Tigers – Field2Court | Sports Media https://field2court.com A new and interactive way to experience the world of sports. Mon, 13 Apr 2020 03:24:53 +0000 en-US hourly 1 https://i1.wp.com/field2court.com/wp-content/uploads/2020/04/cropped-f2c-1.jpg?fit=32%2C32&ssl=1 Tigers – Field2Court | Sports Media https://field2court.com 32 32 174261168 Grading EVERY Al Avila trade https://field2court.com/2020/04/10/grading-every-al-avila-trade/ https://field2court.com/2020/04/10/grading-every-al-avila-trade/#respond Sat, 11 Apr 2020 01:57:47 +0000 http://grading-every-al-avila-trade If you’ve paid attention to the Tigers over the last few seasons, you would know that the Tigers have made plenty of trades, with lots being very unpopular amongst Tigers fans. That said, I think it would be fun if we took a deep dive into all of the past trades that general manager Al Avila has made since taking his position in August of 2015.

Photo by Mike Mulholland, MLive

11/18/2015: Tigers acquire Francisco “K-rod” Rodriguez from the Brewers in exchange for Javier Bethancourt and a PTBNL (Manny Pina) // GRADE: C

After a disaster of a 2015 season, Tigers owner Mike Ilitch new the time was ticking and wanted a World Series giving GM Al Avila the green light to start spending. The first move was acquiring a 34-year-old closer, Francisco Rodriguez. The Tigers sent a 20-year-old prospect in Javier Betancourt and a PTBNL who ended up being 27-year-old third catcher Manny Pina who hit very well in Toledo. Looking back on that deal, it seems pretty clear that the Brewers won that trade by a fair amount. The Tigers were able to get solid production out of K-rod in the closer role for a season, but in 2017 he ended up having to get released he was so bad, and Pina, on the other hand, developed a respectable backup for the Brewers. If the Tigers had Pina in 2019, they likely wouldn’t have had to blow 4.5 million on a 1 year deal for Austin Romine and prioritize their other needs elsewhere.

11/20/2015: Tigers acquire Cameron Maybin from the Braves in exchange for Ian Krol and Gabe Speier // Grade: B+

One of Al Avila’s better trades, the Tigers were able to get their CF for 2016 for relatively cheap. This move isn’t an absolute steal as Maybin had a back contract so a trade like this is expected and Krol did have some solid seasons with the Braves though overall the Tigers were definitely a clear winner in this deal.

12/9/2015: Tigers acquire Justin Wilson from the Yankees in exchange for Chad Green and Luis Cessa // Grade: D+

As the Tigers continued to build their roster for the 2016 season, adding a high-level lefty reliever with control was a very good move by Al Avila, however, the Tigers ended up dealing a reliever that is now top 15 in the league. Dealing Cessa who was considered the main piece just for Wilson would’ve been a steal, but Chad Green developed into such a good reliever with way more control than Wilson, that will always be the bigger story looking back at this deal.

1/27/2016: Tigers trade Jefry Marte to the Angels in exchange for Kody Eaves // Grade: B-

A very small trade, the Tigers were able to get solid depth at 3B in exchange for an older 3B that was going to have some trouble getting time behind the Tigers infield in 2016. Eaves is no longer a Tiger and is 26 but could have a similar career to Marte if he gets a shot as both have similar attributes. Overall, this trade is very meaningless and I’ll just give Al a not good, not bad grade at B-.

3/29/2016: Tigers acquire Bobby Wilson and Myles Jaye in exchange for Bryan Holaday // Grade: B-

Another very small trade, the Tigers chose a third catcher with defense over a third catcher with more than a bat. Holaday is a little more valuable, the Tigers got a low-end prospect in Myles Jaye. In 2017 Jaye got 3 starts but was awful and eventually outrighted to free agency. He is now 28 and a free agent.

5/3/2016: Tigers trade Bobby Wilson to the Rangers for Chad Bell // Grade: B-

James McCann came off the IL and a Rangers catcher was hurt. The Tigers didn’t need Wilson as a backup catcher anymore and shipped him back to the Rangers for a minor league LHP. Bell was pretty bad in his 1 season with Detroit. He played 1 game in 2018 before being DFA’d. Most recently he was in the KBO and pitched very well there. Overall another depth move that doesn’t impact the Tigers now.

8/16/2016: Tigers acquire Erick Aybar from the Braves in exchange for Mike Aviles and Kade Scivicque // Grade: A-

With the Tigers left side of the infield both hurt, the Tigers were able to get a short term replacement in former all-star Erick Aybar. At first, it looked like a pretty even trade as both teams were getting played with over a -1.0 WAR, though Aviles was instantly DFA’d and released, and Aybar played pretty well for the Tigers slashing .250/.341/.350 for a .691 OPS, a home run, 8 RBIs, and a 0.2 WAR. The prospect sent in the deal Kade Scivicque ended up signing back with Detroit as well.

