Detroit Tigers: Hypothetical, Creative Ways to Trade Anibal Sanchez, Mike Pelfrey

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Feb 27, 2017; Lakeland, FL, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Anibal Sanchez (19) throws a pitch during the third inning of a spring training baseball game against the Atlanta Braves at Joker Marchant Stadium. Mandatory Credit: Reinhold Matay-USA TODAY Sports /

Detroit Tigers pitchers Anibal Sanchez and Mike Pelfrey struggled last season. With Daniel Norris and Matt Boyd replacing the duo in the rotation, Detroit could hypothetically trade the veterans.

Detroit Tigers baseball is officially back. Spring Training is getting into the swing of things, with games having already begun. So far, the club has played eight games against Major League opposition.

The Tigers have won just three of these games, but Spring Training is more about shaping the roster and finding the right group to carry for Opening Day.

Some Detroit players have already started to stand out.

Miguel Cabrera, unsurprisingly, seems to be in mid-season form already, with a .462 batting average already in just 13 at-bats.

Elsewhere, the likes of Dominic Ficociello, Ruben Alaniz and Arcenio Leon have all made impacts.

However, some Tigers players have posted numbers that aren’t exactly stats to write home about.

Anibal Sanchez was ambushed for four hits, three runs and a walk in just one inning.

Elsewhere, Mike Pelfrey has been tagged for six hits, three runs and three walks in two outings spanning 3.2 frames.

It’s obviously still exceedingly early in the grand scheme of things, and the veteran duo may turn things around.

However, Sanchez and Pelfrey’s early numbers are reminiscent of their respective stats last season.

In 153.1 innings, Sanchez turned in a 5.87 ERA and a 5.06 FIP. Meanwhile, Pelfrey posted a 5.15 FIP and a 1.731 WHIP over the span of 119 frames.

If the duo continue to struggle, the Tigers could be in a difficult spot where constructing the team’s roster is concerned.

Roster Spots

Justin Verlander, Michael Fulmer, Jordan Zimmermann, Daniel Norris, Matt Boyd, Buck Farmer, Chad Bell and Myles Jaye offer plenty of options in the rotation, while Warwick Saupold, Drew VerHagen and William Cuevas could also step into the rotation if need be.

In the bullpen, there may not be much room for a struggling Sanchez or Pelfrey.

Some combination of Blaine Hardy, Joe Jimenez, Mark Lowe, Kyle Ryan, Daniel Stumpf, VerHagen, Bell, Alcantara, Saupold and Farmer will join Francisco Rodriguez, Bruce Rondon, Justin Wilson and Alex Wilson in Detroit’s relief pitcher mix.

Considering both Sanchez and Pelfrey are long past being out of minor league options, a trade could make sense.

Sep 15, 2016; Detroit, MI, USA; Detroit Tigers manager Brad Ausmus (7) takes the ball to relieve starting pitcher Mike Pelfrey (37) in the second inning against the Minnesota Twins at Comerica Park. Mandatory Credit: Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports /

Hypothetical Trade Scenarios

Unfortunately, injuries tend to be a regular occurrence in both Spring Training and the regular season. As such, a team who loses a starter to injury could be a hypothetical trade fit.

Those hypothetical teams would have to be able to take on Sanchez or Pelfrey’s salaries in deals—or at least swap a similar contract or contracts.

According to Spotrac, Sanchez is slated to make $16 million this year with an $800,000 signing bonus. Per the same publication, Pelfrey will earn $8 million in 2017.

Those relatively-high numbers certainly limit things in terms of trade partners, but the Detroit Tigers could conceivably trade either player for another bloated contract.

What’s more, Detroit could add a player like Steven Moya or Dixon Machado to a deal if either player isn’t going to make the Major League roster.

If the duo aren’t going to make the team by the end of camp, it makes more sense to trade them for something rather than risk losing them for nothing.

Both Moya and Machado are out of options, so trading them with one of the veteran starters could net the Tigers a more intriguing return.

The young, controllable position players would certainly be fits on a younger team where they can get more consistent playing time.

Sep 7, 2016; Chicago, IL, USA; Detroit Tigers starting pitcher Anibal Sanchez (19) throws to a first base against the Chicago White Sox during the first inning at U.S. Cellular Field. Mandatory Credit: Kamil Krzaczynski-USA TODAY Sports /

Hypothetical Trades

San Diego

This is all speculative mind you, but sending Pelfrey and Machado to San Diego for reliever Jose Dominguez makes sense.

The Padres don’t have a high payroll and could absorb Pelfrey’s salary. They could also try turning him into a potential trade chip at the deadline.

A stint in spacious Petco Park could do wonders for the ground-ball pitcher.

The National League West franchise also needs a shortstop, and could plug in Machado as an everyday starter.

In return, Detroit would pick up a hard-throwing reliever in 26-year-old Jose Dominguez.

While he’s only struck out 5.9 batters per nine innings in the Majors, Dominguez routinely posted strikeout per nine frame rates above 10.0 in the minors.

Pittsburgh

Pittsburgh is in need of some outfield depth, so perhaps sending Pelfrey or Sanchez and Moya to the club for some combination of John Jaso, Juan Nicasio and Antonio Bastardo could make sense.

Anaheim

The Los Angeles Angels of Anaheim have shown a penchant for employing former Tigers, with Cameron Maybin, Jefry Marte and Jose Alvarez all in the mix for Opening Day roster spots this season.

Anaheim is in need of starting pitching depth, so a swap involving one of Detroit’s veteran starters for one of the Halos’ moderately sized, short-term contracts would hypothetically work for all parties.

The likes of Huston Street, Ben Revere and Cliff Pennington could all be conceivable trade fits.

It remains to be seen just how the Detroit Tigers will construct the team’s roster heading into Opening Day.

Next: Predicting the Tigers Rotation

However, one thing is for certain—it will certainly be interesting to see how Spring Training plays out in regards to Detroit’s pitching depth.

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