We've heard an awful lot about the Ubaldo Jimenez trade negotiations. We've heard that the Yankees are the best fit. We've heard that the Reds are the best fit. We've heard that the Red Sox are aggressive in pursuit. We've heard that the Indians are a potential big threat. Now, via Ken Rosenthal, we're getting talk about the Tigers:
Sources: #Tigers strong interest in #Rockies' Jimenez. Willing to include Turner in deal. Do not want to subtract from big-league club.
The Tigers have been rumored to be in on pretty much every single pitcher on the market, so it makes sense that they'd be in on Jimenez, who is probably the best of the bunch.
What could they offer? Their desire to keep the big league roster intact could be a problem, but a willingness to include Jacob Turner would be a good start. Turner - the ninth overall pick in 2009 - is a 20-year-old righty starter ranked by Baseball America as the No. 21 prospect before the season. Over 113-2/3 innings with double-A Erie, he has 90 strikeouts and 32 walks, which are good marks for a player so young.
It would take more than Turner to get a deal completed, but he could be a centerpiece. Stay tuned, as I'm sure there will be much much more on Ubaldo before the deadline passes.