The Detroit Tigers have plenty working for them this season as they vie to grab the Motor City's first World Series title in 30 years.

Pitching? Check. Super aces Justin Verlander and Max Scherzer along with the steady Rick Porcello take care of that.

Hitting? No problem. Triple Crown winner Miguel Cabrera, All-Stars Ian Kinsler and Torii Hunter and slugger Victor Martinez are leading the charge on a deep offense.

Shortstop? Now, there's a problem.

It wasn't that way last season when the Tigers had All-Star Jhonny Peralta at the pivotal position. But when the troubled slugger -- who was suspended 50 games last season because of PED accusations stemming from the Biogenesis scandal -- signed with the St. Louis Cardinals in the offseason, it left the Tigers a bit short in the shortstop spot, so to speak.

Granted, that's not necessarily a knock against Andrew Romine. He has a nice arm, and he can play defense at a solid, consistent level, which is key when playing at one of the most strategic defensive positions on the field. His offense, however, is another story, the four-year shortstop is hitting an anemic .179 with only 2 RBIs and 25 strikeouts in 78 plate appearances this season. Needless to say, when at bat, he's no Peralta.

That's not to say that the Tigers absolutely need a player at shortstop who can light up the scoreboard with RBIs and homers, but it certainly couldn't hurt to get a more balanced player who can carry his weight on offense and perhaps also have some presence on defense. But is such a player attainable at the moment? Perhaps, with a little luck on the trade market, the answer may be yes.

There are a few shortstop gems out there that may be popping up in the rumor mill with the MLB trade deadline looming in July. And some of these big leaguers may have the stuff Detroit needs to beef up their shortstop needs.

Hanley Ramirez

Due to be one of 2015's most sought-after stars, Ramirez would make the Tigers' already formidable batting lineup even more frightening. Ramirez hit .345 with 27 homers and 57 RBIs last season, and while he's off to a slower star this season (.251, 6 HR, 21 RBIs), there isn't any indication that he won't start heating up as his walk year progresses. If the Dodgers can't work something out with Ramirez for a new deal, the Tigers would make a great destination for him.

J.J. Hardy

An All-Star last season, Hardy is quite capable on defense, and he has a pretty potent bat too, hitting 25 homers with 76 RBIs last season. The only major problem would be that the Baltimore Orioles, who Hardy plays for right now, may be a bit leery about trading their star shortstop to a division rival, even if Hardy is due to hit the free agency market after the season.

Stephen Drew

Plenty of analysts these days are wondering whether or not it's only a matter of time before Drew starts wearing Detroit black and white. The Tigers may have their chance after free agent Drew is eligible to sign with a team after the MLB Draft ends June 7. Drew hit .253 last season with 13 home runs and 67 RBIs. And while those aren't exactly All-Star numbers, it's a nice little pop to have in the starting lineup, and he's also a pretty good defensive shortstop. If the Tigers can manage to snag him, Drew would give the Tigers some depth in the batting lineup and on the field.

Jed Lowrie

Lowrie is not stellar on defense, but he's not bad, either. Where his real strength is located is in his bat. Lowrie hit .290 with 15 homers and 75 RBIs last season for the Oakland A's. With Lowrie's contract running out this season, he would make a nice pickup for Detroit to fill out the shortstop position.