Detroit Tigers: Three Mike Pelfrey Trade Ideas

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Mar 2, 2016; Tampa, FL, USA;Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Mike Pelfrey (37) looks on during the second inning against the New York Yankees at George M. Steinbrenner Field. Mandatory Credit: Kim Klement-USA TODAY Sports /

Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Mike Pelfrey hasn’t had the best start to the season—this much is true. Detroit has struggled to win many of his starts. Here are some trade ideas involving Pelfrey.

Detroit Tigers fans haven’t been thrilled with the Mike Pelfrey experiment so far this season. The former Met was signed to eat innings and provide a stabilizing rotation presence. That hasn’t exactly happened, as Pelfrey has struggled to keep runners off base.

In just 76.1 innings pitched, the veteran has allowed 103 hits and 53 runs. What’s more, he’s also walked 31 batters while only striking out 38. As it stands, the pitcher’s ERA is an unsightly 5.19.

A recent tweet from MLB.com’s Jason Beck stated that Daniel Norris will get the nod on Thursday, while Anibal Sanchez starts Saturday. The tweet also noted that Pelfrey’s scheduled start was pushed back to Tuesday.

Norris will be summoned from the minors, while Anibal Sanchez will step in from the bullpen. Should both show well, it might serve the Tigers better to have the duo fill in behind Justin Verlander, Michael Fulmer and Jordan Zimmermann in the rotation. That could lead to Pelfrey being on the outside looking in.

His tendency to allow a high number of base runners—Pelfrey has allowed seven hits or more in nine starts this year—and low strikeout totals make him an unlikely fit for the bullpen. That could leave a trade as an option for Pelfrey.

Matt Boyd and Chad Bell could provide sufficient depth in the minors should the Tigers deal the 32-year-old.

Considering his struggles and the fact that he signed a two-year, $16 million contract before the season, Pelfrey won’t exactly be easy to move. However, stranger trades have happened.

Here are three trade ideas involving the Wichita State product.

Colorado Rockies

Possible Trade: Pelfrey, Tyler Collins and a minor pitching prospect for relievers Jason Motte and Chad Qualls.

The Colorado Rockies need starting pitching. Right now, the team’s rotation consists of Chad Bettis, Jon Gray, Eddie Butler, Tyler Anderson and Jorge De la Rosa. Gray has a solid 3.52 FIP, and Anderson has looked promising in two starts, but that’s been about it. Bettis, Butler and De La Rosa sport respective ERAs of 5.44, 6.26 and 7.17.

That simply isn’t going to cut it in a Major League rotation.

While Mike Pelfrey has allowed runners to reach base rather frequently, he has avoided further damage with some well-timed double plays. Pitching at Coors Field isn’t easy, but perhaps his ability to induce ground outs would play well in Colorado.

Collins would add some youth to a Rockies outfield that currently relies on Charlie Blackmon, Carlos Gonzalez, Brandon Barnes and Ryan Raburn. All four are hovering around, or past the age of 30. Additionally, the team could use another outfield bat with Gerardo Parra –another veteran option on a rebuilding team—on the disabled list.

Collins once showed the potential to (in the right scenario) hit .270 with 15-20 home runs and 70 RBI in a season. He could realize that potential in Colorado.

The Rockies are also thin on pitching prospect, so perhaps sending a pitcher like Kevin Ziomek or Myles Jaye to Colorado would make things work.

In return, Detroit would receive two useful bullpen pieces in Chad Qualls and Jason Motte. Both have solid track records and would add depth to the Tigers’ relief corps.

Qualls has pitched to a 4.64 ERA in 21.1 innings with only 10 strikeouts, but he’s succeeded in the past with low strikeout numbers. Getting away from Coors Field, where the reliever owns a 6.75 ERA this season, will obviously help his numbers.

Meanwhile, Motte has pitched to a 1.80 ERA in 10 innings for Colorado this year. After a down season in 2014, the reliever has posted a 3.55 ERA and a 3.58 FIP in 58.1 innings since. He’d be a quality seventh inning option for Brad Ausmus.

Per Spotrac, Qualls and Motte will make a combined $7.25 million this year, and eight million next season. Neither team would be taking on significant salary in the deal, plus Detroit would improve its bullpen depth.

San Diego Padres

Possible Trade: Pelfrey for a bad contract and cash.

Pick a bad contract, any bad contract, the Padres have a number of them.

San Diego has bloated deals for Melvin Upton Jr. and Matt Kemp on the books, not to mention high-priced rental options like Jon Jay and Alexei Ramirez.

The Tigers could send Pelfrey to San Diego in an attempt to even out the contracts, while the Padres would need to eat some money, similar to what they did with James Shields, to move Upton Jr. or Kemp.

Jay would be a nice fit in right field for the Tigers. He’d immediately give the team an upgrade over Mike Aviles to pair with Steven Moya while J.D. Martinez recovers. Ramirez could also appeal to the Tigers as an offensive alternative to Aviles and Andrew Romine where backup infielders are concerned off the bench.

Ramirez is only hitting .254 with a .288 on-base percentage, but he does have 25 RBI, 10 doubles, six stolen bases, three home runs and a triple.

Detroit could also take on the expiring contract of either Matt Thornton or Fernando Rodney if San Diego wants to shed more salary. Thornton has been solid in his career, while Rodney is the owner of a sparkling 0.34 ERA (one earned run allowed) this season.

Atlanta Braves

Possible Trade: Pelfrey and a prospect to Atlanta in a salary dump.

In recent years, the Atlanta Braves have taken on contracts in moves that are best described as salary dumps—so long as the other team sends a prospect or prospects the Braves’ way.

Detroit could go a similar route by offloading Pelfrey to the Braves, along with a prospect or two buried on the team’s organizational depth chart like Ziomek, Jaye, first baseman Dominic Ficociello or catchers Arvicent Perez or Grayson Grenier.

If Detroit is looking for a Major-League return, the Braves employ a number of veterans on expiring deals. Atlanta has already flipped Jason Grilli and Jhoulys Chacin to other teams this season, so it wouldn’t be a shock to see the team deal Bud Norris, Alexi Ogando, Jim Johnson or Gordon Beckham.

Norris could function as a swingman or a bullpen option for the Tigers, while Ogando and Johnson would provide more depth. In the same vein as his former White Sox teammate Ramirez, Gordon Beckham could be the offensive upgrade to Mike Aviles that Detroit has needed.

If Detroit satisfies the Braves’ prospect need without surrendering top talent, a trade certainly makes sense. Atlanta could potentially have two rotation spots opening up if one or both of Norris and Julio Teheran are dealt.

Next: All-Star Voting Update

If Atlanta can get Pelfrey back on track, the Braves could conceivably flip the starter for more assets in the offseason.

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