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Tigers make Gleyber Torres announcement.

The Detroit Tigers have had a tough start to the 2026 season. At the time of this writing, the Tigers have an underwhelming 18-22 record and are fourth in the American League Central standings. They have also been continuing to struggle as of late, as they have lost each of their last five games.

If the Tigers are unable to heat back up and do not climb up the standings, there is a real chance that they will end up being sellers this season. The possibility of them bouncing back certainly cannot be ruled out, though, as they trail the first-place Cleveland Guardians in the AL Central by just 2.5 games.

Yet, if the Tigers continue to trend in the wrong direction, they will have some interesting trade chips to dangle closer to the deadline. Due to this, one of their top infielders has now been named as a trade candidate to watch.

Detroit Tigers Infielder Gleyber Torres Named as a Top Trade Candidate

In a recent article for FanSided, Mark Powell took a look at five Tigers who could be on the move this season if they end up being sellers. Among the players who Powell brought up as a trade candidate for the Tigers is star infielder Gleyber Torres.

“I’m a fan of what Torres brings to the Tigers lineup. They are not a very patient team in general, and did little to address that this past winter. The one thing Scott Harris did do is sign Torres to a qualifying offer, which the second baseman took after perusing the market. This means Gleyber is on an expiring contract, which could prove quite valuable to the Tigers if they’re looking to sell off assets at the trade deadline,” Powell wrote.

With Torres having the chance to test the free-agent market after this season, it is understandable that Powell has named him as a trade candidate to watch. If he is made available for trade, teams looking for help in their infield will likely have him on their radar. It is not difficult to understand why, as Torres is a three-time All-Star who is capable of providing a bit of everything.

Torres has appeared in 32 games this season with the Tigers, where he has two home runs, 11 RBIs, and a .259 batting average. This is after he had 16 home runs, 74 RBIs, and a .256 batting average in 145 games this past season as an All-Star. With numbers like these, he would be a nice pickup for a contender if the Tigers decide to shop him near the deadline.

Tigers Will Be a Team to Watch Closer to the MLB Trade Deadline

With how this campaign has been going for the Tigers, it is clear that they will be a team to watch as we get closer to the deadline. If they continue to struggle, it would make sense if they made top players like Torres available for trade. However, if they bounce back and end up being at the top of the AL Central near the deadline, we could see them be buyers instead.

Ultimately, the Tigers will have some big decisions to make later this campaign. It will be interesting to see if they end up dealing Torres from here.