11/3/2016: Tigers trade Cameron Maybin to the Angels for Victor Alcantara. // Grade: B

The Tigers main goal in the 2016 offseason was to cut payroll and they did a nice job doing that shipping off Cameron Maybin to the Angels for Alcantara less than 24 hours after the season ended. Maybin had a 9 million dollar option that the Tigers weren’t willing to exercise but Angels were willing to. In exchange, the Tigers received Victor Alcantara who at best was a borderline MLB reliever, but at least helped the Tigers a little bit in 2018 and 2019, and getting Alcantara wasn’t the objective of the trade. Maybin now has returned to Detroit, and overall the trade was better than it seemed.

1/18/2017: Tigers acquire Mikie Mahtook from the Rays in exchange for a PTBNL (Drew Smith) // Grade: B

After trading Maybin, with a limited budget the Tigers were able to add a cheap, young outfielder in Mikie Mahtook for relatively cheap. Mahtook was very good in 2017 and that season alone is the reason why I gave Avila a B. While things went downhill for Mahtook after 2017, Drew Smith was traded a year later to the New York Mets never making a major league appearance with Tampa. Smith did get an opportunity and pitched really well out the bullpen in 2018 with New York but hasn’t pitched since as he underwent Tommy John Surgery. It will be interesting to see how his career plays out.

7/18/2017: Tigers trade JD Martinez to the Diamondbacks for Dawel Lugo, Sergio Alcantara, and Jose King // Grade: F

If you think of bad Tigers trades in the last 5 years, this is likely one of the first trades you’d think about. Martinez with Detroit in 2017 was slashing .305/.388/.63 and despite being a rental was one of the top names in the trade market. In exchange for him, the Tigers received 3 played. The first being Dawel Lugo who was considered the main piece. Lugo in 3 seasons with the Tigers is slashing .237/.270/.362, good enough for a -1.0 WAR, he is currently out of seasons and depending on if the Tigers play with or without expanded rosters will determine if Lugo will be DFA’d or not as he’s out of Major League options. The next name is Sergio Alcantara who is considered by most in the 25-35 range for his rank as a prospect in the system. He is a great defender as he has the best infield arm in the Tigers organization, however, he has absolutely no power and that is not an exaggeration. Since this trade, Alcantara has gone on to hit 3 home runs in the minor leagues. Alcantara has the upside to be a utility player, at best. The last guy is Jose King. He has legit speed and at the time looked like a possible sleeper through the system, however, he’s now 21 and hit .209 in A ball with a 68 wRC+, the odds of him becoming anything are extremely low. Overall this trade will likely go down as the worst trade in Al Avila’s tenure.

7/31/2017: Tigers trade Justin Wilson and Alex Avila to the Chicago Cubs in exchange for Jeimer Candelario and Isaac Paredes // Grade: B+

The second trade of the 2017 deadline is looking much better than the first. The Tigers shipped off a hot-hitting Alex Avila and late-inning reliever Justin Wilson and got 2 very solid batting prospects. The main piece of this trade for the Tigers was Jeimer Candelario. In his Tigers career, Candelario got off to a very nice start, in 2017 he hit .330 with a .874 OPS. In 2018, he hit 19 HR’s and accumulated a 2.5 WAR at 3B. In 2019, Candelario really struggled to the point where he was optioned to AAA, now in 2020, Candelario is in a make or break year and needs to prove that he is a part of the future or he could find himself being DFA’d. The next guy, who was only 18 at the time of this trade is Isaac Paredes. Paredes has developed very well through the system and is now a top 100 prospect on most lists. Paredes added to the 40 man roster had a 133 wRC+ with a near .800 OPS in AA as a 20-year-old. He appears as someone that has a very high floor and even at his young age will begin producing right away. He is the reason for this good grade, this grade could easily change if Paredes turns out to be a bust, but from the looks of it, Paredes looks like a 2-3 WAR guy for multiple seasons, and overall a very solid trade by Avila.

8/31/2017: Tigers trade Justin Upton to Angels in exchange for Grayson Long and PTBNL (Elvin Rodriguez) // Grade: C+

This trade is another example of more of a salary dump than a trade for prospects. While Upton was expected to opt-out, this gave the Tigers leverage to be able to move him and the Tigers were lucky to get value in return. Upton in the first half of 2017 slashed .273/.362/.542 and was having one of the best career seasons of his career and with his contract, the Tigers were able to get 2 prospects out of him. The main piece of this deal was Grayson Long who pitched a total of 4 career innings as Detroit Tiger, dealing with thyroid outlet syndrome and retiring in early 2019 because of that. The PTBNL, Elvin Rodriguez was a 19-year-old who had only made a few starts in A ball and has pitched pretty well in the Tigers minor league system, entering the back of most top 30 lists. Overall this isn’t the worst trade Avila could make and you have to cut him some slack with the Long injury.

