LAS VEGAS -- Part of the allure of this city as a vacation hub is the idea of living in the moment, taking chances and going all-in. That is not the state of mind of Tigers management right now, not in the second offseason of a long-term rebuild and farm system reconstruction.
When it comes to the Tigers and their biggest young hitter, however, they might be nearing a crossroads, perhaps at this week's Winter Meetings at Mandalay Bay Resort & Casino.
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Nicholas Castellanos is a year away from free agency, coming off his emergence as one of the better young hitters in baseball. If his work went relatively unnoticed in 2018, his Win Probability Added on a 98-loss Detroit club should not.
Castellanos finished ninth in the AL, and 14th in MLB, in WPA. No other player on a team that won fewer than 80 games placed higher. The only player with a better WPA on a team with a losing record was AL MVP runner-up Michael Trout, who led the league in the category the previous two years.
For all his defensive questions, Castellanos can offer value to clubs, and the Tigers have motivation to move him. It might not happen at the Winter Meetings, but it could happen before Spring Training.
General manager Al Avila wouldn't talk specifically about Castellanos' trade market, but cryptically noted a decent amount of trade talk leading into the meetings.
"I can say that there have been several conversations," Avila said. "But I can't say we're close to anything."
MLB.com's Jon Paul Morosi reported Monday that Castellanos is drawing trade interest, with the Braves among teams that have checked in. While teams are keeping tabs on Castellanos, no deal is close. There's hope that talks could pick up once free-agent hitters begin to sign and teams have to weigh their options.

Morosi later reported that the Dodgers are among the teams interested in Castellanos, though the two clubs have not yet come close to a deal:

"Teams have to weigh out what's their best route," Avila said. "So until that gets cleared up, you probably won't see much movement. As that gets cleared up, as a free agent signs or as a trade is made, one team solves their problem, then the next team, then the next team. It's like a domino effect. It's just a process."
Avila said at season's end that the Tigers could conceivably hold onto Castellanos. If they don't move him this offseason or next summer, Avila said, they could make him a qualifying offer, let him walk as a free agent and recoup a Draft comp pick between the first and second rounds.
A potential wrench in that plan, however, would be the qualifying offer, which is essentially a one-year contract offer that is worth the mean salary of baseball's 125 highest-paid players. That value this offseason was $17.9 million. If Castellanos, who turns 27 years old in March, accepted such an offer, he could hit the free-agent market again at age 28.
Tigers lose Gerber on waivers
Mike Gerber was an up-and-coming prospect in the Tigers' farm system a year ago, landing just outside MLB Pipeline's top 10 prospects in the organization when the 2018 season began. On Monday, the outfielder became a San Francisco Giant, claimed off waivers.
It was a swift departure for a multi-tooled player who struggled in his Major League debut in just 47 plate appearances. He went 4-for-42 with a double, four walks and 21 strikeouts in 18 games, coupled with a difficult season at Triple-A Toledo. Gerber batted just .213 for the Mud Hens with 13 homers, 34 RBIs and a .688 OPS, 126 points under his career Minor League clip.
Last Thursday was the deadline for teams to place players on waivers prior to this Thursday's Rule 5 Draft. Monday was the day those players either cleared waivers or were claimed, which explains the flood of waiver moves around baseball.
The Tigers already had two roster spots, but beyond the numbers, teams also try to sneak players through ahead of the Winter Meetings with hopes they could get lost in the shuffle. Gerber went unclaimed by American League teams, but the Giants -- seeking outfield depth under new president of baseball operations Farhan Zaidi -- made a claim.
Quick hits:
• The Tigers, having non-tendered James McCann last month and signed Bobby Wilson to a Minor League contract last week, are seeking one more catcher on a Minor League deal, with former D-back Chris Herrmann on the list of options.
• With veteran depth expected at Triple-A Toledo, top catching prospect Jake Rogers -- the Tigers' 12th-ranked prospect by MLB Pipeline -- could stay at Double-A Erie to open next season, Avila said, after struggling in the Arizona Fall League.
"I would say we're leaning towards that," Avila said, "just for his own good."
• Michael Fulmer, who underwent surgery to repair a torn meniscus late last season, is working out pain-free at the team's Spring Training facility in Lakeland, Fla., Avila said. Fulmer has some minor soreness, but nothing abnormal. He'll see Dr. James Andrews for a checkup on Wednesday.
• Jose Cabrera is working out normally and swinging a bat in anticipation of Spring Training.
"Right now, knock on wood, he's going to be in Spring Training full bore," Avila said.