Detroit Tigers: Bryan Holaday’s Trade Value

The Detroit Tigers could lose Bryan Holaday thanks to a surplus of catchers. The 28-year-old is out of minor-league options, so Detroit should trade him rather than risk losing him for nothing. 

As The Detroit News’ Chris McCosky points out, Bryan Holaday’s days with the Detroit Tigers could be limited. The signing of Jarrod Saltalamacchia was the nail in the coffin for Holaday.

McCosky also lists Houston and Texas as two teams that “have a need for a quality backup catcher.”

Holaday is just that, a quality backup catcher. He is a dependable presence on both offense and defense, and isn’t arbitration eligible until 2017. In 108 career games with Detroit, the backstop is a .251 hitter with three home runs, 30 RBI and a .622 OPS. Baseball Reference projects that Holaday will hit .254 with five home runs, 11 doubles and 28 RBI next season.

With James McCann and Saltalamacchia likely locked in, what then is Bryan Holaday’s trade value? What could the Tigers fetch for him in a trade? Here’s a look. 

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Potential Destinations

McCosky suggest the Astros and Rangers, and both would be excellent fits for Holaday. Milwaukee would also make sense given the Brewers’ lack of significant depth behind Johnathan Lucroy. However, as a rebuilding team, it seems unlikely that Milwaukee would part with anything significant enough to get Detroit’s attention.

Who Could the Tigers Acquire for Holaday?

Seeing as Houston and Texas are the two teams with the most need, Detroit should look to trade with one of the two American League West ball clubs.

After signing old friend Doug Fister, the Astros now possess significant rotation depth, making a few starters expendable. Dan Straily is a name that would make sense for the Tigers.

Straily is blocked in the rotation by Dallas Keuchel, Collin McHugh, Lance McCullers, Fister, Scott Feldman, Mike Fiers and Brad Peacock. Additionally, Straily is buried in a talented and deep bullpen. As Houston’s eighth starter, a trade is plausible.

After leaving Oakland, the right-hander has struggled to nail down a consistent Major-League role. Straily made only seven appearances (while posting an 11.85 ERA) for the Cubs after coming over in the Jeff Samardzija trade. What’s more, he’s only made four appearances (5.40 ERA) with the Astros since being acquired for Dexter Fowler.

Don’t let the recent results fool you, Straily can be a quality pitcher as evidenced by his 2013 campaign with Oakland. During the season, the 27-year-old went 10-8 with a 3.96 ERA and 124 strikeouts in 27 starts. He’s got potential, it’s just Houston doesn’t really need him—at all.

Like with the Astros, Detroit should target a pitcher with potential buried on the Rangers’ depth chart to trade Holaday for. That pitcher is Tanner Scheppers.

The reliever had a stellar 2013 season, pitching to a 1.88 ERA in 76.2 innings. Things have been a struggle for Scheppers since, with a 6.90 ERA in 61.1 innings pitched. However, as with Straily, there is potential.

Despite a 5.46 FIP in 2015, the 29-year-old held left-handed batters to a .234 batting average. On the whole, opposing batters only hit .220 off Scheppers with runners in scoring position.

Based on last season’s stats, it probably isn’t a given that Scheppers will make the Opening Day roster for Texas. Detroit should acquire him in the hope a change of scenery helps him rediscover his form again as a dependable reliever.

Next: Tigers #14 Prospect: Steven Moya

In Conclusion

The Detroit Tigers are likely to lose Bryan Holaday, so the team should trade him for a potentially useful Major-League player. Dan Straily and Tanner Scheppers are two such players. The Tigers should pull the trigger and extract some value and potential from the situation.