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MLB trade rumors: Top 25 trade assets for deadline

By Joshua Sadlock

Jun 24, 2017; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Baltimore Orioles third baseman Manny Machado (13) smiles while on deck during the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 24, 2017; St. Petersburg, FL, USA; Baltimore Orioles third baseman Manny Machado (13) smiles while on deck during the first inning against the Tampa Bay Rays at Tropicana Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /
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Jun 19, 2017; Seattle, WA, USA; Detroit Tigers catcher Alex Avila (31) hits into a double play against the Seattle Mariners during the third inning at Safeco Field. Detroit scored a run on the play. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports
Jun 19, 2017; Seattle, WA, USA; Detroit Tigers catcher Alex Avila (31) hits into a double play against the Seattle Mariners during the third inning at Safeco Field. Detroit scored a run on the play. Mandatory Credit: Joe Nicholson-USA TODAY Sports /

19. Alex Avila

After spending the first seven years of his career with the Tigers, Alex Avila spent 2016 with the White Sox. There may have been some nepotism involved in Detroit bringing him back in 2017 for $2 million (Avila is the son of Tigers executive Al Avila). Whatever the case may be, Avila looks revitalized after dealing with injuries for years.

In his second full season in the big leagues, Avila made the All-Star Game, won the Silver Slugger at catcher, and earned MVP votes. That was 2011, and Avila batted .295/.389/.506 with 19 home runs and 82 RBI. Injuries, especially concussions, kept him from ever approaching that line again — until this year.

Avila seemed finished after hitting .216/.331/.354 from 2013 to 2016. Avila was only able to play 124 games total in 2015 and 2016. That makes what he is doing this year so impressive and shocking. Nearing 200 plate appearances, he has an OPS over 1.000 and is back to playing every day. Avila is still only 30 years old and appears to have put his health issues behind him. As a left-handed bat, he could be a target for the Yankees.

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