8/31/17: Tigers trade Justin Verlander to the Astros in exchange for Daz Cameron, Jake Rogers, and Franklin Perez // Grade: C-

This trade is another trade that many will consider one of Al Avila’s terrible moves, though I don’t think it’s nearly as bad as most people think. The main piece Franklin Perez has had a rough go pitching not even 50 innings since coming to Detroit. Finally, there is a glimmer of hope though, as Perez has pitched in spring training games and has finally said he’s fully healthy and ready to go. If Perez is fully healthy he can be a very good pitcher. The next name is Daz Cameron. Daz at the time was just 20 but now on the 40 man roster, Daz looks very close to reaching the major leagues. Daz spent all of 2019 in Toledo and he didn’t hit much only slashing .214/.330/.377, but there’s still a lot of upside and Daz has overcome struggles in his career, I still think he can be a 2-3 WAR guy yearly at centerfield or rightfield. The final piece is Jake Rogers. Rogers was the first of the 3 to make his MLB debut and things went completely south for him at the MLB level as it was clear he was overmatched. Now changing up his swing, Rogers ended spring training on a good note and still has upside to be one of the best defensive catchers in the league. Most of the Tigers pitching prospects say Rogers is one of the best catchers they’ve thrown too, and Rodgers is a leader. Overall I think the Tigers got some good value in exchange for Verlander and it’s way too early to say this was a bust of a trade, however, with the way Verlander has played in Houston, the Tigers definitely lost this deal.

12/13/2017: Tigers trade Ian Kinsler to the Angels for Wilkel Hernandez and Troy Montgomery // Grade: B

The Tigers once again called up their buddies in the Angels organization to ship a player with a bad contract in exchange for low-end prospects. That is exactly what this trade is as Kinsler was entering his age 36 year and was going to make 11 million dollars in 2018 while the Tigers were trying to cut payroll and make up their roster with younger, cheaper options. The 2 prospects the Tigers received were Troy Montgomery, who was considered the main piece and Wilkel Hernandez who was 18 at the time. Montgomery at 25, retired early in the 2019 season after struggles in AA. Hernandez on the other side has developed into a decent prospect with potentially 2 plus major league pitches, only 20, if Hernandez can keep pitching well there may be a chance he winds up on multiple top 30 lists. Overall, it was good the Tigers were just able to get Kinsler’s salary off the books and still have a solid developing prospect from that deal.

7/31/2018: Tigers trade Leonys Martin and Kyle Dowdy to the Cleveland Indians in exchange for Willi Castro // Grade: A

One of the best series of moves by Al Avila was getting Leonys Martin for almost nothing on the free-agent market, maximizing his value, and getting Willi Castro for him in a trade. While I’m not as high on Castro as most, he’s still a top 20 prospect in the organization and should be a safe bet to be a 1-2 WAR guy for a couple of seasons for Martin who was released in 2019 by the Indians. Dowdy also sent in the deal might go on to become a solid reliever with Cleveland, but would have to be pretty good reliever to even get close to value that Detroit got back for Castro in the deal. Overall great trade by Avila and the front office.

8/6/2018: Tigers acquire 2 PTBNL’s (Logan Shore) (Nolan Blackwood) from the Oakland A’s in exchange for Mike Fiers // Grade: C

The Tigers were able to get 2 prospects out of Mike Fiers and this trade might be a little bit slept on by Tigers fans. 1, if you look at Fiers basic stats vs his advanced stats you can tell he is overrated and there was a reason the Astros non-tendered him after the 2017 season. 2, it was clear that there was virtually no interest in Fiers, despite having a year of arbitration with the Tigers state they were going to non-tender him. The Tigers were lucky to even get something out of him being honest. While they did get out of him, the return was minimal. Shore who was considered the main piece has done nothing in the Tigers farm system and at this point, I wouldn’t even consider him a prospect. Blackwood, on the other hand, could be a solid reliever for a couple of years with Detroit. He pitched well in Erie and should get some time in Toledo if there is a season, but likely won’t accumulate a career WAR of even 1.0, overall the saying “better than nothing” really fits this trade.

7/31/2019: Tigers trade Shane Greene to the Braves in exchange for Joey Wentz and Travis Demeritte // Grade: B

The Tigers as bad as they were in 2019 were able to get some trade value for their players which is a good start. The return the Tigers got for Shane Greene is very likable. Joey Wentz the main piece looks great in Erie and with his plus changeup and 3 pitch mix was looking more and more like a legit prospect, but bad news struck as he will be out until mid-2021 as he has to undergo Tommy John Surgery. Wentz, however, is only 22 and still has hope of being something decent. Demeritte is also a likable piece. Demeritte has discipline and power which are the 2 most important things in the modern-day MLB. We were able to get a nice extended look at him in 2019 where he didn’t do much, but an extremely hot spring training, Demeritte comes with some upside and should get some more starts in the 2020 season if there is one. Overall a solid trade by Avila.

