Trade Watch: Is Another Shortstop Coming to Detroit?

Following up on Friday's post speculating how the Pirates' Jack Wilson could somehow be traded to Detroit (I don't even want to call it a "possibility," because I think it was largely a hypothetical scenario), it appears as if the Tigers might indeed have an interest in acquiring a shortstop by Tuesday's trade deadline.  

Today's Detroit Free Press notes that a team scout was watching Clint Barmes, who's currently playing for the Rockies' Triple-A affiliate in Colorado Springs.  (Yesterday's Denver Post mentions that, as well.)  

Barmes lost his job to Troy Tulowitzki in Spring Training, and is batting .310/.374/.464 with eight home runs, 36 RBIs, and eight stolen bases.  He had a quick 10-game stint with the Rockies this season, filling in for Kazuo Matsui at second base.  Barmes probably put up his best numbers in 2005, hitting .289/.330/.434 with 10 home runs and 46 RBI in 81 games (350 at-bats).

The Tigers are concerned about the depth behind Carlos Guillen, and the Freep article says that Omar Infante's two errors in seven games at shortstop has shaken their faith in him at that position.  Neifi Perez could soon be back, but he wasn't playing very well before his suspension, and may have ended his Tigers career by getting caught using illegal stimulants.  

Here's a June article from the Denver Post detailing Barmes' improving his batting average, as well as learning to play second base and the outfield to increase his appeal to a major league team.