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

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.