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 #1 Tigers and Angels Swap Sizeable Pitching Contracts

Trade Partner: Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim
Potential Trade: Detroit Tigers Trade Mike Pelfrey and Mark Lowe for Huston Street and Cliff Pennington
Incoming Salary: $11.25 million
Outgoing Salary: $13.5 million

As it stands, the Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim are in desperate need of starting pitching. Through free agency and injuries, the team is now left with just Tyler Skaggs, Ricky Nolasco and Alex Meyer in the rotation.

A larger trade involving Sanchez and Nolasco would have worked from a salary perspective. However, the Halos may be reluctant to move the former Twin after he logged a 3.87 FIP in 73 innings for Anaheim last season.

Instead, the Angels are able to move on from Street while picking up a starter.

From Anaheim’s perspective, the team could turn the closing duties over to a younger reliever like Cam Bedrosian (11.38 K/9), Deolis Guerra (3.77 FIP) or former Tiger Jose Alvarez (0.7 WAR, 3.73 SIERA). What’s more, Lowe could turn things around in the bullpen.

Huston Street

In return, the Detroit Tigers would receive a bounce-back candidate over their own in Huston Street.

A two-time All-Star, Street has amassed 324 saves since entering the big leagues in 2005 with Oakland.

The former Rookie of the Year logged 40 saves and a 3.18 ERA as recently as 2015, but saw his run-prevention stats sky rocket last season.

The 33-year-old only threw 22.1 innings, but was teed off on by opposing batters, posting a 6.42 FIP and a 5.97 xFIP. Street was hurt by a .351 BABIP last season. He could bounce back in new surroundings.

Even in the event that the former A’s closer implodes again next season, it will only be one pitcher Detroit will have to work around as opposed to a pair of hurlers in Pelfrey and Lowe.

According to Baseball Prospectus, Street will be owed $9 million next season. He has a $10 million club option for 2018 that can be bought out for $1 million.

Pennington

In addition to Street, the Tigers would absorb Pennington’s salary to make the money somewhat even. Despite a -0.2 WAR, a .265 on-base percentage and a $2.25 million salary, Detroit may find it easier to move Pennington without taking any salary back.

Worst case scenario, he becomes a bench contributor similar to Andrew Romine in the sense that he can play multiple positions.

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 #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.