Detroit Tigers: Three Potential Francisco Rodriguez Trades

Detroit Tigers closer Francisco Rodriguez recently completed his first season in Motown. The closer solidified the back end of the bullpen with 44 saves. If he’s dealt, the Tigers could receive a solid return.

Detroit Tigers fans are likely to see a different looking team come Opening Day next season.

General manager Al Avila is looking to make the Tigers younger and less costly. That means a number of veteran players could be dealt.

Among some of the names that could be moved are J.D. Martinez, Ian Kinsler and Cameron Maybin. While it remains to be seen if Detroit will move any of the three, one other player who could wind up elsewhere is Francisco Rodriguez.

According to Spotrac, the pitcher has a $6 million dollar option on his contract for next season.

Should the Tigers exercise that option, they could either keep him as the team’s closer for 2017, or trade him.

There are a number of pros and cons to dealing the man commonly referred to as “K-Rod,” but if Rodriguez is traded, Detroit will have options.

The coming offseason will see elite closers like Kenley Jansen, Mark Melancon, Aroldis Chapman and Wade Davis hit the free agent market. With so many options available, the Tigers may be able to flip Rodriguez to a team that misses out on, loses, or is unable to bid on one of the top closers.

Here are three potential trades involving Francisco Rodriguez that would keep the Detroit Tigers competitive next season.

Trade Partner: New York Yankees

Potential Deal: Detroit Tigers trade Francisco Rodriguez and a PTBNL to the Yankees for reliever Chasen Shreve and minor league players Dietrich Enns and Kyle Higashioka.

The Yankees decided to move on from the three-headed bullpen monster consisting of Aroldis Chapman, Andrew Miller and Dellin Betances.

While Betances remains, both Chapman and Miller were dealt at the trade deadline. With the duo’s salary coming off the books—not to mention Mark Teixeira’s contract—the Yankees suddenly have some financial flexibility.

They could splash some of that newfound cash on Rodriguez to fill the team’s closer role. Betances was a natural candidate to close games after Chapman and Miller were dealt. However, the 28-year-old struggled mightily, allowing 11 earned runs in just 18.1 innings pitched.

If New York wants to transition Betances back into being a setup man a position where he thrived (2.05 FIP, 13.8 strikeouts per nine frames) from 2014 to 2015, Rodriguez is an option at closer.

The Trade

In the potential deal, the Tigers would get three pieces who could step in and contribute right away next season.

Shreve is buried in New York’s bullpen pecking order behind the likes of Betances, Tyler Clippard, Tommy Layne and Nick Goody. What’s more, starters like Luis Cessa and Luis Severino could transition into relief roles.

Nonetheless, Shreve turned in a 14.2 swinging strike percentage and a 3.81 SIERA. Controllable through 2020, he’d give Brad Ausmus another late-inning option.

Enns and Higashioka are more depth options, but they be part of Detroit’s roster next year.

A 25-year-old pitcher who reached Triple-A for the first time last season, Enns thrived. The left-hander notched a 14-4 record and a 1.73 ERA.

He didn’t strikeout too many batters (8.3 per nine innings), but he could be on the outside looking in if the Yankees turn to free agency to fill out parts of their rotation.

Rounding out the deal is Higashioka, who batted .276 with an .847 OPS, 81 RBI, 55 runs scored, 24 doubles and 21 home runs in only 102 games split between Double-A and Triple-A.

With Gary Sanchez, Austin Romine and Brian McCann all ahead of him on the organizational depth chart, Higashioka may not find much Major League playing time next year. The backstop could find more at-bats in Detroit James McCann’s primary deputy.

Trade Partner: Colorado Rockies

Potential Deal: Francisco Rodriguez and Mike Pelfrey to Colorado for reliever Carlos Estevez, catcher Tony Wolters and infielder Pat Valaika

As it stands, the Colorado Rockies are pretty much set at most positions. The only real area of need they have is in the pitching department.

The Rockies could use both reinforcements in both the bullpen and the rotation as the team’s pitching staff allowed the third-most runs and the third-highest batting average against in the league.

Better results from the pitching side could propel Colorado within striking distance of a playoff spot next season. The National League West club surprised many last season by staying on the fringes contention for stretches.

They ultimately finished 75-87 with a 42-39 record at home. With some prudent additions, the team could be a contender next season.

Enter Francisco Rodriguez and Mike Pelfrey

Last season’s significant offseason acquisition for Colorado, Jake McGee, pitched to a 5.29 FIP in 45.2 innings. With fellow relievers Jason Motte (5.68 FIP) coming off a down season, the team could use a veteran closer.

