In the AL Central, the Detroit Tigers (57-34) led the Cleveland Guardians by 12.5 games going into Sunday’s series finale. They were tied with the Los Angeles Dodgers for the greatest baseball record.
Detroit still has a few needs to take care of before the trade deadline, despite the fact that the Tigers are considered a danger to make a long postseason run and have been among the top teams in the majors.
Finding a third baseman of starting caliber and a relief pitcher who throws strikeouts in the bullpen are those two necessities.
Eugenio Suarez, a power-hitting third baseman for the Arizona Diamondbacks, has been floated as a potential Tigers alternative in recent weeks. The Diamondbacks are only 3.5 games out from the National League’s last wild card slot, so they don’t appear to be sellers just yet.
However, as the trade deadline draws nearer, the Tigers must have a few backup alternatives available.
Tigers Keeping Tabs on Pirates Third Baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes
The New York Yankees, Chicago Cubs, and Tigers have all shown interest in Pittsburgh Pirates veteran third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes, according to Bob Nightengale of USA TODAY.
“The Yankees would love to acquire D-backs third baseman Eugenio Suarez at the deadline and slide Jazz Chisholm back to second base. The Yankees, along with the Detroit Tigers and Chicago Cubs, have also expressed interest in Pirates third baseman Ke’Bryan Hayes.”
Compared to Suarez, Hayes would be a significant offensive decline. Suarez is hitting.255 with 28 home runs and 73 RBI so far this season. Additionally, the Diamondbacks’ third baseman has the third-highest OPS of his career at.891.
The Tigers’ fan base probably won’t care if Hayes isn’t nearly as successful at hitting home runs as Suarez. The 28-year-old third baseman is hitting this season. 244 with 29 RBI and two home runs.
Hayes’ lifetime OPS of.683 and hitting.256 are not very noteworthy. But when it comes to defense, Hayes is superior to Suarez. With a 2023 fielding percentage of.984, greater than the league average of.963, the Pirates infielder has a Gold Glove trophy on his record.
As of Sunday, Hayes leads the major league in double plays with 18 and has a.983 field percentage this season. However, Suarez has made 11 mistakes, which is a major-league record, and his fielding percentage is.945—lower than the league average of.961.
Hayes signed an eight-year, $70 million deal in 2022, and he is currently in the middle of it. On an annual basis, it’s not a costly contract, though, which may make trading simpler in the coming weeks.
However, it probably wouldn’t cost the Tigers any of their best prospects in a possible deal because he isn’t an offensive performer on par with a star or All-Star. Nevertheless, in the weeks before the deadline, it will be intriguing to watch what Detroit does in the hot corner.
