Making Their Move

While at the Hall of Fame last weekend I tried to keep an eye on how the Tigers were doing, as they had a big series against the White Sox. They won the first two games, moving into first place (and accordingly, on the standings board outside the Hall). On Sunday, I was taking the trolley back to the parking lot and a couple behind me were checking the scores on a smartphone. I asked about the Tigers-White Sox score, and was given the good news. A sweep!

So after a first-half of mostly spinning their wheels, the Tigers have now won 15 of 17, and are in a flat-footed tie with the White Sox, the Indians four back. On the ride home I wondered about picking up extra help, especially a fifth starter, which has been held down all year by rookies. Drew Smyly has done well, but has spent a lot of time on the D.L., and Jacob Turner, who won Sunday's game.

The Tigers then threw the switch, trading Turner and a few other prospects to Miami for Anibal Sanchez and Omar Infante. Turner was named a top 10 prospect by Baseball America, so this is clearly a win now move. But Sanchez is a good pitcher, going 5 and 7 so far this year, but with a 3.94 ERA. Infante is an even better pickup, for the Tigers had the worst stats of any team this year at second-base. Immediately they solve that problem, with a lifetime .276 hitter.

The Tigers have traded a lot with the Marlins, probably since Dave Dombrowski worked there. One of the great pickups they made was Miguel Cabrera, who continues to be one of the great hitters in baseball. On Sunday he socked two home runs, the second was his 300th in his career, and he is not yet 30 years old.

If Sanchez can be a reliable starter and Infante can hit decently, the Tigers should be unstoppable in their quest to win the division.