Detroit Tigers: Hypothetical, Beneficial Change of Scenery Trades

Change of Scenery Deals

Generally, change of scenery trades aren’t commonplace in Major League Baseball.

Teams will trade established veterans for prospect hauls or vice versa. Franchises also tend to take fliers on players with upside who have struggled, or move players in deals designed to shed salary.

Rarely do you see a change of scenery transaction that involves two teams swapping Major League veterans in an attempt to see if a different player can find success in a similar role.

However, there have been a few examples of this recently.

Benoit for Storen

The Seattle Mariners and Toronto Blue Jays swapped struggling relievers on expiring contracts last July.

Seattle flipped former Tiger Joaquin Benoit (5.18 ERA, 4.95 FIP at the time of the trade) to Toronto for Drew Storen (6.21 ERA, 5.01 FIP with the Blue Jays).

Benoit would go on to post a stellar 0.38 ERA in 23.2 frames for the American League East franchise, while Storen logged a 2.76 FIP in 18.1 innings in the Pacific Northwest.

Elsewhere last season, the Pirates swapped Antonio Bastardo and Jon Niese.

Bastardo for Niese

While Niese struggled mightily in his return to New York, Bastardo turned in a 3.94 FIP and 10.5 punch outs per nine frames for the Pirates.

Nolasco for Santiago

Ricky Nolasco and Hector Santiago also switched teams in trade that also involved Alex Meyer and minor league pitcher Alan Busenitz.

Nolasco would go onto thrive in his new settings, pitching to a 3.21 ERA in 11 starts for the Angels.

So far this spring, the likes of Anibal Sanchez, Mike Pelfrey and Mark Lowe have struggled.

The trio have combined to pitch 11.1 innings in Grapefruit League action.

Over that span, the three pitchers have combined to allow 24 hits, 19 runs, seven walks and four home runs.

While spring training numbers aren’t everything, the trio are coming off down seasons.

Here are some hypothetical change of scenery trades that could benefit all parties.

Mike Pelfrey for Wade Miley

As of now, Wade Miley will likely slot in as one of the Baltimore Orioles five starting pitchers.

The former Diamondback will probably be joined by Chris Tillman, Kevin Gausman, Dylan Bundy and Ubaldo Jimenez in Buck Showalter’s rotation.

A potential free agent at the end of the season, Miley is slated to make $8.75 million in 2016 according to Spotrac.

Per the same publication, the starting pitcher has a $12 million club option that can be bought out for $500,000.

Considering Pelfrey, who via Spotrac will take home $8 million in 2016 before becoming a free agent following the season, is 2-0 with a 4.15 ERA at Camden Yards, a swap could make sense.

Miley only joined Baltimore from Seattle in a mid-season trade last season.

It marked the third trade in as many years for the All-Star, who was flipped to Boston for three pitchers, including Rubby De La Rosa in 2014.

Boston sent Miley and Jonathan Aro to the M’s for Roenis Elias and Carson Smith in December of 2015, while Seattle dealt the left-hander to the O’s for Ariel Miranda.

Detroit’s Side of the Hypotehtical Trade

In 11 starts with the O’s last season, Miley pitched to an unsightly 6.17 ERA.

While his 3.79 FIP suggested he was better than his ERA would indicate, the 30-year-old did give up 11.7 hits per nine innings.

So far this spring, Miley has made three starts totaling six innings, he’s given up nine hits, five runs, a walk and a home run.

Overall, the pitcher has made just one start in Detroit in his career, but his track record makes him an intriguing bounce-back candidate.

From 2012 to 2016, the ex-Mariner logged a 3.92 ERA and a 3.73 FIP while averaging 11 wins per season.

He could give the Detroit Tigers some veteran rotation depth behind Daniel Norris and Matt Boyd.

Mark Lowe and Steven Moya for Fernando Abad

Detroit Tigers outfielder Steven Moya isn’t a lock to make Detroit’s roster this season.

With Mikie Mahtook, Tyler Collins, Andrew Romine and JaCoby Jones all capable of playing the outfield, the out-of-options Moya is facing plenty of competition for a bench spot this spring.

If he doesn’t make the roster, he could make an intriguing trade chip in a larger deal.

Sending Moya and Mark Lowe to Boston for fellow reliever Fernando Abad could make sense for all parties.

The Red Sox are adjusting to live without David Ortiz, and could utilize Moya as an occasional designated hitter and bench bat.

What’s more, Boston will have a number of new faces in the bullpen come Opening Day.

Four of the club’s more dependable relievers from last season, Junichi Tazawa, Brad Ziegler and Koji Uehara and Tommy Layne, have all departed.

Abad would seem like a candidate to take over for one of the aforementioned relievers, but the pitcher logged a 6.39 ERA and a 5.44 FIP in 12.2 innings after coming over from the Twins mid-season.

A change of scenery could benefit both Lowe and Abad.

Lowe, who struggled mightily in his first campaign in Detroit, could step into Boston’s bullpen.

Detroit’s Side of the Hypotehtical Trade

Meanwhile, Abad would give the Detroit Tigers another left-handed relief option.

From 2013 to 2015 with Washington and Oakland, the southpaw turned in a 2.90 ERA, a 1.157 WHIP and 8.1 strikeouts per nine frames in 142.2 frames.

In 34 innings of work with Minnesota in 2016, Abad pitched to a 2.65 ERA and a 3.44 FIP.

Anibal Sanchez for Miguel Montero

As of now, the Chicago Cubs don’t have a clear-cut fifth starter.

Sanchez isn’t a perfect fit given his recent struggles, but he could benefit from a change of scenery.

What’s more, the Cubs have taken fliers on players with past success before.

Shane Victorino, Aaron Crow, Rex Brothers, Joe Nathan, Brian Matusz, Joel Peralta, Josh Collmenter, Joe Thatcher and Fernando Rodriguez are among the many names Chicago has brought in over the past calendar year.

Sanchez could be next in line on that list.

A trade for Miguel Montero could make sense with catching prospect Victor Caratini likely to make his Major League debut sooner rather than later.

Detroit’s Side of the Hypotehtical Trade

Montero doesn’t fill a need for the Detroit Tigers considering the team already has two catchers in James McCann and Alex Avila—as well as a designated hitter in Miguel Montero.

However, Detroit may find it easier to trade the veteran backstop than Sanchez.

The 33-year-old Montero hit .216 with a .684 OPS and an 83 wRC+ in 2016. According to Spotrac, the catcher will earn $14 million next season.

Per the same publication, Sanchez will take home $16 million with an $800,000 signing bonus—so the Tigers would save some money in the hypothetical transaction.

There are plenty of teams in need of catching help, including Anaheim, Atlanta and Arizona.

The Dodgers, who have never been shy when it has come to spending, could also be a fit.

Next: How Detroit's Pitching Prospects Are Faring in Spring Training

Additionally, should a team’s starting catcher get injured, Detroit could always work out a deal to send Montero there.