7/31/2019: Tigers trade Nicholas Castellanos to the Cubs in exchange for Paul Richan and Alex Lange // Grade: C-

The Tigers were able to get value out of Castellanos after a long build-up to the trade. One thing I question is why didn’t the Tigers trade him in the 2018 deadline when Castellanos was putting up even better numbers than he did 2018. That makes me have to drop the grade as I think the Tigers could’ve gotten much nicer value out of them. The 2 pitchers the Tigers were able to get both could go on to be pretty helpful for the Tigers. Richan has a similar profile to Tyler Alexander except for a little bit better stuff and I think could be a nice 6th or 7th starter or a middle reliever, his command is legit though he doesn’t have major league stuff so I think it’s more likely he ends up as SP depth. Lange is the opposite of Richan as he has very solid stuff but the command is lackluster. Lange has the upside to be a very good middle reliever or even a 7th inning guy. If there is a season, I will definitely be interested in how he performs. Overall this trade isn’t the worst in the world but the Tigers definitely could’ve gotten much better value if they chose better timing.

1/17/2020: Tigers trade Matt Hall to the Red Sox in exchange for Jhon Nunez // Grade: C

The Tigers most recent trade was a small one but one that I wasn’t the fondest of. Hall debuted in 2017 and still had 2 options left and at 26 I thought could still become a solid lefty reliever for a few seasons. One of the biggest weaknesses in the Tigers farm system is that their group of LHP’s are lackluster beyond Tarik Skubal and I thought Hall had a little bit of upside. Nunez was solid in AA last season but he’s 25 and may not even make the MLB. I thought the Tigers should’ve DFA’d someone else when they signed Ivan Nova. Overall though I don’t think this trade will effect the Tigers that much.

To finalize, overall Avila’s made a few very nice trades over the years but has made quite a few bad ones. Arguably the biggest thing that Avila has been critiqued over the years is his skills of trading and I hope this article gives you a better idea of what to expect when you hear the Tigers are shopping someone or rumors. In my opinion, I think that Avila could’ve done better and he’s obviously not the best GM in the league, but I think he gets a little bit more of a bad rep than the deserves. I hope you enjoyed my article and check out my Instagram page @Tigers.news_ for more Tigers content.

Avila’s trade graded (3 trades from 2016 are exceptions):

A trades: 2

B trades: 6

C trades: 6

D trades: 1

F trades: 1

Overall grade: C

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Taking a look at each of the Tigers off season additions https://field2court.com/2020/02/18/taking-a-look-at-each-of-the-tigers-off-season-additions/ https://field2court.com/2020/02/18/taking-a-look-at-each-of-the-tigers-off-season-additions/#respond Tue, 18 Feb 2020 18:58:32 +0000 http://taking-a-look-at-each-of-the-tigers-off-season-additions Last winter, the Tigers added 4 major league free agents, 2 minor league free agents, and 1 waiver claim that had significant roles with the Tigers last season. Together, nearly 20 million dollars spent, all 7 of the players combined for a 0.7 fWAR. I did a calculation, and the equivalence to what the Tigers did last offseason is if the Tigers gave catcher Austin Barnes of the Los Angeles Dodgers a 1 year deal worth 20 million dollars. Clearly, last offseason was a major factor on why the Tigers finished the way they did in 2019. This season, the Tigers made 5 major league signings and they look a lot more promising. Here is a look at the top 10 players that were brought in this offseason based on the projected playing time they should get

2B Jonathan Schoop

Contract: 1 year / 6.1 million

Age: 28

2019 stats: 464 PA, .256/.304/.473, 23 HR, 61 RBI, 1.3 WAR

On December 21st, the Tigers shocked a lot of people signing 2 players that were part of the HR record breaking Twins 2019 run. The first guy that was announced was Jonathan Schoop. Schoop brings an instant upgrade over what the Tigers had at second base last season. Schoop gives the Tigers a massive boost to the offense which home run leader was Brandon Dixon with 15. Schoop intrigues me as a starter for the whole season. I do see a potential mid-season trade, though with second baseman market not providing much value, it might be best to provide the young pitchers coming up with some confidence, getting wins for their good performances with a bat like Schoop in the lineup. Schoop would need to have at least an .800 OPS and a wRC+ of 110 to get at least a decent prospect in return based on past deals for second baseman.

1B CJ Cron

Contract: 1 year / 6.1 million

Age: 30

2019 stats: 499 PA, .253/.311/.469, 25 HR, 78 RBI, 0.3 WAR

The second half of the power duo from Minnesota, CJ Cron gives the Tigers arguably their best offensive bat. Despite being on his fourth team in four years, Cron established himself as an above average hitter in 2018 when he mashed 30 home runs for an .816 OPS. Cron in 2019 didn’t have as polished offensive numbers, but part of that was a late season wrist injury, which really tanked his numbers. At the all star break, Cron was slashing .266/.326/.495 for an .821 OPS and 17 of his 25 home runs. Now healthy, Cron fills the void at first base, and is another bat I can see lasting the whole season. Unless Cron takes another step forward, I have trouble seeing Cron being traded based on the history of first basemans getting little to no value.

