Detroit Tigers: Trading Jose Iglesias makes sense to improve team, save money

Detroit Tigers fans have long seen the team operate with a high payroll. While still in contention this year, Detroit could pay the price in the future. One way to save money would be to deal Jose Iglesias.

Detroit Tigers shortstop Jose Iglesias has long been a defensive bright spot for the team.

The shortstop has routinely posted positive numbers in a number of defensive, statistical categories including DRS, UZR and UZR/150.

While the Tigers used to rank as one of baseball’s worst fielding teams, Detroit has steadily improved.

Ian Kinsler and James McCann are plus defenders at their respective positions, while Miguel Cabrera, Justin Upton and J.D. Martinez are capable of turning in positive defensive years.

While Iglesias has stood out for his defense, his offense has also been a positive.

He hit an even .300 with a 97 wRC+ in 2015. The shortstop also proved to be the most difficult batter to strike out in the American League last season, with a 9.7 strikeout percentage.

However this season has been different, and not in a good way.

Statistical Breakdown

Below are stat lines for three Tigers players:

• Tigers Player A: 79 wRC+, .295 on-base percentage, .289 wOBA, 7.0 walk percentage
• Detroit Player B: 38 wRC+, .281 on-base percentage, .230 wOBA, 9.1 walk percentage
• Tigers Player C: 35 wRC+, .220 on-base percentage, .225 wOBA, 3.1 walk percentage

To narrow things down, the above players are Detroit’s three top options at shortstop.

Player A is Andrew Romine, Player B is Dixon Machado and Player C is Jose Iglesias. The underlying theme is that all three have had underwhelming seasons at the plate.

However, Iglesias has been the most underwhelming of all.

Fortunately, all three players are excellent fielders. In that regard, the Tigers wouldn’t be losing anything if the team went with with one or both of Machado and Romine full time.

Shortstop is one of the few areas where the team has significant depth, so making a change from Iglesias would work in that regard.

Considering Iglesias is making $4.1 million this season (per Spotrac), the Tigers would be in an excellent position to shed some salary if they dealt the former Boston Red Sox player.

Hypothetical Trade Partner

Standing out as a hypothetical trade partner are the San Diego Padres, a team that desperately needs a shortstop.

As of now, they’re using Rule 5 draft pick Allen Cordoba, former Tiger Erick Aybar and recent waiver claim Chase d’Arnaud at the position.

Aybar has a .292 on-base percentage, and at 33 isn’t exactly a long-term piece for the rebuilding Padres. Cordoba, meanwhile, is hitting .288 with a .802 OPS. However, this is his first season above Rookie-ball. What’s more, he’s also sporting a .333 BABIP.

Rounding out the list is d’Arnaud. The former Pirate owns a -25.1 UZR/150 and a -8 DRS at shortstop in 380.2 career innings.

The Hypothetical Trade:

Detroit Tigers Acquire Ryan Buchter and Kevin Quackenbush
San Diego Padres Acquire Jose Iglesias and Buck Farmer
Outgoing Salary, per Spotrac: 4,635,000 (Iglesias’ $4.1 million and Farmer’s 535,000)
Incoming Salary, per Spotrac: 1,079,700 (Buchter’s 544,700 and Quackenbush’s 535,000)
Hypothetical net savings: $3,555,300
Outgoing WAR: -0.1
Incoming WAR: -0.1

The Breakdown:

The emergence of both Chad Bell and Warwick Saupold as long relief and swingman options makes Farmer conceivably expendable and a potential addition to the hypothetical deal.

The hurler will be out of options next season, so moving him now will spare the Tigers from having to make a decision between Farmer or another player on the active roster.

San Diego isn’t going anywhere this season, so they can plug Farmer into the rotation and audition him for future seasons.

In this hypothetical trade, the Tigers would net two bullpen pieces in Ryan Buchter and Kevin Quackenbush.

Potentially Replacing Jose Iglesias

If this hypothetical trade were to actually happen, the Detroit Tigers would roll with Andrew Romine and Dixon Machado at shortstop.

Earlier in the season, Romine was seeing significant action in center field.

With J.D. Martinez now back from the disabled list and playing in field on a consistent basis, Mikie Mahtook and Tyler Collins have both shifted to center field.

The duo essentially have the position covered for the Tigers.

Detroit could also use Jim Adduci in center field once he returns from the disabled list himself.

The former Rangers outfielder could conceivably start in center field if he can continue to produce at the plate for the Detroit Tigers.

Adduci’s addition to the starting lineup would likely drop the platoon of Mahtook and Collins down the depth chart and onto the bench. That, in turn, would further diminish Romine’s chances of playing center field.

All that being said, the team could plug the veteran back in at shortstop with the younger Machado.

Both are strong defenders, so the drop off in quality from Iglesias wouldn’t be significant.

In fact, the switch to Romine and Machado could be beneficial over the course of a season.

Iglesias’ defensive numbers have been strong in the past. Given more innings in the field, Machado could provide similar stats.

Next: Don't look now, but the Tigers' bullpen is in a really good place

In just 30 innings at shortstop last season, Machado logged some encouraging numbers. Saud stats included a DRS of 2, an rPM of 2 and a UZR/150 of 74.8.