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The Detroit Tigers have engaged in trades with every Major League Baseball franchise, and as the offseason trade market begins to heat up, their historical trade patterns are drawing renewed attention. Notably, the club has completed 51 trades with the Baltimore Orioles and 41 with the Boston Red Sox, per available records.
Recently, the Tigers acquired a player from the Boston Red Sox for cash considerations, signaling an early effort to bolster the middle infield while also exploring free agency. With a roster featuring more than 40 players and a few non-tender candidates, Detroit could become a significant player on the trade market, particularly before the current Collective Bargaining Agreement expires on December 1.
Trade History with AL East Teams
The Tigers and Red Sox have matched up in 41 trades, making Boston one of Detroit's most frequent trade partners. Since 2020, the two clubs have completed three trades, including sending Jahmai Jones to Boston earlier this season and acquiring Cheng a few days ago. Past notable swaps include Detroit trading Rick Porcello to Boston for Yoenis Cespedes, Gabe Speier, and Alex Wilson, as well as the Red Sox sending Jose Iglesias to Detroit while Brayan Villarreal went to Boston.
With the Orioles, the Tigers have completed 51 trades, the most recent occurring earlier this season when Detroit traded longtime catcher Jake Rogers to Baltimore for Zane Barnhart. One memorable deal saw the Tigers send minor leaguer Brett Jacobson to Baltimore for Aubrey Huff.
Detroit and the New York Yankees have also completed two three-team trades since 2009, with the Arizona Diamondbacks involved in both. Despite the Diamondbacks being a major league franchise since 1998, the Tigers have made double-digit trades with the West Coast club.
National League Trade Partners and Rivalries
The Atlanta Braves and Tigers have completed 38 deals over the years. The most recent saw Detroit trade Jim Jarvis to Atlanta for Rafael Montero as part of the 2025 MLB Trade Deadline. The franchises' most famous swap sent Doyle Alexander to Detroit for John Smoltz, a future Hall of Famer.
The Chicago Cubs and Tigers have completed fewer deals, but those trades have worked in both franchises' favor. Most recently, in 2023, the two teams made a deal that sent Zach McKinstry to Detroit while Carlos Guzman went to Chicago. Earlier trades included the Tigers sending Nick Castellanos and cash to the Cubs for Paul Richan and Alex Lange, and Detroit trading Alex Avila and Justin Wilson to Chicago for Jeimer Candelario, Isaac Paredes, and cash.
The Tigers' AL Central rival, the Chicago White Sox, has struck deals with Detroit in the past. Most recently, the Tigers purchased the contract of Jake Marisnick from the White Sox in May 2023.
The Cincinnati Reds and Tigers have completed 32 trades, though the clubs are not frequent partners. The last deal saw Detroit acquire catcher Tucker Barnhart from Cincinnati for Nick Quintana in 2021.
Frequent Partners and Recent Activity
The Cleveland Guardians, the Tigers' biggest rival, are frequent trade partners. One familiar deal saw the Cleveland Indians trade Jhonny Peralta and cash to Detroit for Giovanni Soto.
The Colorado Rockies have completed just seven trades with the Tigers since joining Major League Baseball, the most recent coming in 2024 when Detroit purchased PJ Poulin from Colorado.
The Athletics and Tigers know each other well, with Detroit having eliminated Oakland from the playoffs, including on the receiving end of Magglio Ordonez's walk-off home run that sent the Tigers to the World Series for the first time since 1984. However, the two franchises have not made a trade since 2018, when Mike Fiers was traded to the Athletics for Nolan Blackwood and Logan Shore.
With the Red Sox and Tigers already emerging as trade partners, Detroit's front office is showing its intentions early this offseason. The club could make a handful of trades as it reshapes its roster ahead of the CBA expiration on December 1.
Originally reported by headtopics.