The St. Louis Cardinals, half-game out of the NL Central, are in need of a third basemen due to the recent injury to David Freese. The Detroit Tigers on the other hand need a whole lot more than a third baseman to get out of their 8 game hole in the AL Central.

Jeff Gordon of the St. Louis Post-Dispatch wonders if the Tigers decide to fold up for the season, will they decide to trade away their third baseman Brandon Inge? Inge surprisingly returned on Wednesday from a broken left hand. He was out only 16 days.

Other trade possibilities for the Cardinals include the Boston Red Sox’ Mike Lowell, the Baltimore Orioles’ Ty Wigginton or Houston Astros’ Pedro Feliz. Free agent Joe Crede may be available, but he’s currently recovering from chronic back troubles.

“Obviously we’re going to explore things,” general manager John Mozeliak said this week. “I don’t think there are a lot of available options out there at this time. … You’re on the clock of the waivers. If you’re overly aggressive there it changes the (asking price).

Inge, 33, is hitting .269/.346.418 in 89 games this season. He is making $6.6 million in the final-year of his four-year contract.