New York — More than a typical Tigers-Yankees duel was at stake heading into Thursday evening’s series opener at Yankee Stadium.
The 2018 trade deadline for adding waiver-approved, playoff-eligible players is midnight Friday, and on Thursday night the Tigers, according to a source close to the team, possessed only one potential trade chip: Francisco Liriano.
Liriano had at least one team interested, the source said, but that any serious appetite would depend upon Liriano’s start Thursday and how he might fare with his customary challenge, the strike zone. Liriano is appealing to at least one contender as a bullpen option, especially when left-handed hitters are batting .