MLB Trade Deadline Rumors: 5 trades Brewers should make

4. Ian Kinsler and Justin Verlander, Detroit Tigers

The Detroit Tigers announced they would be sellers before the trade deadline when trading J.D. Martinez to the Arizona Diamondbacks earlier this month. However, because Martinez is an impending free agent, we don’t yet know whether Detroit is planning to go all-in on a rebuild. If the Tigers pull the trigger, expect Ian Kinsler and Justin Verlander to be among the next to go.

Kinsler would provide the Brewers with a more permanent second base option than Cabrera, and one capable of holding down the leadoff spot for the Brewers during their postseason push. In 81 games, Kinsler is hitting .248/.331/.399 with nine home runs, 28 RBI, 57 runs scored and seven stolen bases.

Though he is suffering through a down season, the 35-year-old has a strong track record of success. Over the course of 12 seasons in the big leagues, Kinsler is a .275/.343/.448 career hitter, who has hit 20 or more home runs in four seasons (including 28 in 2016) and has surpassed 70 RBI eight times (including 83 last year).

Verlander would likely be on the Tigers franchise Mt. Rushmore if one existed, so the decision to trade the 13-year veteran would not come easy. Still, unloading the 34-year-old would help Detroit inject some youth into the roster.

In 21 starts this season, Verlander is 5-7 with a 4.50 ERA and 4.21 FIP with 120 strikeouts in 124 innings. Like Kinsler, Verlander’s 2017 numbers are rough compared to his career, but Verlander was the runner-up for the AL Cy Young Award last season, so he’s capable of better performance.

Both players are controllable for multiple seasons. Verlander’s contract runs through 2019 with a $22 million vesting option for 2020. Kinsler’s deal includes a $12 million team option for 2018 with a $5 million buyout.