DETROIT >> Most of the trade talk so far, as it relates to the Tigers, has been about pitcher Jack Flaherty, first baseman-outfielder Mark Canha and third baseman Gio Urshela.

And rightly so. All three veteran players are on expiring contracts. Flaherty and Canha, especially, are expected to draw interest from contending teams.

But don’t sleep on catcher Carson Kelly. The supply of competent, experienced catchers is low throughout the industry and there are a couple of contending teams feeling a pinch at that position.

“I just control what I can control,” Kelly shrugged, when asked about potentially being a trade target. “It can come into your mind, but you still have to go out and compete and do your job.

“And I want to win. I want an opportunity to win. So, just try to give it my all every day and help us win ballgames.”

Kelly, who turns 30 on July 14, has rejuvenated his career, finally healthy after breaking bones in his wrist and forearm the two previous seasons. Entering play Saturday, he’s slashed .297/.375/.500 with an .875 OPS in his last 19 games.

Behind the plate, he’s worth plus-4 runs above average and 7 runs above average blocking. He’s thrown out 13 of 35 attempted base stealers, making him plus-4 outs above average in that category.

In terms of organizational wins, put Kelly right up there with Michael Lorenzen last year and Flaherty this season. The Tigers brought catching coordinator Ryan Sienko to the big-league club after Kelly was signed late last season and the two have worked tirelessly together since.

“I think it’s always important to celebrate that,” manager AJ Hinch said. “But it starts with the player and the openness to instruction. The continual pushing and then the application in the game. I love the relationship he has with Sink (Sienko) and the foundation they built dating back to last year.

“It’s an organizational win, yes. But a player-driven mentality that you can work with is a huge component to that.”

Looking around the league, the Phillies, who come to Comerica Park this week, have been playing without starting catcher J.T. Realmuto since June 9. He’s on the injured list after undergoing knee surgery. The Cardinals have been playing without starter Willson Contreras, who is beginning a rehab assignment soon.

The Diamondbacks just put their starting catcher Gabriel Morena (thumb) on the IL. Astros put backup catcher Victor Caratini on the IL. The Mariners, in first place in the America League West, list only Cal Raleigh at catcher on their 40-man roster.

The Red Sox, who are making an unexpected run in the American League East, might want to supplement their present duo of Connor Wong and Reese McGuire. Same for the Yankees, who might want some insurance behind Jose Trevino and Austin Wells.

Certainly, more obvious catching needs could pop up between now and the July 30 trade deadline. So it’s not a stretch to think Kelly might be in play for teams.

“Right now, as a player, it’s really easy to get pulled in different directions,” Kelly said. “You can’t let that happen. We’re players. We’re not GMs. If we try to play that role, I think it clogs your mind and you don’t perform as well as you should.

“It’s another distraction. The more I can stay present, the better off things will be.”

He’s been through this before. He was traded by the Cardinals to the Diamondbacks in 2018 in a deal that sent Paul Goldschmidt to St. Louis.

“Yeah, it’s hard,” he said. “It’s not the first time I’ve been in this position where I could possibly get traded. The biggest thing is, you drive yourself crazy if you let it ping-pong around in your head. Just stay where your feet are.”

If it were up to Hinch, Kelly’s feet would stay right where he’s at for the rest of the year.

“Yeah, I like exactly where he is at,” Hinch said. “I don’t even like the premise of that question. That puts me in a bad state. We need to keep winning games. But I think he has established himself as a contributor to a winning team, for sure.”

Hinch believes that winning team can be the Tigers. They have about a month to get on a run and discourage president Scott Harris from being an aggressive seller at the deadline.

Speaking of trade candidates, teams could start sniffing around the Tigers for bullpen help. Veterans Andrew Chafin and Shelby Miller would be useful to contending teams.

Both have club options for next season — Chafin for $6.5 million, Miller for $4.25 million. Depending on the team, that could be an enticement. Those players could be more than just a two-month rental.

That could also drive up the Tigers’ asking price.

Tork’s bat

Spencer Torkelson is grinding away at Triple-A Toledo, but his bat is still in the Tigers’ lineup most days.

Huh?

Yep, rookie Colt Keith has been using Torkelson’s bat.

“I broke like three bats in the course of like four games or so,” Keith said. “Tork just said, ‘Use my bat.’ I used it in Arizona and got four hits and I’ve been using it ever since.”

Saturday was the 31st game Keith has played using Torkelson’s bat. In the first 30 he’s slashed .297/.330/.426 with four doubles and three homers.

“He gave me three initially and I have some more on the way,” Keith said. “I hope it gives me a few more hits.”

Around the horn

Jack Flaherty continues to solidify his standing among the elite starting pitchers in the American League. He’s posted a 1.83 ERA over his last nine starts with 72 strikeouts and 9 walks in 54 innings. His 11.66 strikeouts per 9 innings and 8.31 strikeout-to-walk ratio ranks second in the American League.

In terms of Tigers’ history, Flaherty is the first starter to post a sub-3 ERA with 108 or more strikeouts in the first 14 starts of a season since Mickey Lolich in 1971.