Saturday’s trade deadline is creeping up on major league baseball. And while the Tigers once were considering what it might take for a run at the AL Central flag, their last week against division rivals has not been heartening.

If the Tigers are going to make a move, it looks like teams are salivating over (o.k., looking at) pitchers Ugueth Urbina and Mike Maroth.

The Giants are looking for a closer, even coming to scout Urbina. Many teams are looking for a left-handed starter. But manager Alan Trammell tells the News he’s not worried about it, chiefly because he’s got other things to worry about, like getting to .500.

While Urbina may well be a hired gun and fully prepared to pitch anywhere, Maroth would seem to be the kind of pitcher everybody wants to build a team around: young, left-handed and having a reasonable amount of success, despite a tough road-record this year. Seems like he should be part of the future, not dealt to build that future.

Billfer at the Tiger Weblog also figures the five-loss week has done in the Tabbies’ dreams of contending this year. He also notes with fondness the Sparky-style lineup of recent, leading off with the second baseman, followed by the shortstop.

On an optimistic note the AP story posted at Mlive notes: “The Tigers have an extra-base hit in 28 straight games, and are on pace to break the club record of 543 extra-base hits in a season set in 1929.”

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