Detroit Tigers: Alex Presley is hitting his way into trade chip territory

Detroit Tigers outfielder Alex Presley is enjoying a fine season in his second stint in the Motor City—so much so that the veteran could conceivably be a trade chip come the offseason.

Detroit Tigers fans will likely see some change this offseason.

The team is already in the midst of a full-on rebuild.

Justin Verlander, J.D. Martinez, Justin Upton, Alex Avila, Justin Wilson and Cameron Maybin are among the players dealt since the end of the 2016 campaign.

More trades are certainly conceivable this offseason.

Second baseman Ian Kinsler and shortstop Jose Iglesias are two of the team’s better trade chips, alongside closer Shane Greene and setup man Alex Wilson.

This is all speculative mind you, but the pair of infielders seem more likely to be traded than the two relievers.

That being said, there’s another name that could be dealt for future prospects.

Again, this is all speculative, but Alex Presley’s production could make him an appealing trade targets for a team in search of a platoon outfielder or a key bench cog.

Offensive production

In 202 plate appearances this season (57 games), Presley is hitting .317 with a .359 on-base percentage, a .398 slugging percentage and a .756 OPS.

The veteran has also turned in a 103 wRC+ and a .330 wOBA.

Of course, this is in part due to a .392 BABIP, but Presley has been productive nonetheless.

The former eighth-round pick could help a team looking for an outfielder to complement a player who hits left-handed pitching.

In 179 plate appearances against right-handed hurlers this season, Presley is batting .321 with a .360 on-base percentage and a .772 OPS.

While he’s not much of a power threat (just one home run and a .081 ISO), the ex-Pirate can also provide value on the base paths as evidenced by a 0.5 BsR and four stolen bases.

He could be particularly useful in the National League, where he can still make an impact most games even if he isn’t starting.

Trade Chip

At this point, Detroit Tigers general manager Al Avila needs as many trade chips as he can to better the team for a more successful and sustainable future.

As of now, Miguel Cabrera, Victor Martinez and Jordan Zimmermann look like they’re staying put due to their contracts.

Elsewhere, Nicholas Castellanos could appeal to teams if he sticks in right field defensively, but he’s still learning the positon.

Michael Fulmer could bring in a sizeable—emphasize sizeable—haul. However, he’s currently sidelined via injury and is unlikely to be moved in the offseason.

Outside of Presley and perhaps Romine, that really only leaves Mahtook, Greene and Wilson as trade chips.

According to Spotrac, Mahtook is controllable through 2021 season. Per the same publication, Greene is controllable through the 2020 campaign.

At this point, the two could be on the next contending Tigers.

Detroit may opt to trade them at some point, but the duo’s controllability gives the team flexibility moving forward.

That being said, Presley has just one year of controllability left.

Trade blueprint

The Chicago White Sox recently traded Anthony Swarzak, a reliever with an expiring contract who they signed in a relatively minor transaction in January, for outfield prospect Ryan Cordell.

Cordell, 25, is hitting .284 with a .855 OPS at the Triple-A level this season.

Swarzak had a 6.11 FIP and nine strikeouts per nine innings in 31 frames for the Yankees in 2016, but logged a 2.35 FIP and 9.7 punch outs per nine innings in 48.1 innings for Chicago before dealt.

Detroit may not be able to get the same value out of Presley considering how highly relievers were valued at the trade deadline this season.

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However, the Tigers should follow a similar blueprint in selling high on a player like Presley.