Detroit Tigers: Rick Porcello Trade Still Paying Dividends

In Conclusion

The Detroit Tigers have clearly come away as the winners in the Rick Porcello trade.

Porcello is currently sitting on a 4.56 ERA with the Red Sox, and that’s despite opening this season with a 3.81 number in 82.2 innings pitched. All told, the former Tiger has put together a collective WAR of 1.4 in Boston.

To put that in perspective, Cespedes’ WAR was 4.0 in a half season in Detroit. Fulmer has already posted a 1.9 WAR in just nine starts, while Alex Wilson’s WAR is 1.7. Cameron Maybin’s 0.7 WAR in 88 at-bats this season is higher than the 0.6 number Porcello put together in his inaugural campaign in the American League East.

The fact that Detroit was able to acquire so many quality performers for just one pitcher in Porcello is a testament to the team’s front office and the excellent work they do. It also helps when a number of the players acquired from, and as a result of, the Porcello trade have outperformed the starting pitcher in terms of WAR and other statistics.

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Additionally, dealing Porcello—and thus avoiding potentially handing him a hefty contract—freed up more long-term salary to pursue the likes of Jordan Zimmermann and Justin Upton.