Top 10 Detroit Tigers Trades of the Past 25 Years

Credit: Steve Mitchell-USA TODAY Sports

Over the past 25 years, the Detroit Tigers franchise has been a bit of a roller coaster.  The Tigers have been up down and done a 180 and if you believe the momentum of Tiger fans now we are ready to go back down.

Since 1990, the Tigers have been on a ride that has been wilder than the Millenium Force at Cedar Point.  We have seen the firing and rehiring of Ernie Harwell;  Tom Monaghan selling the club to Mike Illitch; Bill Lajoie retiring and be replaced by Bo Schembechler; Randy Smith hired and fired and Dave Dombrowski hired as general manager.  We’ve had 8 managers including the retiring of Sparky Anderson in 1995,  Buddy Bell, Alan Trammell, Phil Garner to name a few all followed by the successful Jim Leyland and now Brad Ausmus.  Oh yeah, let’s not forget that he Tigers have moved from Tiger Stadium to Comerica Park.

In the 25 years since 1990 the Tigers have won 2 AL Pennants, 4 Division Titles, a Wild Card berth and have been to 2 World Series with on overall post season record of 25-26 but still no trophy.

The Tigers actually have a losing record since 1990 at 1,878 wins with 2,106 losses and a win percentage of .471.  In 2003 the Tigers broke the record for most losses in the American League with 119.  And in just 3 short years in 2006, they went to the World Series.

Along the way we have seen many Tigers come and go.  Some of our favorites and some which we couldn’t wait to show the door.  We’ve made some bad trades and some great trades.  Here are the top 10 trades in the past 25 years for the Tigers.

6.  1996 – The Tigers and Astros swapped 9 players in total with Houston receiving Brad Ausmus, C.J. Nitkowski, Daryle Ward, Jose Lima, and Trever Miller.  The Tigers in turn obtained Brian Hunter, Doug Brocail, Orlando Miller and making this the #6 trade – Todd “Tiger” Jones.  Jones became a fan favorite early.   Playing four and a half seasons with the Tigers with one All Star appearance, Jones earned 142 saves .  Jones is the all time save leader for the Tigers and a select member of the 300 save club in MLB history.

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5.  2013 – Ian Kinsler joined the Tigers from the Texas Rangers for 1B Prince Fielder.  While it has only been one year with Kinsler and Prince had a huge impact in the lineup, it’s was pivotal to add defense, speed and position stability to the Tigers lineup in 2014.  The Kinsler trade also provided a much needed salary relief for the Tigers.  Kinsler had a stand out year in 2014 earning an All Star spot and driving the Tigers to the post season while Fielder sat out the majority of the season with a neck injury.

4.  2011 – The Tigers acquired Doug Fister (and David Pauly) from the Seattle Mariners for Casper Wells, Charlie Furbush and Francisco Martinez.  Fister provided two and a half seasons of solid pitching.  In 2011 for the Tigers after the trade, Fister went 8-1 with a 1.79 ERA.  He pitched in three postseasons for the Tigers even taking a beaning off his head in the World Series in 2012 against the Giants and continued to pitch for 6 more innings.

3.  2012 – The Tigers send Brian Flynn, Jacob Turner and Rob Brantly to the Miami Marlins for pitcher Anibal Sanchez and infielder Omar Infante.  Infante’s return to Detroit helped the Tigers reach the World Series in 2012 against the San Francisco Giants and he went on to hit .318 in 2013 playing a key role in the Tigers reaching the post season.  Sanchez has become the solid pitcher that scouts thought he could be and a pivotal part of the Tigers starting rotation.  Sanchez pitched 1-2 in the 2012 postseason with an impressive 1.77 ERA.  In 2013 he led the American League starters with a 2.57 ERA and while battling injuries in 2014 helped lead the Tigers again to the post season.

2.  2009 – Max Scherzer joined the Tigers along with Daniel Schlereth from the Arizona Diamondbacks for Ian Kennedy and Edwin Jackson.  At the time the Tiger fan base doubted trading Edwin Jackson.  However, Scherzer developed from the 4.12 ERA pitcher in 2008 for the Diamondbacks to the 2013 Cy Young winner for the Tigers.  A two-time All Star, prolific pitcher with only one complete game Scherzer become one of the most dominant pitchers in the majors leading the Tigers to 4 consecutive division titles.

1.  2007 – In what could arguably be one of the best trades in all of Major Leagues in the past 25 years the Tigers sent 6 players including Andrew Miller and Cameron Maybin to then Florida Marlins for Miguel Cabrera and pitcher Dontrelle Willis.  Miller bounced around before having an effective career and Maybin flamed out.  The other four Tigers didn’t do anything noteworthy.  Miguel Cabrera has become the premier player in the Major Leagues with back to back MVP’s, Triple Crown and truly the driving force for the Tigers success in recent years.  The grittiness and determination that Miggy plays with makes him amongst the best to ever don the Olde English D and a future Hall of Famer.

8 of the top 10 trades have been made by Dave Dombrowski. He has made some bold moves that have paid off in the past.  It will be interesting to see how the Tigers are shaped in 2015 and beyond.  How will the Yoenis Cespedes for Rick Porcello trade rank when it’s all said and done? How will the David Price trade be ranked?

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