Detroit Tigers trade rumors: Washington Nationals targeting Justin Wilson

The Washington Nationals are targeting Detroit Tigers closer Justin Wilson ahead of the trade deadline according to baseball insider Ken Rosenthal.

The Detroit Tigers have already made one significant trade this month by sending slugger J.D. Martinez to the Arizona Diamondbacks for a trio of infield prospects but they’ll make at least one more move ahead of Monday’s 4:00 p.m. trade deadline.

Closer Justin Wilson is receiving plenty of interest from around the league and is a near certainty to be traded in the coming days. Ken Rosenthal tweeted on Saturday that the Washington Nationals are making Wilson a top target but that several other teams are interested as well.

Every report on Wilson has indicated that the Tigers are maintaining a high asking price for the lefty reliever. That’s good news for Tigers fans — it would seem likely that they’ll get a quality return package with so many teams involved just a few days before the deadline. The Tigers will be able to sit back and allow the teams to bid against each other. The negotiations could go down tot he wire with the Tigers simply taking the best deal as the clock winds down.

On Thursday Jon Heyman named ten teams that have been linked to Wilson in some form this season.

"At last check, the Brewers, Astros and Red Sox were thought to be the leaders. But the Rockies, Diamondbacks, Cubs, Dodgers, Dodgers, Nats, Yankees and others could use him, too."

Contending teams can always make room in the bullpen for elite relievers — and Wilson is possibly the top arm on the market — so there’s little risk of teams filling their needs elsewhere and leaving the Tigers out in the cold.

Next: Detroit Tigers all-time 25-man roster

Wilson has had a fine season for the Tigers this year. He currently owns a 2.75 ERA and has struck out more than 35% of the batters he’s faced.