Detroit Tigers: Former Players Feature on Upcoming Schedule

Detroit Tigers players have so far enjoyed a successful season despite losing a number of players from last season’s team. Some of those players, and a number of other ex-Tigers will match up against Detroit.

Detroit Tigers players will enter a crucial stretch of the season on Monday when the team kicks off a three-game set with the Kansas City Royals. Detroit will play three other home series over the rest of the month. These include tilts with the Boston Red Sox, Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim and the Chicago White Sox.

After seven total games against the Royals and Red Sox, Detroit will hit the road for a brief, three-game series in Minnesota against the Twins. Following that, the team will return home for the aforementioned series versus Anaheim and Chicago.

While each game is crucial, the upcoming contests will feature teams that employ a significant number of former Detroit players.

Interestingly, the Tigers are a matchup with Yoenis Cespedes and the Mets away from facing all three prominent players traded at last season’s deadline. Of course, Detroit doesn’t play the Mets again this season, but David Price and Joakim Soria will both come back to Motown in the coming weeks.

Starting off with Kansas City, here is a look at the former Tigers Miguel Cabrera and company will face as the calendar creeps towards September.

Kansas City Royals: Reliever Joakim Soria

In terms of former Detroit Tigers players on the Royals roster, it starts and ends with Joakim Soria. With Omar Infante released earlier in the season and Brian Flynn in the minor leagues, Soria is the lone former Tiger currently with Kansas City’s big league team.

Soria was dealt to the Pirates from Detroit at last season’s trade deadline before signing with the defending champs in the offseason.

So far, the decision to move on from the team’s former closer looks like the right move for the Tigers.

Over the course of 50 innings, the longtime closer owns a 4.14 ERA, a 4.60 FIP and a 3.72 SIERA. What’s more, he’s locked into a hefty, long-term contract. The deal which he signed with the Royals just months ago will potentially take him through his age-35 season (per Spotrac).

In the trade that sent Soria to Pittsburgh, the Tigers were also able to pick up JaCoby Jones, who brings an intriguing blend of raw power, speed and athleticism to the diamond.  He’s seen time at third base, shortstop and in the outfield. It isn’t difficult to imagine him having a Ben Zobrist like effect on the team in the near future.

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim: Infielder Jefry Marte and Relievers Jose Alvarez and Jose Valdez

As it stands, the Minnesota Twins don’t have any former Tigers on their roster. However, the Angels may have enough ex-Detroit players for both teams.

Anaheim is struggling mightily right now, and one (so far unsuccessful) way the team is trying to fix things is by throwing a number of different former Tigers on the field.

Jefry Marte, who saw action in 33 games for Detroit at both first and third base last season, currently starts at first base for the Angels. He’s also seen time at the hot corner and in left field while posting a 0.2 WAR.

Since making his Anaheim debut, the 25-year-old is hitting.245 with a .743 OPS, 24 RBI, 23 runs scored, eight doubles and eight home runs. His on-base percentage currently sits at .297 over 57 contests.

In addition to Marte, the Halos also employ a pair of ex-Tigers in the bullpen. Jose Alvarez, who was acquired for Andrew Romine, has pitched to a 4.00 ERA and a 3.25 FIP in relief for Anaheim. Fellow reliever Jose Valdez has so far surrendered six walks, four runs and a pair of hits in just four innings with the American League West club.

The Angels previously employed Al Alburquerque earlier this season.

Chicago White Sox: Catcher Alex Avila, Pitcher Jacob Turner and Outfielders Austin Jackson and Avisail Garcia

While the Angels employed a number of former Detroit role players, the White Sox have gone for a number of former consistent contributors from old Tigers rosters.

At one time, Alex Avila and Austin Jackson were both integral parts of the Tigers at the beginning of the decade. The duo enjoyed some of the finer seasons of their respective careers at the time.

In 2011, Avila broke out with a stellar all-around season that saw him register a 5.1 WAR. The backstop collected 82 RBI, 63 runs, 33 doubles, 19 home runs, four triples and three stolen bases. What’s more, he also snagged All-Star and Silver Slugger honors while finishing 12^th in the MVP voting.

From 2010 to 2012, Jackson hit .280 while averaging 99 runs, 51 RBI, 28 doubles, 20 stolen bases, 10 triples and 10 home runs per season. The center fielder posted a 20.7 WAR while wearing a Detroit uniform. He’s managed just a 1.5 total WAR since leaving the Motor City.

Rounding out the group are a pair of former top prospects. Turner was the ninth-overall pick in 2009, but managed a paltry 8.28 ERA with the Tigers before being flipped to the Marlins as the centerpiece of the Anibal Sanchez trade. Turner is currently sporting a 9.45 ERA in 13.1 innings with the White Sox.

Garcia hit .319 in 2012 for Detroit. However, he hasn’t been able to replicate those numbers since. After a 2013 trade to Chicago the outfielder is the owner of a .257 batting average and just 34 home runs in 322 games.

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Like Avila and Jackson, Garcia is currently on the disabled list. Turner could pitch in the series.