Detroit Tigers: Four Potential Trades Involving Sanchez, Lowe and Pelfrey

Detroit Tigers general manager Al Avila is looking to make the team younger and more financially sustainable for the long haul. To do this, he’ll need to shed salary.

Detroit Tigers pitchers generally performed well last season.

Justin Verlander returned to his ace-like self, while Michael Fulmer emerged as a Rookie of the Year candidate.

Additionally, fellow young starters Matt Boyd and Daniel Norris established themselves as capable pitchers at the Major League level.

However, some pitchers struggled.

Mike Pelfrey, who was signed in the offseason to eat innings, struggled mightily. Of all starting pitchers with at least 100 innings in the Majors, Pelfrey posted the highest WHIP at 1.73.

In addition to Pelfrey, Anibal Sanchez and Mark Lowe were hit around too often.

Similar to Pelfrey, Sanchez had trouble holding down a rotation spot, as he logged a 5.06 FIP in 153.1 innings pitched.

Home runs were once again a problem for the former Marlin, as he allowed 1.76 long balls per nine frames.

Lowe, who like Pelfrey was signed to a multi-year deal last offseason, pitched to a 7.11 ERA, a 5.66 FIP and a 4.76 xFIP in 49.1 innings. He allowed 2.19 home runs per nine innings.

In a perfect world, Avila would be able to shed the contracts of Pelfrey, Sanchez and Lowe without eating any salary. However, that is unlikely to happen given the pitchers’ respective struggles and contracts.

Per Spotrac, Sanchez will make $16 million in 2017. Following next season, the Tigers have a team option for the same amount in 2018, which they can buy out for $5 million.

According to the same publication, the contracts of Pelfrey and Lowe are option-free, as both will see their deals expire after next season. Spotrac lists Pelfrey’s salary at $8 million and Lowe’s at $5.5 million.

After all three struggled last season, here’s a look at how the Detroit Tigers could trade them for something of value.

The Tigers may not be able to save significant money in any of these deals. However, the team can at least acquire a player on a similar contract who could bounce back.

Trade #2 Tigers Take a Flier on Matt Garza

Trade Partner: Milwaukee Brewers
Potential Trade: Detroit Tigers Trade Mike Pelfrey, Mark Lowe and Anthony Gose for Matt Garza
Incoming Salary: $12 million
Outgoing Salary: $13.5 million

Come the start of 2017, Matt Garza may be on the outside looking in where the Milwaukee Brewers rotation is concerned.

The team has Zach Davies, Junior Guerra, Wily Peralta, Jimmy Nelson and Chase Anderson all returning. Additionally, Brent Suter, Taylor Jungmann and Tyler Cravy could also battle for a starting spot.

Milwaukee may be better off with a pitcher like Pelfrey as a veteran depth option as opposed to Garza, who was tagged for a similarly-high 1.50 WHIP last season.

The Brewers would also be able to plug in Lowe as a veteran option in a young bullpen.

However, the real appeal may be Gose. Wynton Bernard would be another outfielder who could appeal to the Brewers, who love to run.

Craig Counsell’s team finished the season with a league-high 181 stolen bases—Cincinnati was next closest at 139. The Brew Crew also came in ninth in team BsR.

As it stands, speedster and former Tiger Hernan Perez is slated to start in right field. His fellow outfielders include the slugging Ryan Braun and Kirk Nieuwenhuis (-0.2 BsR) who isn’t the best fit for Milwaukee’s running ways.

Adding Gose would give the Brewers another base-stealing threat to throw at opposing teams next season.

Detroit’s Side of the Deal

In addition to save a small amount of cash, the Tigers would pick up an intriguing bounce-back candidate.

Like Street, Garza has seen more successful seasons, but his 4.33 FIP and 4.49 xFIP last season suggest there’s still upside to be had as a back-of-the-rotation arm.

Detroit could even use the ex-Twin as a swingman of sorts to lessen Fulmer, Norris and Boyd’s innings.

Despite not being the front-line starter he used to be, Garza has logged a 4.23 FIP since joining the Brewers in 2014. On an expiring contract, he’s well worth the risk.

Trade #3 Tigers Deal Mark Lowe for Bench Upgrade

Trade Partner: Oakland Athletics
Potential Trade: Detroit Tigers Trade Mark Lowe and Andrew Romine for Jed Lowrie
Incoming Salary: $6.5 million
Outgoing Salary: $6.7 million* (MLBTradeRumors projects that Romine will earn $1.2 million through arbitration)

With Rich Hill, Josh Reddick and Billy Butler all moving on during the 2016 season, the A’s are clearly in rebuilding mode.

Oakland could look to bolster the team’s bullpen with Lowe, while moving on from Lowrie.

Despite Lowe’s struggles in Detroit last season, he does own a 2.65 career ERA pitching in Oakland’s home stadium.

After giving up far too many long balls in the Motor City, the reliever could find success in the Athletics’ spacious ballpark.

Jed Lowrie

Lowrie entered 2016 as one of the veteran presences on the team, but only played in 87 games as his season was cut short by injury.

The infielder turned in a respectable .263 batting average and a .314 on-base percentage, but his wRC+ (77) and ISO (.059) represented career-low numbers.

Able to play third base, shortstop and second base, Lowrie’s contract expires after the 2017 campaign.

Lowrie is blocked at third base by Ryon Healy (134 wRC+, .364 wOBA), who enjoyed a fine rookie campaign. Elsewhere, Marcus Semien is locked in at shortstop, while elite infield middle-infield prospect Franklin Barreto could make his Major League debut next year.

While the former Astro would enter similarly crowded infield in Detroit, he could make an impact as a super-sub. At his best, Lowrie is a plus contributor at the plate. That upside could come in handy as an insurance policy in the event that Ian Kinsler is dealt.

Trade #4 Tigers Move on From Anibal Sanchez

Trade Partner: Pittsburgh Pirates
Potential Trade: Detroit Tigers Trade Anibal Sanchez for Antonio Bastardo and John Jaso
Incoming Salary: $10.625 million
Outgoing Salary: $16.8 million

The Pittsburgh Pirates aren’t exactly swimming in cash, but they could find themselves with much more money to play with if Andrew McCutchen is traded.

Still, moving Sanchez for Bastardo and Jaso makes sense for both parties.

Given his 4.67 xFIP with the Pirates last season, Bastardo is clearly expendable. While he wasn’t lights out in 2016, the reliever does have a solid track record. From 2011 to 2015, his SIERA never eclipsed the 3.55 mark. On an expiring contract, he’s well worth the gamble.

With plenty of relief options around him in Detroit, Bastardo could find success.

John Jaso

Like Bastardo, Jaso is on an expiring contract, and could be a fit in Detroit as a bench contributor. With top prospect Josh Bell (113 wRC+, .368 on-base percentage) bursting onto the scene, Pittsburgh may be more inclined to move Jaso and his $4 million (per Spotrac) salary.

While Sanchez’ struggles in 2016 make him far from a lock to produce, Ray Searage and the Pirates have worked wonders with struggling pitchers who’ve previously found success.

A.J. Burnett, Francisco Liriano, Ivan Nova, Joe Blanton, Mark Melancon and J.A. Happ are just a few of the pitchers who have relaunched their careers in Pittsburgh under Searage’s tutelage. Sanchez could potentially follow a similar route.

Next: Al Avila Continues to Win the Bryan Holaday Trade

Even Neftali Feliz, who was hit hard (7.65 ERA) in Detroit, has rebounded with the Pirates. In Tigers pitcher fanned 10.23 batters per nine innings while logging a 3.36 SIERA.