MLB Rumors: Detroit Tigers willing to trade Rick Porcello?

The Detroit Tigers traded away a quality arm in a baffling trade this off-season when they sent Doug Fister to the Washington Nationals. Now they are apparently willing to field trade offers for another member of their starting rotation.

Rick Porcello could be available in a trade, as the team is apparently open to offers for right-handed starting pitcher (from Nick Cafardo of the Boston Globe):

"The Tigers are said to be willing to listen to offers on him, according major league sources. Porcello is once again at the back end of the Tiger rotation. While still young and promising, the Tigers need more consistency in the rotation. The Tigers took lefty Robbie Ray in the Doug Fister deal, but Ray is likely not quite ready to make the jump.”"

Did I mention that the Fister trade was confusing?

As for Porcello, at age 25 he already has five big league seasons under his belt in which he has thrown at least 160 innings. Relying on a heavy sinker and pitching in the American League, Porcello has been prone to some spikes in ERA. He is 61-50 in his career with a 4.51 ERA. Last season Porcello posted his best K/9 mark at 7.2, indicating that his ceiling still might be higher than his numbers to this point would indicate. The guy has been learning on the job, after all.

Given their current self-imposed situation in the rotation, it seems unlikely the Tigers would be inclined to trade Porcello. It will be interesting to see if any teams make them serious offers for him in the coming weeks.