Tigers Deal Stars on Final Trade Deadline

The Detroit Tigers may have had the day off Thursday, the front office made two major moves before the final trade deadline of the year.

In the afternoon, the Tigers shipped outfielder Justin Upton to the Los Angeles Angels for minor league pitcher Grayson Long and a player to be named later. Detroit will receive the eighth-best prospect from the Halos organization that could make the big club within the next two years.

Upton led the Tigers in almost every batting category among the regular starters in his second season, batting .279 with 28 homers and driving in 94 runs.

As the clock almost struck midnight, the Tigers and American League West Division-leading Houston Astros would strike a deal that sent long time starter Justin Verlander to the Lone Star State. Houston will also get a player to be named later or cash considerations. In return, the Tigers get three Astro prospects - pitcher Frankling Perez, outfielder Daz Cameron and catcher Jake Rogers.

Verlander pitched Wednesday in the Tigers finale against the Colorado Rockies, earning his 10th win on the season. JV went 183-114 in 13 seasons in Detroit, earning Rookie of the Year honors in 2006, and CY Young and MVP awards in 2011.