Tigers trade rumors: Jose Reyes is not on Detroit's shopping list

Jon Paul Morosi of FoxSports.com helped kick off the month of rumors leading up to the July 31 trade deadline in a big way by noting Thursday that Mets superstar shortstop Jose Reyes is not on Detroit's shopping list. (With the Mets now winners of six of their last eight games, he might not even be on their for-sale board, either). However, Morosi writes that Detroit will definitely be looking to shore up its pitching issues.

Morosi wrote:

Tigers officials seem content with their current level of offensive production. The team has scored 139 runs this month, second-most in the American League, and it’s possible that infielder Carlos Guillen (left knee microfracture surgery) will contribute during the second half.

*snip*

(T)he Tigers will have roughly the next month to decide whether Furbush – or another internal candidate such as Andrew Oliver or Jacob Turner, both of whom are in the minors – can be a reliable starter down the stretch. If not, they will intensify their search for a starting pitcher leading up to the July 31 non-waiver trade deadline.

It's really too early to spend too much time throwing around names. I know, it's July. That's the kind of thing that goes on. People wants names. I'm fighting a losing battle here. But right now, most teams are either in their division hunt or in the wild card hunt. The players you'd love to trade for probably aren't available anyway, and the players who are available aren't upgrades over what Detroit already has.

By the way, don't expect anything to happen any time soon on the second base front. As Morosi noted, Carlos Guillen expects to be back after the All-Star Break. He's already moving up to Triple-A Toledo in his rehab stint. I know what you're thinking. "That's silly. Carlos Guillen always breaks. Relying on him is a fool's errand." Yeah, well, Point 1, you're right. But Point 2, you don't run the team. So Guillen is going to get a shot until he breaks. Whether it's Ryan Raburn (.592 OPS) or Ramon Santiago (.567 OPS) at second base really isn't that big a deal because neither is hitting and both are below-average fielders at the position. I honestly can't believe there's so much consternation. It's like choosing between two meals at Taco Bell: they both suck and they both make me want to throw up. But if you have no other choice, well, whatchagonnado?

So just try to hold steady for awhile, OK? Things will develop closer to the end of the month.We'll be able to throw some realistic possibilities at you then. If you're desperate for any names people can toss out there ... visit MLive.