Promoted. If you're Dmitri Young.
Young made his third move since starting his rehab stint about a week ago by reporting to AAA Toledo. He should have about 12 days to get into baseball shape and get his timing back before returning to the Tigers at the end of this month.
The question isn't if Young will return to the Tigers. The question is how much he'll play. If he can't hit in Toledo, he will likely ride the bench, getting a few pinch hit opportunities in late innings if the team is way up or way down. Then, on September 1, whoever is sent down will come back up when the big league team expands its roster.
The Tigers can't afford to let Dmitri Young go for nothing, and all in all, they shouldn't. He's got too much talent to be dropped around the trade deadline. If they can talk moving him to another team with giving up less for a left-handed bat, they should definitely go for it, but those odds are longer than the Tour de France.
If Young proves he can hit, he will surely get the nod in more games in August than any current Tiger bench player is getting at the moment. The Tigers play their bench less than any other team in baseball and putting Young on the bench and dropping one of their other players to AAA will help more than it does hurt. Young can't get any better in AAA than he will get with the big club where a younger talent that isn't getting as much playing time will get the necessary at bats to come help the team once September Call-Up happens.
Unfortunately, Young will end his rehab stint in line with the trade deadline, so there will be no way to truly evaluate him. The Tigers will likely make a move if the price is right. They won't get rid of Pudge, Shelton, Polanco, Guillen, Inge, Ordonez, or Granderson. They won't get rid of any starting pitcher (including Maroth). They won't get rid of Zumaya, Rodney or Jones. That leaves Thames (who they probably won't drop) and Monroe (who no one will really want). Thus, it looks like a slew of minor leaguers, which is fine, since most everone named above is either under 30 or an All-Star.
Another lefty out of the bullpen would also be nice...
