Entering the weekend, the Detroit Tigers sit eight games back of first place in the American League Central and only two games above .500.

These may not seem like common traits of a team that would be considered “buyers” at the trade deadline, let alone contenders. But for the Detroit Tigers, this is reality. Another reality, the Tigers might be one of the most aggressive teams on the market.

With a veteran-laden roster, the team is poised to win now. Throw in an owner who wants a ring and a fan base that has experienced every level of playoff baseball (save the wild card play-in game) without actually winning it all, and you have some of the other standard ingredients of a buying team.

Miguel Cabrera’s injury, which will keep him out until mid-August, has thrown a monkey wrench in the march to October. The logical thinking would see the Tigers acquire some kind of significant help, but the rest of the team has responded.

J.D. Martinez is on such a ridiculous tear that the terms “white-hot” and “en fuego,” let alone “on fire,” aren’t close to accurate. In short, Martinez has mashed 12 home runs in in his last 17 games entering the weekend. Throw in a suddenly rejuvenated Victor Martinez (.341 batting average since returning last month) as well as Yoenis Cespedes, and Detroit suddenly has a feared offense without its best hitter.

While Detroit’s offense has carried, and will continue to carry the team, Cabrera or no Cabrera the starting pitching must be improved.

The Tigers’ starting pitchers are 27th in MLB in terms of collective starting staff’s average WAR. Detroit’s starting pitchers have averaged an ugly -2.8 WAR.

This can be attributed to a number of things (in no particular order): an inability to replace Rick Porcello and Drew Smyly, the injury absences of Justin Verlander and Kyle Lobstein, Alfredo Simon’s recent struggles, Shane Greene’s overall struggles or the struggles of call-ups Buck Farmer and Kyle Ryan.

Any way you slice it, the glory days of a rotation featuring Max Scherzer, a flame throwing Verlander and Doug Fister are gone. Detroit must improve.

Thanks to the lack of starting depth in the minors, the options for the Tigers are pretty much confined to the trade market.

The big fish potentially available, Cole Hamels and Johnny Cueto, are likely way too expensive in terms of the cost to acquire. If dealt, fellow starters Scott Kazmir and Jeff Samardzija figure to command significant returns as well.

In terms of smaller fish that the Tigers could focus on, there are a number of options. Brewers’ duo Kyle Loshe and Matt Garza figure to be shopped given Milwaukee’s record, but both are reclamation projects at best given their combined 20 losses and ugly ERAs (6.29 for Loshe, 5.55 for Garza).

A mid-tier acquisition could be more beneficial. San Diego Padres duo Andrew Cashner and Ian Kennedy would both be fits, as would Miami Marlins teammates Mat Latos and Dan Haren. Given the dismal offenses in San Diego and Miami, any of the four could suddenly start racking up wins in Detroit, similar to Doug Fister, given the vast differences in run production.

Even if none of the previously listed targets come to fruition, the Tigers have a habit of acquiring players with no pundit or fans thought they would trade for. There were the brilliant, the under-the-radar acquisitions of Fister and Anibal Sanchez, as well as the mega-deals for superstars like Cabrera and David Price.

No one thought Fister or Sanchez would move the needle much in Detroit, but Fister went on to establish himself as one of the better starters in the league during his time with the Tigers. Sanchez claimed the A.L. ERA crown in 2013 and pitched lights-out in the postseason.

Tigers’ general manager Dave Dombrowski knows how to win the less-heralded deals as well as the bigger ones. No one had the Tigers acquiring Price, due to a lack of assets, but Dombrowski pulled it off. Detroit’s minor league system is constantly lambasted for being dreadful. Nonetheless, the system has recently produced quality talent. Dombrowski should be looking to turn some of those prospects, or maybe surplus pieces from the big league squad, into a starting pitcher or two. The Tigers have been uncharacteristically poor this season. Whether it be the next Doug Fister or the next David Price, Detroit is in dire need of help in the starting pitching department. Their season could depend on it.   

All stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com unless otherwise noted.