MLB: Top Tigers on trading block?

SCOTTSDALE, ARIZ.— Detroit Tigers ace Justin Verlander and slugger Miguel Cabrera could be available for the right price. The Chicago White Sox might be prepared to deal Chris Sale, too.

Not even a week has passed since the Chicago Cubs won their first World Series title in more than a century and teams already are involved in trade talk as they position themselves for 2017 and beyond.

“The conversations this year with GMs started earlier and had more substance to them than I recall in the past,” Philadelphia general manager Matt Klentak said Tuesday on the first full day of the GMs’ annual meeting.

A weak free-agent market at many positions has driven deal dialogue. Frustrated they have not won the World Series since 1984 despite a payroll that is among baseball’s highest, the Tigers sound ready to embark on a rebuild.

“We have an open mind to listen on any player on our roster,” general manager Al Avila said. “We’re going to try to make this organization good for the long run, not the short run. We’re looking at it as all-in for the long haul. And so the transition, that first step, might be a little bit tough here.”

No glove for Jays: The Blue Jays were shut out of the Gold Glove selections Tuesday. Kevin Pillar, a finalist in centre field, lost to Tampa Bay’s Kevin Kiermaier for the second straight year, while pitcher R.A. Dickey was beaten by Houston’s Dallas Keuchel, who won for the third time.

Epstein top executive: Cubs president Theo Epstein was voted The Sporting News executive of the year.

Epstein received 13 of 56 votes, followed by Cleveland’s Chris Antonetti (nine), the New York Yankees’ Brian Cashman (eight) and Texas’s Jon Daniels (seven). Jays minor-leaguer suspended: Minor-league catcher Cameron O’Brien, currently in the Toronto Blue Jays’ system with rookie-level Bluefield of the Appalachian League, has received a 50-game suspension without pay after testing positive for an amphetamine.