MLB trade rumors: Tigers unlikely to trade Michael Fulmer

The Tigers are unlikely to trade All-Star starter Michael Fulmer, according to FanRag’s Jon Heyman. Heyman notes that “nothing is impossible” on Fulmer, adding that a deal is “improbable.”

Fulmer, like Blue Jays starter Marcus Stroman and Mets ace Jacob deGrom, has been bandied about in trade rumors in recent weeks as the Tigers prepare to sell assets before the deadline. Detroit will likely deal J.D. Martinez, Alex Avila and Justin Wilson, though moves involving Fulmer or starter Justin Verlander are unlikely at this point.

Fulmer, just 24, owns a 10-6 record and 3.06 ERA in 18 starts for the Tigers this year after winning AL Rookie of the Year a season ago. He is under club control for five more seasons after this one, meaning the Tigers will likely be looking to contend once again before he hits free agency after 2022.

The rumors involving Fulmer (and Stroman and deGrom, for that matter) have largely been based on the thought that teams with controllable starting pitchers can extract maximum value on a sellers’ market for rotation help. At this point, it appears all three of those pitchers will stay put while other options like Sonny Gray (Athletics) and Julio Teheran (Braves) as well as some rental arms are made more available.