Detroit Tigers: Ideal Trade Partners for J.D. Martinez

Team: Baltimore Orioles

Should the Baltimore Orioles fail to retain Mark Trumbo, they’ll be in need of a new outfield bat, particularly one that can hit in the heart of a lineup.

The O’s current right field options currently include the likes of Joey Rickard (-0.7 WAR, 86 wRC+) and Aneury Tavarez, who has played just 11 games above Double-A.

Martinez would be the perfect replacement for Trumbo.

While Baltimore doesn’t possess the Major League’s best farm system, the franchise still possess plenty of talent that could potentially fit in Detroit.

Potential Trade Fits for the Detroit Tigers

Brad Brach

Simply put, Brach is one of baseball’s best setup relievers.

The pitcher, who is controllable through 2018, logged a 1.6 WAR in 79 innings of relief. What’s more, he also struck out 10.48 batters per nine innings while also turning in a stellar 2.99 SIERA.

In somewhat uncommon news, Brach accumulated 10 wins in 2016 despite never starting a game. He also tacked on two saves in 71 outings.

Brach would immediately become Francisco Rodriguez’ top setup man. In this scenario, if Bruce Rondon, Justin Wilson, Shane Greene and Joe Jimenez pitch to the best of their abilities, Detroit could have one of the league’s best bullpens.

Mychal Givens

Another one of Baltimore’s standout setup relievers, Givens turned in an excellent 2016 campaign.

The 26-year-old turned in a 3.13 ERA, a 3.31 FIP, a 3.78 xFIP and a 3.32 SIERA while striking out 11.57 batters per nine innings.

Like Brach, Givens won an uncommon amount of games (eight) for a reliever. However, unlike Brach, the former second-round pick is controllable for more than just two seasons.

Givens isn’t even arbitration eligible until after 2018. He isn’t slated to hit free agency until the completion of the 2021 World Series.

Cody Sedlock

A first-round pick of the Orioles in the 2016 draft, Sedlock has the look of a future starter with a four-pitch repertoire.

That four-pitch repertoire helped him hold batters to a .158 batting average and a 1.07 WHIP in his first nine starts in the New York Penn League.

Detroit has plenty of promising young starters in the minors, but it never hurts to have too much depth.

Tanner Scott

A project for the future, Scott posted a 4.76 ERA in 64.1 relief innings last season. However, it is hard to ignore the reliever’s triple-digit fastball.

Despite the high ERA, the left-hander managed to strike out 81 batters last season.

Ubaldo Jimenez

Jimenez obviously wouldn’t be the only return in any potential J.D. Martinez trade, but it is worth nothing that the reliever is scheduled to make $13.5 million next season (per Sportac).

The longtime Colorado starter struggled, posting a 5.44 ERA and a 4.64 xFIP. However, he’s found success in the past. As part of a larger deal, Jimenez could make sense as a change-of-scenery candidate.

In fact, Detroit has two change-of-scenery candidates of the team’s own in Mike Pelfrey and Mark Lowe.

Per Spotrac, Pelfrey and Lowe are slated to make a combined $13.5 million in 2017.

Next: Tigers Minor League Signings Most Likely to Contribute in 2017

All three players are on expiring contracts.