Detroit Tigers: 10 Players Least Likely to be Traded

#4 & #3 Matt Boyd and Daniel Norris

Age: 25 (Boyd) and 23 (Norris)
Positions: Starting Pitchers
Controllable Through: 2021 (Both)
2016 Stats of Note: 1.29 WHIP (Boyd) 10.5 swinging strike percentage (Norris)

While Michael Fulmer’s emergence was one of the top storyline’s of Detroit’s season, Matt Boyd and Daniel Norris burst on to the scene as well.

Boyd logged the most innings of the pair, racking up 97.1 innings for the Tigers. The Washington native posted a 6-5 record and a 0.9 WAR while striking out 7.58 batters per nine frames.

In 56.1 innings from July 9^th to September 6^th, the left-hander pitched to a 2.56 ERA and 52 strikeouts.

His performances, as well as those of Norris, helped make up for the struggles of veterans Mike Pelfrey and Anibal Sanchez.

Speaking of Norris, the former Blue Jay posted turned in another season complete with a sub-four ERA. In 69.1 innings, the lefty posted a 3.38 ERA while striking out 71. That was good for 9.22 punch outs per nine frames.

Norris’ strikeout numbers are even more impressive considering he only walked 22 batters.

Why the Detroit Tigers Won’t Trade Boyd and Norris

Simply put, the duo are the future of Detroit’s rotation. Along with Fulmer, the Tigers young starters will only get better.

Over time, the likes of Beau Burrows, Kyle Funkhouser, Matt Manning and Tyler Alexander will also join Boyd, Norris and Fulmer in the rotation.

With so much team control and upside, Boyd and Norris aren’t going anywhere.