Detroit Tigers: Rick Porcello Trade Still Paying Dividends

The Cespedes Return

In return for Cespedes, the Tigers acquired future (and quite possibly current) ace Michael Fulmer along with fellow pitching prospect Luis Cessa. The two former Mets prospects help rebuild what was a struggling farm system. If Detroit’s minor league system was a cupboard, the cupboard was very much bare.

Fulmer has gone on to establish himself as the team’s ace of the future and has arguably been the Tigers’ best pitcher this season despite Jordan Zimmermann and Justin Verlander pitching extremely well for stretches. All in all, the rookie is 7-1 with a 2.52 ERA in nine starts so far.

In addition to Fulmer, Detroit also brought in Cessa. The pitcher spent even less time in the Tigers’ system than Speier did. During his brief stint with the Detroit organization, Cessa made seven starts for Triple-A Toledo, and pitched to an uninspiring 5.97 ERA. He was flipped to the Yankees along with fellow mid-level prospect Chad Green for Justin Wilson.

Wilson has been one of Detroit’s best relievers in 2016, thanks to 34 strikeouts and an outstanding 1.53 FIP in 25.1 innings pitched. Brad Ausmus’ bullpen hasn’t been perfect this season, but Wilson’s presence has helped bridge the gap to closer Francisco Rodriguez.