SP Ivan Nova

Contract: 1 year / 1.5 million

Age: 33

2019 stats: 187.0 IP, 11-12, 4.72 ERA, 4.98 FIP, 2.0 WAR

One of the more under-the-radar signings the Tigers made this winter was bringing in a pitcher that can eat innings. Ivan Nova is not a guy that fans are going to look forward to seeing every 5 days, but a guy like him especially at the price they got him at is exactly what a rebuilding team needs this year. Nova is very durable and can go 5-6 innings every 5 days keeping the Tigers in games. With Mize, Manning, and the rest of the pitching crop of Tigers from the farm nearing the majors, Nova slows down the rush to get the guys up, whilst not screwing the Tigers over giving the Tigers a chance in games, unlike Ryan Carpenter or Edwin Jackson did last season.

OF Cameron Maybin

Contract: 1 year / 1.5 million

Age: 32

2019 stats: 269 PA, .285/.364/.494, 11 HR, 32 RBI, 1.6 WAR

The Tigers bring Maybin back on a third reunion after the Tigers drafted Maybin in 2005 and acquired him as their starting center fielder for the 2016 season. Maybin did very well in 2016, hitting .315 and viewed by many as a spark plug in the offense. Maybin now, returns to a much different looking team and I think his veteran presence will help the team a lot offensively this season, especially with the many young outfielders nearing MLB debuts. While I don’t see Maybin repeating the offensive success he had last season in the Bronx, I expect close to a league average hitter that could leadoff for Detroit. Come trade deadline, I think Maybin has a pretty decent chance landing somewhere. A lot of teams could use a versatile outfielder with a bat off the bench and I think teams will be willing to give at least a little bit of value if Maybin performs well.

Photo by: Paul Sancya/AP

C Austin Romine

Contract: 1 year / 4.15 million

Age: 31

2019 stats: 240 PA, .281/.310/.439, 8 HR, 35 RBI, 0.9 WAR

Last article I went into the competition for the backup catcher spot, here we have the starting catcher for 2020 in Austin Romine. Another player formerly from the Yankees, Romine gives the Tigers a much needed placeholder at catcher, as Jake Rogers clearly needed more time when he was called up from Toledo last year. I expect a lot of PAs for Romine in the beginning of the season. I would be surprised if he isn’t starting 80% of games right before the all star break if he performs at least average. After I would expect Romine’s playing time to slowly fade to about 50-50 with Rogers once we near the seasons end. I think it’s also very possible Romine gets traded if he performs well. If he can have at least a 90 wRC+ and decent defense, I think a team could give the Tigers an offer, even if it’s for lowtier minor leaguers.

SP Zack Godley

Contract: MILB deal, can make up to 3 million

Age: 29

2019 stats: 92.0 IP, 4-5, 5.97 ERA, 5.20 FIP, -0.1 WAR

One of my favorite signings, the Tigers brought in Zack Godley on a minor league deal the day before they signed the power duo from Minnesota. Godley was once a very respectable starter as recently as 2018 though 2019 was a disaster for Godley. One thing I’m interested in is if how often he will throw his curveball. When he was claimed by the Jays, he threw his curveball 20% less and performed decently well though in just 6 games. Godley’s command in 2019 regressed as he walked more batters and struck out way less. I expect for now Godley to start in Toledo and come up later in the season. Finding Godley’s command will be a big factor on how well he is this season because if the Tigers can find it. they could have an absolute steal in their hands.

SP/RP Rony Garcia

Acquired: Rule 5 Draft

Age: 22

2019 Stats (AA): 105.1 IP, 4-11, 4.44 ERA, 4.21 FIP

The Tigers added a young right handed arm in Rony Garcia with the first pick of the rule 5 draft. Garcia sits 91-94 topping 95 with a good slider and developing changeup. Garcia likely is going to be stored in the roster as a developmental project as he could turn into something if the Tigers can develop his changeup. I expect Garcia to get little innings in April and May, but slowly get more playing time, and maybe even a few starts towards the end of the season, or during double headers. Garcia will be interesting to watch as not many people know much about him.

C Eric Haase

Acquired: Traded to Detroit from Cleveland for cash

Age: 27

2019 stats (MLB): 1/17, 1 HR, 1 RBI, -0.1 WAR

In my last article, we went a lot more in on Haase and what he brings to the team. Going back to that, I mentioned how Haase has a lot of power and can walk a little, but needs to overcome the K’s to last at the MLB level. Ultimately I chose Grayson Greiner over him to make the roster, but that definitely doesn’t mean he is not going to get any major league playing time in 2020. On opening day, I expect Haase to start in Toledo. Haase will be the 3rd catcher but in Toledo I expect him to get more playing time at DH and maybe the Tigers introduce another position like 1B, as Jake Rogers is going to get as much time behind the backstop as the Tigers can give him with his defense. Overall I expect Haase to be a 4A type guy, though if he can stay off the K’s, he could possibly last at the MLB level.

