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According to a report by Bruce Levine of CBS Chicago, the Tigers are presently scouting outfielder Nate Schierholtz and infielder Darwin Barney of the Cubs. Levine writes that longtime Detroit exec Scott Reid is following both players this week.
The Tigers are in the trade market thanks to recent injuries to Andy Dirks (back surgery), who was to be the primary half of a left field platoon, and Jose Iglesias (stress fractures in legs), who was to be the starting shortstop. Dirks is expected to be out until June, while Iglesias could miss the majority of the 2014 season.
As for Schierholtz, the 30-year-old is a lefty bat like Dirks, and he owns an OPS+ of 100 across parts of seven major-league seasons. He's also a plus defender, not unlike Dirks.
Barney, meantime, isn't much of a hitter (career slash line of .246/.293/.336), but he's very much a standout defender in the middle infield and has the range and arm to man shortstop. On that point, it's worth noting that Barney in the majors has 131 2/3 defensive innings at short, and coming up through the minors he was a primary shortstop.
As Levine notes, the Cubs would likely seek pitching in return.
