MLB trade rumors: Tigers talking with multiple teams about Rick Porcello?

The Detroit Tigers have spoken with multiple MLB teams, including the Baltimore Orioles and Seattle Mariners, about possible trades involving starting pitcher Rick Porcello, according to Jon Morosi of FOX Sports. The 23-year-old sinker ball pitcher has drawn interest from quite a few National League teams as well, and the list of suitors possibly includes the Pittsburgh Pirates and San Diego Padres.

The Tigers recently re-signed Anibal Sanchez to a five-year, $80 million contract, so teams around the league are likely thinking that the Tigers can't afford to keep Porcello around for the long term. Porcello is a former first-round pick of the organization from the 2007 MLB Amateur Draft, and in 2013 he will be a second-year arbitration eligible player (Super two). His salary for 2012 was just $3.1 million, but that figure will jump to somewhere around $4.7 million for the upcoming season. He is under team control until 2016, so he still has some value as a cost-controlled option for teams in desperate need of starting pitching.

Porcello has posted a 4.55 ERA (94 ERA+) over his first four MLB seasons, and he has pitched 150+ innings each year.