Detroit Tigers: Five Starting Pitching Trades

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.