Detroit Tigers trade deadline: Michael Fulmer Must be Untouchable
There has been a little bit of buzz the past two weeks that Detroit Tigers pitcher Michael Fulmer may be traded. Here is why that is a bad idea.
Michael Fulmer is an incredible talent. The Detroit Tigers‘ 24 year old hurler currently possesses an impressive 3.35 ERA, good for seventh in the AL. He has proven his worth in this league, following an astounding rookie campaign with an even better sophomore season. With his contract under team control until 2023, the Tigers have in their possession the perfect ace pitcher to lead the team’s rebuild. Or at least, you would think so.
Yet I can’t help but notice that some Detroit Tigers fans seem to be in favor of trading the young right-hander. Sports writers, radio personalities, and casual fans have all entertained what I believe to be a terrible idea.
If I had to guess, I would say that the Chris Sale trade from last off-season is the driving force behind this movement. For those that aren’t aware, Chris Sale fetched the White Sox Baseball America’s number one prospect in the form of Yoan Moncada (in addition to Boston’s top pitching prospect in Michael Kopech). Needless to say, the price for Sale was steep. Taking Fulmer’s age and possible ceiling into consideration, the possibility of getting a Sale like return is pretty high. But would it be worth it?
Why Fulmer Isn’t Worth Trading
While a Chris Sale return might seem tempting upon first glance, it doesn’t really accomplish anything for the Tigers. However, trading Sale made sense for the White Sox at the time. The veteran pitcher was in the midst of his prime, and tensions had been high between him and White Sox management. By the time Chicago would be able to contend, Sale would be near the end of his prime, if not passed it entirely.
Fulmer on the other hand, hasn’t even entered his prime yet. In fact, if the Tigers are looking at a five year rebuild, then Fulmer would be entering his prime just as the Tigers are ready to contend once again.
With that in mind, I believe that Fulmer should be untouchable, at least for the next few seasons. The typical draw of trading a known quantity for an unknown quantity is a vast difference in age, but that is just not the case here. At 24, any prospects that the Tigers receive will only be a couple years younger than Fulmer himself; and they sure as heck won’t be as polished as him. If the Tigers want to compete in the near future, Fulmer must remain on the team.
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What the Tigers Should Do
Instead of trading Fulmer, the Tigers should be treating him as the cornerstone of the franchise. Aces do not grow on trees in this league, and the Tigers are blessed to have such an elite young talent. Avila would be wise to focus his efforts on ridding the team of their aging veterans. After the horrendous J.D. Martinez trade, I expect the Tigers to get pennies on the dollar for their players. However, sometimes them’s the breaks. The fact of the matter is this; the clock has struck midnight on this current core. As Fulmer himself has stated, if you’re going to rebuild, you have to go all in.