The Detroit Tigers have a few areas of concern they'd like to address this offseason, namely a bullpen that is without an experienced closer and an infield that is minus a veteran second baseman.
In order to address those needs, it appears the Tigers may be willing to part with one of the prized pitchers from their record-breaking starting rotation.
that the Tigers have informed teams they're "open to trading" either Max Scherzer or Rick Porcello.
The report comes two days before Scherzer, who is represented by super agent Scott Boras, is expected to be named this year's AL Cy Young Award winner.
"It's unusual to hear those two names together since Scherzer is the presumed Cy Young winner while Porcello hasn't developed beyond a solid back-of-the-rotation starter,"
, "but that apparently was the message."
Scherzer's name has been mentioned for weeks as a potential trade chip for the Tigers, who
with Scherzer as of last Wednesday.
Given Boras' history of letting his clients test the free-agent market, it seems unlikely the two sides will reach a long-term agreement before the start of the 2014 season.
A source close to the subject told Fox Sports' Ken Rosenthal last week that the Tigers are willing to listen to offers for Scherzer, but are not actively pursuing a trade.
A free agent at the end of next season, Scherzer is projected to earn between $12-15 million in his final year of arbitration. His salary beyond 2014 is likely to exceed $20 million a year.
If the Tigers are under the impression they won't be able to sign Scherzer to a long-term extension, they may consider trading him now in an effort to get something in return.
By moving Scherzer or Porcello, the Tigers would open a spot in their rotation for left-hander Drew Smyly. Smyly earned the fifth-starter job out of spring training in 2012, a spot he held before shifting to the bullpen after the acquisition of Anibal Sanchez.
But the Tigers continue to tout Smyly as a starting pitcher, not a reliever, which could seemingly make Scherzer and Porcello, but not both, expendable this offseason.
While it is all speculation at this point, it is clear that the price tag to acquire Scherzer would be significantly more expensive than acquiring Porcello. Like Scherzer, Porcello is eligible for arbitration, and is projected to earn more than $7 million next season.
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