The Detroit Tigers don’t appear to be a team that’s striving for the playoffs in 2019 and the few veterans left on the team, this goes against what they’ve known for most of their careers.
Only a few of the best Detroit Tigers from the days of Mike Illitch and Dave Dombrowski remain: Nick Castellanos and Miguel Cabrera.
A Cabrera trade is highly unlikely due to the immense amount of money remaining on his contract. But, Castellanos has been mentioned as a player that GM Al Avila could trade.
Earlier in the off-season, a few teams were rumored to have shown interest in the slugger. But, nothing happened. And, now his agent is talking.
According to Anthony Fenech with the Detroit Free Press, Castellanos wants to start the season with a new team. His agent, David Meter, said:
"“He wants to win and understands the direction of the franchise right now is to procure prospects. That being said, he would rather start with his new club going into spring training.”"
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Castellanos is one of the best players on the current Tigers roster, but he’s got a bit of a problem: defense. The Tigers didn’t have any trouble trading players in 2017, but those players are some of the best in the MLB. Castellanos’s hitting ability isn’t quite enough to make up for his weak defensive ability.
It’s not that Castellanos isn’t a good baseball player, it’s just that there are better ones with more tools. In 2018, he hit a slash of .298/.354/.500 with 23 home runs and five triples. His OPS+ was 130. His offensive numbers put him close to the top when compared to other right fielders, but his defense doesn’t. His offensive WAR was 4.7, but his defensive WAR as -2.4.
Castellanos will make a lineup better, but his best position would most likely be as a DH. While the Tigers had a dedicated DH for several years with Victor Martinez, they most likely will not have a regular DH until Miguel Cabrera’s can no longer play first base.
Castellanos is still young and affordable for the Tigers, but they do not want to give him away. They also do not want to let him walk like the team’s former shortstop, Jose Iglesias (who is still unsigned). He’ll celebrate his 27th birthday during Spring Training.
According to Fenech’s article, the Tigers want a top prospect. But, they haven’t been able to find the right person to fill the spot. With players like Nick Markakis and A.J. Pollock signing in Atlanta and Los Angeles, trading Castellanos prior to Spring Training seems unlikely.
Detroit Tigers fans will most likely see Castellanos on the roster when the season opens, especially in the slow off-season market for outfielders. But, when the trade deadlines approach, his name could be on the lips of GMs all over the league – especially if he can make a few improvements in the field.