By the time baseball's trade deadline day rolls around on July 31, we'll have a pretty good indication of what Dave Dombrowski thinks about his Detroit Tigers.
Dombrowski, one of the most proactive general managers in all of professional sports, will certainly not stand pat -- especially if the Tigers continue to play a nothing-comes-easy brand of baseball.
Dombrowski is in a precarious situation. The Tigers went into the season as one of the favorites to win it all, but because of their recent play, he must honestly answer this question: Just how close is this team to a World Series title?
If he believes they're not very close, then he must entertain offers for 2013 AL Cy Young winner Max Scherzer.
I'm not saying trade Scherzer to create controversy. In fact, I would love to see him come to an agreement with the Tigers. He's a fiery competitor -- a heart-and-soul player -- who leaves it all out on the diamond.
But if the Tigers fade, the chances of him staying in Detroit beyond this season will all but vanish, too. Worse yet, they'll get just a compensatory draft pick or perhaps nothing at all if he signs elsewhere next season.
They need more than that to fix what's ailing them now: Their bullpen is a mess; their starting pitching has been mediocre; their outfield defense is shaky; they lack left-handed power; and they need more offense from the entire bottom of their lineup.
Dombrowski has made the Tigers contenders by constantly wheeling and dealing. Whether it's signing free agents or pulling the trigger on a big trade, he's not shy about changing his team's dynamic.
He understands as well as anybody that another Central Division title isn't good enough. Everyone's expectation is a World Series championship. It's all or nothing.
I have a feeling that if the Tigers continue to struggle and the right trade -- one that plugs many holes -- comes along for Scherzer, Dombrowski would make the deal.
The Tigers have a huge bargaining chip in Scherzer. They could ask for the stars and the moon for him, and come close to receiving them.
What they acquire could set up the Tigers for the next several seasons. They'll likely get proven talent and a few hot prospects, which could always be dealt for more proven talent.
The Tigers will need all of that and more, considering what 2015 might look like: Scherzer, Victor Martinez and Torii Hunter will be free agents; Justin Verlander could settle into being just a slightly better-than-average starter; Joe Nathan might be a flat-out bust; Jose Iglesias' shins could be a persistent problem; and rookie Eugenio Suarez might be just a flash in the pan.
Dombrowski knows it and, if he can't win it all this season, will continue trying to make the Tigers as perfect as possible for next season and beyond.
Trading Max Scherzer might be too perfect to pass up.
