While the Detroit Tigers have a very weak farm system and almost no wriggle room in the Majors to give up very much talent, the Tigers must be buying at this deadline. 

With the recent news that Mat Latos has been shipped to the Los Angeles Dodgers along with Michael Morse, the biggest suitors for Tigers ace David Price have officially exited the bidding. The next reported biggest suitor, the Chicago Cubs, have also left the bidding to pursue (likely) a San Diego starter and relief pitching. 

The only two teams left are the Toronto Blue Jays and San Francisco Giants. The Blue Jays have since acquired Troy Tulowitzki, and are now less likely to acquire Price due to the prospect cost it took to get him. The Giants are also not the most likely suitor, but they do have a good number of pitching prospects that could pull off a deal for Price.

The Tigers, however, have now lost their leverage in any Price deal, and with the Angels' acquisitions of multiple outfielders and the Orioles' looking at Justin Upton recently, the Tigers have also lost all leverage in a Yoenis Cespedes deal as well with his only remaining (possible) suitor being the New York Mets.

Detroit's top target, the Cincinnati Reds' Mike Leake, just pitched a good game Tuesday night, and the Tigers have not been rumored to have interest in anyone else ahead of the deadline.

With the Tigers' having won 2-1 over the Tampa Bay Rays on Wednesday afternoon, the Tigers are also on the buyers' market according to reports. The Kansas City Royals also lost 12-1 to the Cleveland Indians Wednesday. This one-game makeup was absolutely crucial to the Tigers' buying hopes, and it gives the team the proof it needed to believe they could win a wild card spot.

The Tigers could also look at relievers; however, it is currently unknown whom they could afford due to their weak prospect system. The Tigers were reportedly considering selling to replenish that system, but after winning two of their last seven games, they have fully shifted to an all-in for 2015 mentality.

The media appear split on whether this is a good decision for the Tigers. Some believe the Tigers should stand pat, getting healthy and contending with the current team without hurting the prospect pool. Others believe the team needs to improve its starting and or relief pitching to make a run this season. Still, others, including this writer, believe the team should sell at the deadline despite how unlikely this is. 

One thing this team cannot do is stand pat. The Tigers must decide to choose to either buy for the present or build for the future. The Tigers need to make a run at some point, and it does not appear they can do so with the current roster and farm system. While the Tigers' drafting has been better in recent years, they still have a very poor farm system, and despite Mike Hessman's tying of the Minor League home run record, as well as a stockpile of outfielders, the Tigers do not have any reliable prospects that could make a Major League impact. 

Losing Price and Cespedes for the combined price of one compensatory pick will not help the Tigers contend in the future. While general manager Dave Dombrowski (and possibly manager Brad Ausmus) might not be back next year, the Tigers need to do what is best for the franchise, and it appears as though they think it is buying at the deadline and making a run in 2015.