Grade the Trade: Rangers trade Ian Kinsler to Tigers for Prince Fielder
By Tim Boyle
Prior to the 2014 MLB season, the Texas Rangers and Detroit Tigers each decided to make a big change to their infield. Years later, it’s time to grade the trade.
To accomplish this change, second baseman Ian Kinsler and first baseman Prince Fielder swapped uniforms. Well, Kinsler put on one a few sizes smaller. In a non-literal sense, these two traded places.
On paper, the deal made a lot of sense. The Rangers were opening up room for highly-touted minor league infielder Jurickson Profar to possibly play second base. The Tigers were trying to find a way to allow Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez exclusive first base and DH rights. By dealing Fielder, they accomplished this.
Kinsler enjoyed some very produce years in Detroit. He’s still there, but probably not for long. Kinsler is in the final year of his contract next season and someone the Tigers will heavily shop this winter.
During his four seasons with the Tigers, Kinsler was a top of the lineup spark plug. Thus far, he has hit .275/.328/.436. Other than the down year in 2017, Kinsler was a top second baseman in the league.
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Fielder also made his mark in Texas. Unfortunately, it didn’t last too long. Injuries took their toll on the second-generation slugger. The end result was a premature retirement in mid-2016.
Before calling it quits, Fielder hit .269/.350/.410 for the Rangers in 289 games over three years. He had a strangely productive 2015 season which included weakening power numbers but an amazing hit rate. For quite some time, the American League batting title was within reach.
Fielder finished the year with 187 hits and some very high hopes for his future in Texas. The fun was short-lived. After appearing in 89 games for the 2016 Rangers, Fielder never took the field again.
The grade for this trade is rather simple considering how it ended for Texas. Kinsler remains productive while Fielder ended his career early following mediocre overall numbers. It’s not a significantly higher grade for the Tigers, yet a noticeable enough difference.
Detroit is award with a passing grade and gold star for this trade. The Rangers will unfortunately need to study a little harder to pass the semester. Worst of all, the financial burden that came with Fielder’s contract is a dent in the wallets of the Rangers. Kinsler, meanwhile, won’t have such a negative affect. He may even land the Tigers with a prospect or two when they finally find a match in a trade.