Detroit Tigers: Five hypothetical trade candidates

Detroit Tigers fans have seen the team look promising at times and struggle at others. Detroit is 38-48 with a -33 run differential. If the team trades away some pieces, here’s who could conceivably be dealt.

Detroit Tigers players have had an up-and-down season.

Some, like Alex Avila (159 wRC+, .966 OPS) and Justin Upton (.239 ISO, .855 OPS), are turning in strong, bounce-back campaigns.

Meanwhile, some players have struggled.

Justin Verlander has seen his run-prevention numbers balloon, notching a 5.03 xFIP, a 4.73 ERA and a 4.29 FIP in 104.2 innings.

Additionally, Miguel Cabrera owns an even .800 OPS, while Victor Martinez is sporting an 83 wRC+ and a -0.7 WAR.

While the Tigers certainly have plenty of time to turn things around, they’re also in a tough spot. The team is tied with the rival American League Central Chicago White Sox for the fewest wins in the American League.

In terms of Wild Card differential, Detroit is more middle of the pack in terms of Wild Card teams, but they need more consistent play to improve.

If the team does end up trading a few pieces away, here’s a look at the most likely pieces to be moved.

This is all speculative mind you. It remains to be seen just how the Detroit Tigers will navigate Major League Baseball’s annual trade deadline.

It should be noted that a partial sell-off doesn’t exactly mean the Tigers will fall completely out of it.

Last season, the New York Yankees traded away a number of young players, including Aroldis Chapman, Andrew Miller, Ivan Nova and Carlos Beltran.

The team went with more young players down the stretch and stuck in the Wild Card race until the season’s last few weeks.

J.D. Martinez

Age: 29
Position: Right Field
2017 contract, per Spotrac: $11.75 million
2017 stat of note: .319 ISO

Even if the Detroit Tigers were in contention, the case could probably made for trading J.D. Martinez.

The 29-year-old will hit the free agent market following the conclusion of the World Series and is likely to snag a hefty contract on the open market.

For a Tigers team looking to get younger and less expensive, handing a 29-year-old slugger who is struggling defensively (-6 DRS, -11.2 UZR/150) and doesn’t run much (-1.5 BsR) a long-term deal doesn’t seem like the most prudent investment.

What does seem more prudent is flipping Martinez for a premium return now rather than lose him for nothing in the offseason.

The Tigers can then use Jim Adduci, Alex Presley, a waiver claim, a young player acquired in a trade, or a mixture of all four, to man the position until Christin Stewart is ready to take over full-time in 2018.

Ideally, the team will be able to net a premium prospect close to the Majors Leagues—plus more—in a J.D. Martinez trade.

This way, the team can add to a young core that includes Michael Fulmer, Stewart, Mikie Mahtook, Mike Gerber, Daniel Norris, Matt Boyd, Dixon Machado, Joe Jimenez and Bruce Rondon.

Combine that with a group of veterans like Justin Verlander, Miguel Cabrera, Ian Kinsler, Shane Greene and Jordan Zimmermann, and Detroit should have the pieces to stay competitive in 2018.

Justin Wilson

Age: 29
Position: Closer
2017 contract, per Spotrac: $2.7 million
2017 stat of note: 38.7 strikeout percentage

Last season, the Yankees were able to net top-tier prospects in outfielder Clint Frazier and starting pitcher Justus Sheffield, as well as two prospects close to the Majors in hurlers J.P. Feyereisen and Ben Heller for Andrew Miller.

While Wilson isn’t quite as dominant as Miller, or as controllable as the former Tiger was at the time of the trade, he could still bring in a significant haul.

Detroit’s flame-throwing closer is turning in career stats so far in 2017. His 13.22 punch outs per nine innings, 14.8 swinging strike percentage and 37.8 strikeout percentage are all on track to be career bests.

It certainly doesn’t hurt that he’s also posted a 0.92 WHIP to go along with a 2.54 SIERA and a 2.91 FIP in 32.2 frames.

Of all the players the Tigers could trade this summer, Wilson may actually be the easiest to replace.

Shane Greene can easily slide into the closer’s role, while Rondon and Alex Wilson can pitch the eighth.

Detroit can also use the opportunity to give Joe Jimenez invaluable experience down the stretch late in games to get him ready for a larger role in 2018.

