I have been toying around with various iterations of this trade for a while, then rejig it one final time after the Friend injury, which comes not long after news that Law's return has been forestalled indefinitely.
The trade's origins are rooted in housekeeping, with Kellner, Raschi and Groth all in their walk year and you know I hate getting zip for them on the way out. But somehow despite everything that has happened / continues to happen, we find ourselves still in contention - and so the final version actually transacted upon includes McDermott, a rental who just ticks up our rotation in the absence of the other two.
We've been running Fred Marsh as our infielder of last resort, but Pendleton undoubtedly gives us a bit more flexibility in a utility role. Diering is an elite defender at all three OFs and I just feel this will really help us with him replacing Kiner in LF when we have a late lead. I question whether either are integral to our longer-term plans, but I think this is the old making silk out of a sow's ear sort of deal that improves us in the present and does no harm in the future. It should equally benefit the Tigers, who find themselves making a somewhat unexpected title tilt. The proverbial win-win. Watch us bump into the in the WS now...