OF Jorge Bonifacio

Contract: MILB deal

Age: 26

2019 stats (MLB): 7/20, 0 HR, 3 RBI, 0.1 WAR

Bonifacio is another high upside signing I like. Bonifacio was suspended back in 2017 for PED use and has been ok but yet to return to the player he was before. However, Bonifacio hit 20 home runs in AAA last season and has solid BB numbers which the Tigers don’t have many players that do. That said, with a log jam in Toledo, Bonifacio is going to need to have a good spring training so he won’t get released over guys like Jake Robson or Danny Woodrow. I would like the Tigers to see what they have in Bonifacio and give him playing time in Toledo to start the season. I see Bonifacio spending more time in Toledo than Detroit, but I think he gets an opportunity in Detroit sometime during the season.

RP Alex Wilson

Contract: MILB deal

Age: 33

2019 stats (MLB): 11.1 IP, 1-1, 9.53 ERA, 6.74 FIP, -0.3 WAR

Wilson was a well known name during the Tigers run and returns after a year away from Detroit struggling with Cleveland and Milwaukee during the 2019 campaign. Wilson now comes to Detroit as a 50/50 to make the roster and in my recent roster prediction I picked Wilson to make the roster. Anything can happen to Wilson this spring, he can either make the 26-man, start in Toledo, or even be released out of camp. Wilson had a little decline in his velocity in 2019 which may have played a factor in why Wilson struggled in 2019.

Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

Overall hoped you enjoyed my breakdown of 10 of the more significant signings the Tigers made this offseason. Some other guys I think could make some noise are Dario Argazal, Shao Ching-Chiang, and Kennys Vargas. Follow my instagram page @Tigers.news_ for more content like this.

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Looking at the Detroit Tigers roster battles going into the 2020 season https://field2court.com/2020/02/13/looking-at-the-detroit-tigers-roster-battles-going-into-the-2020-season/ https://field2court.com/2020/02/13/looking-at-the-detroit-tigers-roster-battles-going-into-the-2020-season/#respond Thu, 13 Feb 2020 04:21:26 +0000 http://looking-at-the-detroit-tigers-roster-battles-going-into-the-2020-season Spring training has finally arrived. A long winter of trades, claims, welcoming, and goodbyes, most teams are making their finishing touches to their spring training rosters, and are set to get ready for the regular season. The Tigers were definitely not quiet this off season, adding 5 players on major league contracts. One thing general manager Al Avila stated during winter meetings that he wanted to see a lot of competition within players, and he stuck to his word, because there are multiple tight battles at certain positions. Lets dive in to some.

#1: Backup catcher

The Candidates: Grayson Greiner, Jake Rogers, Eric Haase

Sleeper: Kade Scivicque

My Pick: Grayson Greiner

The Tigers biggest weakness at any position last season was catcher. Cycling through 4 guys, the Tigers catchers combined for a fWAR of -3.3, only better than the Texas Rangers. With the signing of Austin Romine, the Tigers now don’t really need to worry so much on who is starting, at least for the first few months. The question now is who is going be the second backstop. Looking at the candidates, the most recognizable name to the common Tigers fan is most likely Jake Rogers. Rogers, originally a piece in the Justin Verlander trade, really made his name for himself as a legitimate prospect in the Tigers system being known as one of the best defensive catchers in the minor leagues. However, when Rogers was promoted to the Majors, it was clear he just wasn’t ready, slashing a horrid .125/.222/.259 with a 27 wRC+ and a 39.8% strikeout rate. In just a small sample size, there is still hope that Rogers can develop into a solid starter, but for now he needs more time. The next candidate is Grayson Greiner. Greiner surpised many when he came to the scene in 2018 when he showed very solid plate discipline walking 14.7% of the time. However, the Tigers might’ve made the smartest decision in 2019, when they gave him the starting role. Greiner does have decent defense. In 58 games, he was a slightly below average framer with a -2.4 frm and with a -1 DRS. The biggest question for Greiner is does he have enough offense to make it onto the roster. In 2 seasons, Greiner is currently slashing .207/.277/.299, with 5 home runs, and in 2019, the walk rate dropped and K rate increased. The final realistic candidate is Eric Haase. Haase spent almost all of 2019 in the Cleveland Indians organization with their AAA affiliate, the Columbus Clippers. The biggest eye opener when it comes to Eric Haase is that he has a ton of power. In just 102 games, Haase smacked 26 home runs. Haase does not have as good defense and neither Rogers nor Greiner, but has the best bat of the 3. My biggest question when it comes to Haase is how will he fare if he’s in the major leagues for an extended period. Haase got 17 at bats with the Indians last season, in fact, his only hit was a home run, but how will he do in an extended period. Haase is HR/BB/K guy. He struck out over 35% of the time in AAA, walked over 10%, and as you know hit over 25 home runs. My biggest question is will he be able to hit the ball for at least a decent average, or is he going have a Jake Rogers type line. Overall, all 3 candidates have their strengths and all three have their weaknesses. If I had a choice, I would go with Grayson Greiner. I like the defense and with the experience last season, I think he would be solid as a backstop every 5th or 6th day. I like Rogers for later in the season, but for opening day, I have to go Grayson Greiner.

