The Detroit Tigers have already signaled that they are sellers, but is their sure-handed shortstop among the players who could be moved?
In 2017, the Detroit Tigers have scuffled and currently find themselves sitting in fourth place in the AL Central with a record of 45-55. Earlier this month, the Tigers officially became sellers, trading slugging right fielder J.D. Martinez to the Arizona Diamondbacks.
With the non-waiver trade deadline now only days away, many are expecting that the Tigers will at least move a couple of other players. Left-handed-hitting catcher Alex Avila and left-handed reliever Justin Wilson are two players who have been mentioned quite frequently.
There have also been plenty of rumors surrounding longtime ace Justin Verlander, though his contract still appears to be a bit of an obstacle. Verlander also has 10-and-5 rights and would need to approve any deal. Even 2016 AL Rookie of the Year Michael Fulmer has not been immune to trade whispers and speculation.
Some fans have also wondered if the Tigers could make Jose Iglesias available, which is something that has seemed plausible but not necessarily likely. On Thursday, Buster Olney of ESPN also tweeted about the possibility of an Iglesias trade, saying “there is some sentiment in the market” he could be dealt by Monday.
There is some sentiment in the market that Tigers SS Jose Iglesias will be moved before the deadline.
— Buster Olney (@Buster_ESPN) July 27, 2017
Iglesias first joined the Tigers at the trade deadline in 2013 after being acquired in a three-way trade with the Boston Red Sox and Chicago White Sox. He became the team’s regular shortstop upon Jhonny Peralta‘s 50-game PED suspension. Though Iglesias would later miss the entire 2014 season with injuries to both shins, he has been a valuable player when healthy.
A defensive superstar
Iglesias’ biggest claim to fame is undoubtedly his defense. He currently ranks second among American League shortstops in Defensive Runs Saved (13), trailing only Andrelton Simmons. Iglesias ranks first in the AL in UZR/150 with a mark of 15.4.
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At times, Iglesias has also been quite productive with the bat. In 2013, Iglesias hit a combined .303/.349/.386 through 109 games with the Red Sox and Tigers. In 2015, he slashed .300/.347/.370. Since the beginning of the 2016 campaign, however, Iglesias is hitting only .256/.299/.344.
Iglesias also has very little power, with his career high in the home run department being only four. Going by measures such as wRC+ and OPS+, he has also been a below league average hitter for his career, posting marks of 82 and 84, respectively.
Tigers have a ready replacement
If Iglesias were to be moved, the Tigers already have a replacement waiting in the wings in Dixon Machado. The 25-year-old Machado, who was out of minor league options this spring, made the club as a utility man and has slashed .312/.333/.390 through 39 games this season. When coming through the Tigers’ minor league system, Machado always drew praise for his defense and it now appears that his bat is beginning to catch up.
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Iglesias is also under team control through next season, so he would be more than a rental. It remains to be seen if a deal will actually happen, but Iglesias could surely give a boost to most any team’s defense, and one could see a trade making sense from the Tigers’ perspective as well.