Anibal Sanchez

Age: 33
Position: Starting pitcher
2017 contract, per Spotrac: $16 million
2017 stat of note: 2.72 FIP in the last month

As of now, the Detroit Tigers’ recent eight-game losing streak isn’t looking great. The slide sunk Detroit’s record on the year.

However, one silver-lining to come out of the ordeal was the resurgence of Anibal Sanchez the starting pitcher.

Used primarily as a reliever before heading to Triple-A, Sanchez has looked strong in his return to the rotation.

In four starts since making his way back to the Tigers, Sanchez owns a 0.8 WAR, a 3.09 ERA and a 2.72 FIP in 23.1 innings. He also struck out 8.49 batters per nine innings over the same span.

Additionally, the starter walked just 1.54 hitters per nine frames.

This recent run of good form could improve Sanchez’ standing as a potential trade chip.

The solid results could conceivably help Detroit eventually deal him and get out of his salary, which before the resurgence was looking like a contractual albatross.

Somewhat similar to Wilson, Detroit has a ready-made replacement for Sanchez waiting in the wings.

Matt Boyd posted a 4.76 FIP in 11 starts for Detroit earlier in the season, but has turned in some strong numbers since being demoted to Toledo.

Over the course of 44.1 innings (seven starts), Boyd is striking out 9.14 batters per nine innings to go along with a 2.23 ERA and a 3.53 xFIP.

Jose Iglesias

Age: 27
Position: Shortstop
2017 contract, per Spotrac: $4.1 million
2017 stat of note: 0.8 WAR

The Detroit Tigers did well to acquire Jose Iglesias back in 2013. The shortstop finished second in Rookie of the Year voting that year, and made the All-Star team in 2015.

Twice he’s finished a season with a batting average of .300 or above as well as an OPS north of .700.

Iglesias has done all that with some excellent defense, routinely posting positive numbers where metrics like DRS and UZR/150 are concerned.

However, the shortstop will hit free agency following next season, is getting expensive and is struggling at the plate.

The former Red Sox player is currently posting career lows in wRC+ (60), wOBA (.265), slugging percentage (.337), on-base percentage (.273) and batting average (.239).

Of course, some of this may be due to a .273 BABIP, but Iglesias is still struggling. He’s also seen his strikeout clip rise, going from 9.7% last season—the second-lowest in baseball—to 13.8% this year.

Detroit can trade Iglesias to a shortstop-needy team like the San Diego Padres or Arizona Diamondbacks, and roll with Dixon Machado at the position.

Machado has been on a tear at the plate as of late, and is every bit as a reliable defender as Iglesias.

All told, Machado is batting .410 with a .974 OPS, six RBI, five runs scored, a double, a triple and a home run in his last 39 plate appearances, which have come over the course of 17 games.

Detroit is 11-6 over that span.

The younger shortstop has a 103 wRC+ in the last month.

Alex Avila

Age: 30
Position: Catcher
2017 contract, per Spotrac: $2 million
2017 stat of note: 2.3 WAR

It would be a tough move to trade Avila considering he’s having such a productive season in his return to Detroit.

The backstop has arguably been the best offensive catcher in baseball this season, with a 159 wRC+, a .411 wOBA, a .239 ISO and a .966 OPS to go along with 11 home runs and a 16.7 walk percentage in 222 plate appearances.

Detroit could always trade him and then try to re-sign him in the offseason.

John Hicks can serve in a timeshare with James McCann in the meantime.

Hicks showed well in limited playing time this season, chipping in with 12 RBI, 11 runs scored, six doubles, three home runs, two walks and a stolen base to go along with a .299 average and a .841 OPS in 69 plate appearances.

That also spits out to a 119 wRC+ and a .224 ISO.

Dealing Avila would also help the Detroit Tigers save some extra money if the season isn’t going anywhere.

If the Tigers ended up trading all five players on this list without having to eat salary, they would wipe away significant money from the payroll.

Martinez and Avila are be free agents after the season, so the team would just be saving on the duo’s second-half salaries.

Still, for two players who are making a combined $13.75 million this season, that’s some serious cash.

Additionally, wiping away future commitments to Wilson, Sanchez and Iglesias would put the team in an excellent place moving forward salary-wise.

Next: Breaking down Detroit's schedule after the All-Star Break

Following the World Series, Detroit will also see salary commitments to the likes of Mike Pelfrey and Mark Lowe come off the books, so the team could see a quick turn-around in terms of shedding salary.