Photo by Mike Zarrilli/Getty Images

#2: Fourth Outfielder

The Candidates: Victor Reyes, Jorge Bonifacio, Travis Demeritte

Sleeper: Derek Hill

My Pick: Travis Demeritte

The Tigers outfield situation is one of the most interesting position groups in the organization. With the signing of Cameron Maybin, the Tigers currently have 8 outfielders on the 40 man roster, and at least 3 others that are around the AAA level. With Maybin, Jacoby Jones, and Christin Stewart most likely locks for the 3 starting jobs, the fourth spot is up for grabs. The first candidate is the definite favorite, Victor Reyes. Reyes was the first pick of the 2018 Rule 5 draft, and after a rough rookie season, the second half of 2019 for Reyes was one the nobody saw coming. Reyes after the all star break slashed .313/.330/.446 for 3 home runs, and a 105 wRC+. My biggest problem with that second half eruption is that he was getting very lucky. Reyes had a .399 BABIP in the second half. He walked 4.2% of the time, and Reyes had a groundball rate of 42.5%. Based on those 3 factors, I don’t see that success Reyes had being sustainable. Reyes still needs to prove himself that he can be consistent, and with a 6’5″, 215 lb build, Reyes needs to start hitting for more pop. Even with the lack of plate discipline, if Reyes can hit for more power, it would be a lot easier to pick him making the roster. The next candidate is Travis Demeritte. Demeritte was acquired on the 2019 trade deadline as part of the return the Atlanta Braves gave up for Shane Greene. Demeritte is almost the opposite of Victor Reyes. Demeritte has good discipline and hits for some power, but struggles defensively and cannot hit for much of an average. Demeritte has more offensive upside than Victor Reyes, but the question is will he reach it. I like Demeritte a lot, but I don’t know if he will be able to take the spot from Reyes unless he puts on a show come spring training. The final candidate is recently added Jorge Bonifacio. Bonifacio was signed early in the offseason after being released by the Kansas City Royals. Bonifacio was once viewed as a decently promising piece for KC. In 2017, Bonifacio had close to a league average wRC+ (98), and a fWAR of 1.0, but after a suspension for a failed PED test, Bonifacio hasn’t really recovered only accumulating 0.3 fWAR over the last 2 seasons. However, like Travis Demeritte, Bonifacio brings solid plate discipline and decent pop, and even though he did take PEDs he does have the most major league experience, and has performed at a decent level. Overall, I definitely like all 3 candidates, but I feel like Travis Demeritte has the most upside and I think keeping him at the major league level could help him in developing his bat. While MY pick would be Demeritte, I think Reyes performed too well not to make the roster for 2020, and if I had to predict, I would say the Tigers chose Reyes and not Demeritte.

#3: Filling up the bullpen: Long reliever/spot starters

The candidates: Tyler Alexander, Rony Garcia, Dario Argazal, Zack Godley, Hector Santiago, Shao Ching-Chiang

Sleepers: Anthony Castro, Tim Adleman

My picks: Tyler Alexander and Rony Garcia

The Tigers rotation for 2020 is pretty much set barring injuries. The question now is who are the 2 pitchers that will be carried as long relievers or spot starters in case one is not good to go. With the expansion of the 26 man roster, the Tigers from now on will be able to hold 13 pitchers all season, and I think 2 of those spots will go to long relievers. Looking at the candidates, to me I think the 3 realistic candidates are Rony Garcia, Tyler Alexander, and Zack Godley. What’s interesting about this is that Rony Garcia was the Tigers rule 5 pick, so it’s hard to see them dumping him, even if Godley or Alexander or the other candidates may be slightly better options. Garcia is a 22 year old who made 20 starts with the Yankees AA affiliate and put up decent numbers. It was a bit of a surprise when the Tigers took him with the first overall pick, but it seems like they like his profile and they believe it’s the best for the organization. The next candidate is southpaw Tyler Alexander. Alexander was a mid-season call up and performed better than expected with a 4.86 ERA in 13 appearances. Alexander does not have the stuff to last in a big league rotation, but he does have very good control, and pounds the strike zone. Alexander had a walk rate of 1.17 batters per nine innings which is well above average. I like Alexander a lot and think he would be reliable coming out in the 4th inning and throwing 2 or 3 scoreless frames if the starter got knocked out early. The final candidate is Zack Godley. Godley was once a 3.5 WAR player in 2017 with the Diamondbacks, when he had a 3.37 ERA and 9.58 K/9 in 25 starts. Godley then struggled badly in 2019 and was eventually cut by the Diamondbacks and last with the Blue Jays late in August of last year. Godley has the most upside out of the 3 pitchers for this season. The biggest question for him is what version will we get of him. If we can see the 2017-18 version of Godley, the Tigers not only have themselves a spot starter, but a potential 3 or 4 guy with control. Looking at the other candidates, Argazal has some decent upside with his sinker that is comparable to Julio Teheran. Santiago is another lefty arm that pitched over 30 innings at the major league level last season, but I think he’s more emergency depth and will be released once spring training ends. Shao Ching-Chiang also looks like a guy who is emergency depth. Overall, I got to give the 2 spots to Garcia, for his rule 5 status, and Alexander for his impressive performance last season. I like Godley a lot, but I think it would be best for him if he got consistent innings as a starter in Toledo.

