Detroit Tigers Fire Sale Candidates

Credit: Creative Commons, Montecruz Foto, https://goo.gl/oApgNX

The Detroit Tigers are not contenders in 2015.

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It pains me to write this as much as it pains you to read it, but if we think this team will magically turn a corner and pull a Kansas City Royals from last year, we are all fooling ourselves and perhaps dooming ourselves to another dark era of Detroit Tigers’ baseball.

If the current era of AL Central titles,  playoff adventures, multiple MVPs, and dual Cy Young winners is over–well it has been a helluva ride. We will always lament not winning a World Series when it was within reach, but for those of us who stood by this team for the annual 90- and 100-loss seasons from 1989 to 2005, we greatly enjoyed the ride.

But there is a time for sentimentality and time for reality. This Tigers team is an average team, not one that will make the postseason this year. So why should the team go out and get rid of the few bright pieces they still have in the minors in order to add pieces to a sinking ship?

They should be sellers and not buyers come July 31.

My Motor City Bengals’ colleague Josh Scramlin hit the nail on the head in his article on Thursday morning, saying the Tigers have a wealth of desirable options to shed at the trading deadline.

He named David Price, Yoenis Cespedes and Alfredo Simon as the first three players that could be on the trading block, and I could not agree more. Each of these players is not signed beyond this year and, at least in the case of Price, seem more likely to play for another team than to don the Olde English D next March.

However, if the Tigers really want to have a good old-fashioned fire sale, they have several more options to really start an attempt at rebuilding the minor league system and possibly avoid another 16 years of terrible baseball.

Next: Ian Kinsler

Feb 28, 2015; Lakeland, FL, USA; Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Blaine Hardy (65) poses during Photo day at Joker Merchant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports

Blaine Hardy

Transitioning from having one of the best bullpens in the month of May to one of the worst in June was not unexpected, but still frustrating for Detroit Tigers’ fans. Yet one name you haven’t been screaming much this season is that of Blaine Hardy.

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Hardy is a lefty, making him a little more lucrative on the open market than a right handed reliever, and he has been putting up extremely solid numbers this year.

He is sporting a 3-1 record with a 2.75 ERA and 1.19 WHIP. He’s struck out 27 and walked 13 in 34 games, spanning 36 innings. Hardy has earned five holds and only blown one save.

Even when the bullpen tanked big time in the last week, Hardy did not allow a run in 2.1 innings, including an extra innings appearance on Tuesday night.

Hardy would not fetch a huge return, but he has demonstrated he can add value to a bullpen playing well (May Tigers) and one self destructing (June Tigers).

He is under team control until 2020, so the Tigers would be giving up a guy that could chew innings for them this year and beyond, but if there is some interest, they should pull the trigger.

Possible teams for Hardy: Rays, Giants, Blue Jays

Replacement for Hardy: Who else? Everyone’s favorite Doug Fister-ite, Ian Krol

Next: Rajai Davis

Jun 26, 2015; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers center fielder Rajai Davis (20) runs home plate after a solo home run during the seventh inning against the Chicago White Sox at Comerica Park. The Tigers won 5-4. Mandatory Credit: Raj Mehta-USA TODAY Sports

Rajai Davis 

One player that is not mentioned a lot when considering the scores of Detroit Tigers’ free agents this off-season is Rajai Davis. Should the team decide to part with Yoenis Cespedes, they might have pause before dealing another one of their outfielders, but the Tigers have depth at that position as was seen on Thursday when Xavier Avery opted out of his contract because he couldn’t crack the 40-man roster.

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Davis’ playing time has been greatly reduced in Year 2 with Detroit after the club brought over his former Blue Jays’ teammate Anthony Gose in a trade prior to this year.

The Tigers seem a little more comfortable with Davis in center these days while Gose continues to tank after an incredibly hot start. Davis will bring a new team speed, decent defense (if he is shifted back to his more comfortable position of left field) and the ability to hit at the top or bottom of any lineup.

Davis has exceeded expectations with the Tigers. This was a bit of an eye-roll when they signed him prior to 2014, but he was good last year (.282/.320/.401) and those numbers are even better in 2015.

I don’t think Davis comes back to Detroit next year unless it is on a one-year deal. They can unload him now and can grab a couple promising minor leaguers in return. If you want him back next year, he will be hitting the open market regardless.

Possible teams for Davis: Astros, Dodgers, Cardinals

Replacement for Davis: Tyler Collins and/or Daniel Fields

Next: Joakim Soria

May 26, 2015; Oakland, CA, USA; Detroit Tigers relief pitcher Joakim Soria (38) throws a pitch against the Oakland Athletics during the ninth inning at O.co Coliseum. The Detroit Tigers defeated the Oakland Athletics 1-0. Mandatory Credit: Ed Szczepanski-USA TODAY Sports

Joakim Soria

Once again Joakim Soria is a guy that is a free agent after this year and is probably not coming back because manager Brad Ausmus and the Detroit Tigers never seem to know how to use him.

Coming over in a trade last year with the Texas Rangers, he moved from the role of closer with his old club to the role of…uh….um….hmmm….for the Tigers.

Even though Joe Nathan and Joba Chamberlain were repeatedly dumping in their beds, Soria was used sparingly and was hit hard because of no clear role with the team.

It is clear that Soria can be a very effective closer if utilized properly. In the closer’s role after Nathan’s injury, Soria has often been lights out, posting a 2.56 ERA with a 0.947 WHIP. He has recorded 17 saves in 19 chances.

He did have a rough recent go of it, allowing homers in four straight games and five of six, but that was in a stretch in which the Tigers were not in save situations and using him in blowout games when they could. In fact from May 28 to June 20, a span of roughly three weeks, he appeared in just five games. It is awfully tough not to get rusty in that situation.

Closers usually fetch a very good return at the trading deadline, even ones with expiring contracts. The versatility with Soria is that he’d be just as comfortable sliding into a setup role for his new team as well, perhaps doubling his value.

Aside from Price and Cespedes,  it is hard to think of a Tiger with more value than Soria at the trading deadline.

Possible teams for Soria: Blue Jays, Cubs, Royals

Replacement for Soria: Bruce Rondon, Angel Nesbitt, Alberto Cabrera

Next: Tigers have abundance of trade deadline candidates