Detroit Tigers: Hypothetical, Beneficial Change of Scenery Trades

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.