Chicago – Among a wide range of topics Detroit Tigers general manager Al Avila addressed in an impromptu briefing in the clubhouse Sunday morning was whether Nick Castellanos was being considered a foundation piece of the rebuild, or a trade chip.
“Right now, I would say it’s a little early (to say),” Avila said. “In going into this trade deadline and into the winter, I don’t have a mandate to trade anyone. We’re not picking up the phone, and we’re not going to pick up the phone, and say we’re trading so and so.”
Avila acknowledged that the performances of veterans Francisco Liriano, Mike Fiers, Jose Iglesias and Leonys Martin – players on one-year deals and eligible for free agency – have perhaps made them more appealing to teams at the July 31 deadline.