Detroit Tigers players who could be on the move
As the Detroit Tigers enter the month of June, General Manager Al Avila will be listening to offers for some notable players in their free agent seasons.
The Detroit Tigers are speeding rapidly toward a crossroads in 2017 and the future of this season and next will hinge on which way General Manager Al Avila decides to turn the wheel. The team ranks near the top of the league in payroll but has managed just a 23-27 record, good for only fourth place in the American League Central.
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To complicate the issue, the American League Central has been surprisingly competitive this season. The Minnesota Twins look like real contenders and continue to play winning baseball at the top of the division while the Chicago White Sox have experienced a competitive surge after trading fiery starting pitcher Chris Sale in the offseason.
This puts General Manager Al Avila in a very difficult situation. Detroit’s aging and high-priced core of players like Miguel Cabrera, Justin Verlander, Victor Martinez and Justin Upton are virtually untradeable. But with several players approaching free agency, Avila could conceivably rebuild on the fly if the team is on the bubble come the trade deadline.
Here are some the the players that could be on the move as the 2017 trade deadline approaches.
Ian Kinsler
The former Texas Ranger has played at an All-Star level since being traded to the Detroit Tigers just prior to the 2014 season. Ian Kinsler was part of a deal that sent Prince Fielder (and a boat load of cash) to the Texas Rangers. It was a deal that took the baseball world by surprise and the first move in then General Manager Dave Dombrowski’s attempt to re-tool on the fly. The acquisition of Kinsler provided the answer the Tigers were looking for at both the top of the batting order and at second base.
Kinsler is coming off an All-Star caliber 2016 season where he saw a resurgence in power (28 HR) while winning a Gold Glove. Offensively he is off to a slow start but has still been flashing leather. The slumping bat can be explained in part by a hamstring injury Kinsler has been nursing all season. The Tigers recently sent their second baseman to the DL in attempt to rid him of the lingering issue.
Despite the slow start and recent trip to the disabled list, Kinsler is a very attractive trade piece for the Tigers. Kinsler is being paid just $11 million this season and is under club control through 2018 thanks to a team option. With his ability to perform consistently well at the top of the order, the Detroit Tigers could get a solid return for the All-Star second baseman.
Jose Iglesias
Jose Iglesias is a wizard with the glove and is just two years removed from an All-Star season when he hit .300 with a .717 OPS. Iggy’s value is certainly in his glove. However, at the bottom of the order he is a plus hitter while occupying the ninth spot.
Igelsias is a free agent in 2018 and could help a team looking to solidify its defense up the middle. He won’t bring much in the way of prospects but as an add-on piece to a larger trade, he could definitely enhance the return.
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Justin Wilson
The hard throwing southpaw could bring a big return in a trade this season. Justin Wilson has stabilized the back-end of the bullpen as the closer, an issue that threatened to endanger the Tigers’ season.
Wilson has been stellar this season, averaging 14.9 K/9 while posting a 0.85 WHIP. These days every team in baseball is looking for another bullpen arm. Wilson’s fastball regularly tops 96 mph. Throw in the fact that he his left-handed and Wilson should bring a nice price tag on the open market.
Wilson is signed through 2017, arbitration eligible in 2018, and can be a free agent in 2019. This gives his potential new club a couple of seasons of control.
J.D. Martinez
The other Martinez has been a case study on undervaluing players since Detroit picked him off the Houston Astros’ scrap heap in 2015. Since becoming a Detroit Tiger, J.D. Martinez has hit 83 home runs and collected 246 RBI. This season, Martinez already has seven dingers despite missing over a month of the season after breaking his wrist.
General Manager Al Avila could have opted to extend Martinez prior to the 2017 season. Instead he seems willing to wait and hope for a big return for Martinez on the trade market.
Could be on the move regardless
If you think the Tigers would only trade Martinez if they are out of contention, think again. According to Fox Sports’ Ken Rosenthal, unless they are unable to shed payroll the Tigers will be over the luxury tax in 2018. That means extending a qualifying offer to Martinez will only net them a fourth round draft pick. That leaves the Tigers with two options: trade Martinez or offer him a contract extension.
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The return on Martinez would have been higher if the Detroit Tigers decided to trade him during offseason. Sure, he is a bargain at just over $11 million, but he would only be a rental player for the team that acquires him. When Martinez hits the free-agent market after this season, he will be looking to get paid for that performance on his new contract.