With the trade deadline approaching, the AL Central-leading Detroit Tigers have surfaced in pretty much every single rumor involving a starting pitcher. So why don't we go ahead and add another to the list? Jon Morosi:
MLB Trade Rumors: Tigers Looking At Doug Fister
Tigers and Mariners engaged in active trade talks, source tells FOXSports.com. Detroit has interest in Fister and a reliever.
Adds Morosi minutes later:
Mariners had a scout watching West Michigan this week. To state obvious, Seattle needs bats in the worst way.
Why are the Tigers hot after starters? Simple. There's nobody consistent behind Justin Verlander, and there's nobody exceptionally talented behind Verlander and Max Scherzer. Brad Penny, Rick Porcello and Phil Coke are all okay, I guess, but that trio can be improved upon, and the Tigers are determined to improve.
Why are the Tigers hot for Doug Fister? Simple. Fister is a strike-thrower with a career 103 ERA+, and he's improved his strikeout rate this season while reducing his runs allowed. Fister is a dependable AL-proven arm with a tiny salary.
Here’s the thing, though - because Fister is effective, and because Fister is cheap and under team control through 2015, the Mariners aren’t going to just give him away. They’ll be looking for a lot, and quite possibly more than anyone’s willing to give. The Tigers and several other teams will call, but odds are that Fister stays put.
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