The Detroit Free Press reports that the Tigers have shown interest in adding a backup catcher and another reliever for the stretch run, adding to the shopping list for Detroit heading towards Friday’s nonwaiver trade deadlines. The goal of the backup catching list would reportedly be for offense to supplement starter Gerald Laird, whose average has fallen to .233 as his workload continues to pile up.

Previous reports this summer have linked the Tigers to catching help, most recently a Pittsburgh Post-Gazette report that the Tigers were looking at Pirates farmhand Robinzon Diaz, who backed up in Pittsburgh while Ryan Doumit was on the disabled list but is now catching at Triple-A Indianapolis. Detroit called up catching prospect Dusty Ryan from Triple-A Toledo last month to provide more of an offensive punch than defensive-oriented Dane Sardinha, but amazingly, Ryan has started just six games since his arrival in mid-June.

The Tigers continued to scout potential relief help over the past week even with injured Joel Zumaya looking more and more likely to pitch again soon.

So, add up the various rumors and reports, and the Tigers have spent the last week or two looking with varied interest at starting pitching, relief, designated hitters, outfielders, middle infielders and catching. They have not looked for help at first and third base, but could acquire a hitter from those positions to DH if they wanted to add a bat. That’s quite a range for a team in first place.

— Jason Beck