Rumors also circulated this week about an Angels deal that would have brought Juan Acevedo and possibly also Robert Fick. But Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski has reportedly been telling other clubs he doesn’t want to trade Acevedo right now.

Brandon Inge continues to struggle throwing out base runners. The Tigers catcher has thrown out only 13.9 percent (5-of-36) of runners attempting to steal on the year. That mark would rank second lowest of all AL catchers if Inge had enough attempts to qualify.

One prospect that has gone largely unnoticed this season is Tigers outfielder Cody Ross. He’s batting .289 with 16 home runs, 58 RBIs, 15 steals and an .893 OPS (on-base plus slugging) in the Eastern League. He should get some attention from a team in search of offensive production.

Tigers legend Al Kaline led a public plea Monday by Hall of Famers for baseball to avoid another labor shutdown.

The more baffling question is what they’re going to get from the Reds beyond David Espinosa. Espinosa has been an ugly blend of interesting and appalling in the California League. He’s patient, about his only worthwhile offensive trait in a league that favors hitters. He doesn’t have much power, but at 20, he’s young. He doesn’t hit for average, but he’s young. He gets caught stealing a lot, but he’s young. He commits an error every third night or so, which makes him remarkably similar to another shortstop-turned-second baseman-turned–well, who knows?–Hiram Bocachica. Hopefully, the Tigers will get value in the other two players in the deal, because otherwise they have a 40-man roster slot invested in somebody who may not be ready for Double-A next year. Espinosa’s development is a long-term commitment, to say the least, and if the Tigers have one thing in spades, it’s time.

“I have hope because I like the approach to the project and the intensity of that approach.”