Detroit Tigers: Breaking down the Justin Upton trade

Detroit Tigers return

Right off the bat (pun!), the Tigers add a quality pitching prospect in Grayson Long.

After a trade deadline that saw the team deal away outfielder J.D. Martinez, relief pitcher Justin Wilson and catcher Alex Avila for a haul of infielders, the team nabs another pitching prospect in Long.

Detroit’s farm system isn’t short on top-level pitching prospects with Matt Manning, Alex Faedo, Kyle Funkhouser, Beau Burrows and Gregory Soto all showing promising upside.

However of the quintet, only Burrows has reached Double-A, with Faedo yet to make his professional debut.

Long gives the Tigers a pitching prospect who is closer to contributing in the Majors.

What’s more, he’s found plenty of success since making the move to Double-A with Anaheim’s Double-A Affiliate in Mobile.

A third-round pick in 2015, the 23-year-old has pitched to a 2.69 ERA, a 1.167 WHIP and 8.4 strikeouts and 2.8 walks per nine innings.

He’s thrown 133.2 frames this season.

The Athletic Detroit’s Emily Waldon provided a scouting report on Long in a tweet on Wednesday. Waldon tweeted:

"“Grayson Long reportedly a 3-pitch guy (FB, SL, Change). FB sits low-90’s w/ ability to tap 95 MPH. SL/CH average to slightly above.”"

Outside of 25-year-old Toledo hurlers Artie Lewicki and Myles Jaye, the Tigers don’t really have any reinforcements coming via starting pitching prospects in the near future.

Beau Burrows is currently with Double-A Erie, but has made just 14 starts for the SeaWolves at the level.

He’s been up and down so far, and may require further seasoning in Erie before making the move to Toledo and or the Majors.