jordan Zimmermann hit the disabled list again.

For what it’s worth, the Tigers reportedly checked in on Andrew Miller before he was traded to the Cleveland Indians but the New York Yankees made a ridiculous ask in return.

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Al Avila is making it clear to teams that he’s willing to buy, but I would bet on the Detroit Tigers general manager waiting until the last minute to make a move in hopes that asking prices drop. If prices don’t come down he might be happy enough standing pat.