Detroit Tigers: Five Starting Pitching Trades

Detroit Tigers starting pitchers have struggled this season. While it’s still early, some changes could be needed. Here are five potential trades for starting pitchers to help the Detroit Tigers.

Detroit Tigers fans probably aren’t thrilled with the team’s starting pitching so far in 2016. Jordan Zimmermann has been excellent, while Justin Verlander and Michael Fulmer have both shown flashes.

That’s been about it.

The rest of the options in the rotation have hardly been stellar. Anibal Sanchez has an ERA that is more than halfway to 10 at 5.87. Shane Greene looked good against Pittsburgh, but has struggled otherwise. Additionally, Mike Pelfrey has looked downright dreadful at times. His ERA entering Saturday was 5.68, and would be much higher had it not been for some miraculous double plays.

Detroit needs some new starters. Luckily, Matt Boyd and Daniel Norris are options. However, even if both are called up and succeed, the Tigers need depth. Both Boyd and Norris—and Fulmer for that matter—are young and can’t pitch the same number of innings as Zimmermann or Verlander.

Here are five trade scenarios that would help Detroit’s starting pitching situation. None of these scenarios are going to be similar to a Dave Dombrowski trade. In other words, the top prospects aren’t going to be sacrificed for an expensive player. These solutions are more budget and farm-system friendly. Additionally, the hypothetical trades wouldn’t jeopardize Fulmer, Norris or Boyd’s place on the team long term.

Yes, it is early, but the Tigers starters haven’t been anything to write home about. Here are some pitchers from losing teams that could make sense in a Detroit uniform.

Jeremy Hellickson

Like the Cincinnati Reds, the Philadelphia Phillies are going nowhere fast. The Phillies are just three games out of first at 16-13, but the team’s -27 run differential is a significant eye-sore.

Along with Hellickson, veterans like Ryan Howard, Peter Bourjos, Carlos Ruiz and David Hernandez could be dealt before the deadline should Philadelphia falter.

Currently the team’s ace, Hellickson has a 4.88 ERA (4.93 FIP) in six starts. His numbers aren’t anything to write home about, but he has a track record of being a solid pitcher in the big leagues.

The 29-year-old won Rookie of the Year honors in 2011 with the Tampa Bay Rays, posting 13 wins and a 2.95 ERA in 189 innings pitched.

In the four years since that season, the starter has averaged an 8-10 record per season with a 4.30 ERA (4.39 FIP).

On an expiring contract and on a potentially bad team, Hellickson is exactly the kind of innings eating, back-of-the-rotation starter that the Tigers need. He’d essentially fill the role Detroit’s brass hoped Mike Pelfrey would fill.

In terms of a return, the Phillies could use help in the outfield, at both middle infield positions and in the pitching staff. A deal involving Hellickson for mid-level prospect and a lower level prospect could work. Philadelphia could also be intrigued by one of Detroit’s Triple-A outfielders like Tyler Collins or Wynton Bernard. Anthony Gose would also make sense when Cameron Maybin returns, though I’m not sure if Philadelphia would be interested.

Jhoulys Chacin

Probably more so than any other team in baseball, the Atlanta Braves are definite sellers. Atlanta recently dealt Andrelton Simmons, Cameron Maybin and Shelby Miller in the offseason, and it wouldn’t be a shock to see the team offload more players in search of future assets.

Julio Teheran, Nick Markakis, Erik Aybar, Arodys Vizcaino and A.J. Pierzynski could all be dealt—in other words, anyone who isn’t a definite part of the future or Freddie Freeman.

One player who could be dealt is Jhoulys Chacin. Signed to a minor league deal in the offseason, the longtime Rockies starter has posted a 5.40 ERA in 26.2 innings pitched.

While those numbers aren’t eye-popping, Chacin does have 27 strikeouts compared to just eight walks. What’s more, his FIP is only 3.90, suggesting he could find more success in a different environment.

The pitcher also has considerable experience pitching in Colorado, where he posted a 4.03 FIP in 672 innings pitched. In any other ballpark, that number would be much lower.

Given that fact that the pitcher is 27 and unlikely to be a long-term piece in Atlanta, the Braves could be deal him.

A deal similar to the James Russell trade in 2014 could make sense. Chicago dealt Russell, a solid reliever, and utility player Emilio Bonifacio to the Braves for mid-level catching prospect Victor Caratini. Detroit could swing a similar trade by sending a prospect like Austin Kubitza to Atlanta for Chacin and another useful player.

James Shields

The San Diego Padres are trying to rebuild after trying (and failing) to go for it all in 2015. The team went all in to trades for Matt Kemp, Wil Myers, Justin Upton, Will Middlebrooks and Craig Kimbrel. Another player who was acquired in the offseason heading into 2015 was starting pitcher and free agent signing James Shields.

Suffice to say, the moves put a significant impact on the team’s long-term outlook as many of the organization’s best prospects were dealt in the moves—not to mention all the salary commitments San Diego took on.

At 34-years-old and on a massive contract that runs through 2019, Shields isn’t a part of the 13-17 Padres’ future.

San Diego would need to eat a significant portion of his contract, but Shields would be a fit in Detroit. He’s still a work horse, having led the league in games started in each of the last three seasons. In addition, he’s still pretty effective. Since joining the Padres in 2015, his ERA in San Diego has been a respectable 3.80.

James Shields isn’t the frontline pitcher he once was, but as an effective innings eater, he’d bring value to the Tigers. A package of Tyler Collins, Dominic Ficociello and a pitching prospect would make sense.

Erasmo Ramirez

Of all the pitchers on this list, Erasmo Ramirez is probably the least likely to be traded due to his excellent performances this season, and the Rays only being three games out of first base.

Ramirez is 5-1 on the season with a 1.42 ERA in 25.1 innings pitched. What’s interesting is that only one of his appearances has been a start. The fact that Tampa Bay has been using him as a swingman might make them slightly more inclined to deal him as opposed to if he were a full-time starter.

That being said, it’s hard to ignore the potential fit in Detroit.

The former Mariner could start for as long as the Detroit Tigers need him to—and, if necessary, move to the bullpen. This would improve the team’s outlook in both departments. Ramirez wouldn’t be blocking the path of Fulmer, Norris or Boyd, while giving the team a dependable option that can excel in both a starting or relief role.

Next: Odd Lineup and No Offense

In 34 appearances last season (27 starts), Ramirez posted an 11-6 record with a 3.75 ERA and 126 strikeouts in 163.1 innings pitched. Since moving to Tampa before the 2015 season, the pitcher has accumulated a 3.6 WAR.