Photo by: Stephen Brashear/Getty Images

#4: Filling up the bullpen: middle relievers

Candidates: Jose Cisnero, Greg Soto, Bryan Garcia, Alex Wilson, John Schreiber, Nick Ramirez

Sleeper: Kyle Funkhouser, Beau Burrows

My Picks: Jose Cisnero, Greg Soto, Alex Wilson

The only true locks for the Tigers bullpen are Buck Farmer, Joe Jimenez, and most likely David McKay. Outside of that, every other spot is up for grabs. Looking at the middle reliever spot, this is probably the position with the most uncertainty going into the season. Looking at the candidates, Jose Cisnero and Greg Soto to me are the guys that seperate themselves from the others. Cisnero despite struggles ended up having a decent campaign in the Tigers bullpen last season. In 35 games, Cisnero finished with a 4.33 ERA with a 10.19 K/9, 4.84 BB/9, and a 1.27 HR/9, for a 4.66 FIP and 0.2 WAR. While that’s not amazing, it’s definitely major league bullpen material and I think a full season at the major league level wouldn’t be terrible for him. Cisnero also had a very good winter league, posting a 0.96 ERA in 8 games. Another player that performed very well in his winter league was Greg Soto. Soto made his major league debut last season and showed signs of potential, but struggled mostly. Soto has very good stuff, up to 97 from the left side with a very good slider as his secondary pitch. Soto is more of a high upside guy but if he gets the opportunity I think he could do very well. In his winter league, he had a 0.82 ERA in 12 appearances. The next guy is Alex Wilson, a familiar name among Tigers fans because of the fact that he pitched with Detroit from 2014-2018. Wilson returns on a minor league deal but is definitely a candidate to make the roster, even with his struggles in 2019. Wilson has sort of been a get the job done type guy. Wilson has never been the guy that you love to see pitch, and touches 100 striking out 13 per 9, but Wilson usually didn’t have much trouble with base runners and was reliable for most of his Tigers career. Looking at other candidates, Schreiber is a very possible candidate as he debuted late in 2019 and had a crazy 13.15 K/9 over 13 innings, but I don’t think he continues with his stuff, and I think he ends up being one of the final cuts. Garcia, a similar type of player to Schreiber also has a solid chance to make the roster, but after taking a beating once he got to the MLB, I think with Schreiber, the young duo of possibly future reliever arms starts in Toledo for now. The final major candidate is Nick Ramirez. Ramirez was a minor league signing in the 2018 offseason and came up to the majors all the way from Erie and did not dissapoint. Ramirez had a good K rate and overall solid peripherals, but he was outrighted at the end of the season, and only 89-92 with at best average secondary pitches, how far can he take you in his age 30 season. Overall, I think that all 6 of the players I mentioned have legitimate potential to make the 26 man roster, but if I had to choose, I would take Cisnero, Soto, and Wilson.

Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images

#5: Jeimer Candelario vs Dawel Lugo: Winner stays, loser goes…

Candidates: Jeimer Candelario, Dawel Lugo

Sleeper: none

My Pick: Jeimer Candelario

While this is a competition for a starting spot, this is the last competition I’m going over, because it’s more a competition with the Tigers and themselves of how stubborn they are. Let’s be real here, Jeimer Candelario is clearly the better option for third base. He has better defense, walks a ton more, and has decent power. The only thing Lugo had on Candelario last season was that he had a higher batting average, but Lugo also had a higher BABIP so how much does that even mean. The Tigers know that they got absolutely fleeced out of JD Martinez, but the questions is when will they finally acknowledge it and move on. Candelario isn’t anything good either, but still has upside unlike Lugo. If Lugo makes the roster over Candelario, be prepared for an article of me ranting on Al Avila and the Tigers front office, but even Al Avila should know that Dawel Lugo just isn’t it at third base. With both having no options and Jordy Mercer most likely holding the backup infielder role Gordon Beckham had last season, whoever loses out on this job will likely be DFA’d.

Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images

Overall, there are multiple competitions for roster spots this spring training for the Tigers. I am glad that you read this article and check out my instagram @Tigers.News_ where I post almost daily updates on the Detroit Tigers.

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