Detroit Tigers: Best and worst trade partners based on hypothetical fits
By Ben Rosener
Best: Los Angeles Dodgers
The Los Angeles Dodgers may be the best trade fit of all.
Not only do the Dodgers have elite prospects who are near Major League-ready, but the team is also a fit for two of the Tigers’ best trade chips in J.D. Martinez and Justin Wilson.
What’s more, Los Angeles also has the payroll to absorb salaries.
Center fielder Alex Verdugo, second baseman Willie Calhoun and starting pitcher Walker Buehler are all in Triple-A. All three could help Detroit down the stretch or by the start of 2018.
Verdugo, Calhoun and Buehler
Verdugo has a cannon of an arm in the outfield and is hitting a blistering .341 with a .412 on-base percentage in 354 plate appearances at Triple-A.
Like his Triple-A teammate, Willie Calhoun is having an outstanding year at the plate.
The former fourth-round pick has been a force at the plate with a .942 OPS to go along with 59 RBI, 55 runs scored, 26 walks, 23 doubles, 19 home runs, five triples and three stolen bases in 360 plate appearances.
Calhoun has also seen time in left field, potentially increasing his future value.
Buehler was just promoted to the minors’ highest level, but has struck out 12.5 per nine innings to go along with a 2.89 ERA and a 1.041 WHIP in 16 starts spanning 65.1 innings.
Other players of note
The Dodgers also have Yadier Alvarez and Yusniel Diaz. While both players are a few years off from the Majors, the duo possess high ceiling nonetheless.
Moving to the Major League roster, Joc Pederson could be another fit. Controllable through 2020, Pederson is a walk machine with power in center field.
In his first two full seasons in the Majors, the outfielder posted an ISO north of .200 and a walk percentage over 13% in each campaign.
So far this year, he’s posted a .223 ISO and a 12.3 walk percentage to go along with a 124 wRC+.