The need is even greater when considering that veteran reliever Boone Logan will hit free agency this winter. Rodriguez is a definite fit.

With Jorge De La Rosa also scheduled to become a free agent, the Rockies could also use another starting pitcher. Mike Pelfrey is actually be a fit considering his ability to keep the ball in the yard and on the ground.

Pelfrey’s 1.13 home runs allowed per nine innings came in better than the numbers posted in the category by Justin Verlander, Max Scherzer, Zack Greinke and Carlos Carrasco. Additionally, the former Met finished 17^th in Major League Baseball in ground ball percentage among starters with at least 100 innings pitched.

Based on those numbers, he could actually find success in the launching pad that is Coors Field.

The Trade

Not only would Detroit trim $15 million off their salary for next season, the team would net a trio of Major League pieces.

Estevez

Most prominent among the trio in terms of upside and ability is Estevez. A hard-throwing reliever who just wrapped up his first Major League season, Estevez pitched to a 5.24 ERA in 55 innings.

While that number isn’t much to write home about, a closer look at the reliever’s other stats reveal he was much better than his ERA would indicate.

Estevez’ other run-prevention stats (4.22 FIP and a 4.02 SIERA) look much more favorable. However, what is most intriguing about the pitcher is his ability to miss bats. The 23-year-old struck out 9.7 batters per nine innings last season, including an 11.3 swinging strike percentage.

Wolters

Also included in the hypothetical trade would be utility player Tony Wolters.

The former Cleveland farmhand sees most of his time behind the plate, but the backstop can also operate at either middle infield position. With top prospect Tom Murphy now on Colorado’s active roster, Wolters may not be a long-term fit with the club.

The 24-year-old hit .259 with a .327 on-base percentage in 71 games for the Rockies last season. He also added 30 RBI, 27 runs scored, 15 stolen bases, four stolen bases, three home runs, a pair of triples and a 1.0 WAR.

Valaika

Rounding out the deal is another utility option in Pat Valaika.

Like Wolters the infielder is 24 and made his Major League debut last season. Valaika contributed three runs scored, two RBI and a home run in his brief, 13-game stint with the Rockies. However, the former ninth-round pick flashed his potential in the minors.

Over 136 games split between Double-A and Triple-A, Valaika hit .257 while mashing 41 doubles, 14 home runs and four triples. He also added 80 RBI, 74 runs scored and 10 stolen bases.

Capable of playing second base, third base and shortstop, Valaika’s ability to rack up extra bases would bring an intriguing element to Detroit’s bench.

Given that all three players just made their debuts this season, they’d be controllable for the foreseeable future.

Other Potential Trade Partners

With so many closers on the market, there are bound to be teams who strike out on the top tier of free agents who still need someone to pitch the ninth. Here are some of those teams.

Los Angeles Dodgers

The Dodgers have plenty of effective late inning arms, with the likes of Joe Blanton, Pedro Baez, Luis Avilan, Josh Fields and Grant Dayton all serving as worthy setup options to Kenley Jansen. However, if Jansen departs via free agency, the team will need a new closer.

San Francisco Giants

While the Dodgers could potentially lose Kenley Jansen to free agency, their division rivals face the possibility of seeing Sergio Romo, Santiago Casilla and Javier Lopez depart. They’ll need replacements if they want to contend for a World Series next season.

Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim

The Angels bullpen isn’t exactly the best. The team finished 28^th in saves and WAR, they could clearly use the help.

While Cam Bedrosian, Jose Alvarez, Deolis Guerra and J.C. Ramirez all turned in encouraging seasons, the team needs a closer. Huston Street’s FIP ballooned to 6.42 last season, and a reunion with Rodriguez would certainly make sense.

Anaheim doesn’t have much in the way of prospects, but they certainly have a need.

St. Louis Cardinals

This is probably the most unlikely option of the bunch. Whether St. Louis needs a new closer is dependent on whether Seung-hwan Oh hits free agency or stays with the team. The Cardinals do have Trevor Rosenthal and Jonathan Broxton as options, but they might seek an upgrade if Oh leaves.

Arizona Diamondbacks

Like the Angels, the Diamondbacks didn’t have the best campaign last season. Arizona’s relief pitchers ranked 26^th in WAR, 27^th in ERA and saves and 28^th in FIP.

Next: Pros, Cons of Dealing Francisco Rodriguez

Rodriguez would bring a calming presence to a group that lost Brad Ziegler and Tyler Clippard to mid-season trades and is about to potentially lose Daniel Hudson to free agency.