Detroit Tigers best remaining trade chips following Verlander and Upton deals

1 Shane Greene

There was a temptation to put Michael Fulmer here considering how much the Detroit Tigers could receive for their ace, but the fact remains that the team will likely return to contention while Fulmer is still in his prime.

Prospects like Jeimer Candelario, Christin Stewart, Franklin Perez, Beau Burrows, Mike Gerber and Grayson Long will all be in the Majors in the coming seasons.

The distinction of being the Tigers’ best trade chip falls to Greene.

The right-hander has shown this season that not only can he close games, but he can work multiple innings in an Andrew Miller-like capacity.

Add all of that to the fact that (per Spotrac) Greene is controllable trough 2020 and will enter arbitration for the first time this winter and the Tigers shouldn’t have trouble receiving a prominent prospects in return.

Every team needs quality relievers, and Greene is—simply put—really good at his job.

Effective late in games

Greene owns a 2.61 ERA, a 3.71 FIP and a 3.74 SIERA in 58.2 innings for Detroit. His 83.6 LOB% ranks 28^th in the Majors among relievers, while his win probability added (WPA) checks in at 15^th among all Major League relief pitchers.

Recent trades for controllable relievers like Dan Jennings and Tyler Thornburg have netted some quality returns for the team moving the player.

Chicago picked up former first-round pick and well-regarded first base prospect Casey Gillaspie for Jennings.

Meanwhile, the Brewers brought in Major League corner infielder Travis Shaw (3.2 WAR, .255 ISO in 2017) as well as prospects Mauricio Dubon and Josh Pennington.

It obviously remains to be seen what Greene’s value on the trade market is should the Tigers decide to move him.

However, it wouldn’t be a shock to see a significant haul of pieces return to Detroit should the closer be dealt.