Detroit Tigers offseason priority should be finding young position players to build around

How the Detroit Tigers can pull it off

While the trades of Verlander, Upton, Martinez and others brought in promising prospects, it also left the team’s cupboard slightly bare in terms of trade chips.

Second baseman Ian Kinsler is perhaps the team’s best position player trade candidate, but it remains to be seen just what the second baseman could net in a deal.

The veteran’s offense hasn’t been at the same level it once was, with his on-base percentage falling to .315 and his wRC+ slipping to 91.

Part of this likely due to a .244 BABIP, which is on track to be the third-worst rate of Kinsler’s career.

Still, Kinsler has been productive enough defensively and in the fields to register a 2.3 WAR. While that’s nowhere close to his WAR stats in his first three seasons in Detroit, it shows he can still add value.

The Tigers probably could have gotten a high-end prospect out for Kinsler if they moved him last year. In 2016 the veteran turned in a 5.7 WAR, 123 wRC+ and .356 wOBA.

Still, teams know what Kinsler brings to the table, and they likely won’t be put off by one down season.

That being said, Detroit’s best chance of adding another position player prospect may be by trading closer Shane Greene.

Shane Greene

Unlike with Kinsler at second base—not to mention a handful of other positions—Detroit has a ready-made replacement for Greene in Alex Wilson.

Elsewhere, there is a steady stream of relievers moving through the system.

Joe Jimenez, Jairo Labourt, Zac Reininger and Victor Alcantara all debuted this season. Next season, Bryan Garcia, Mark Ecker and Paul Voelker could join them in the Majors.

A controllable reliever with a knack for stranding runners, as well as the ability to pitch in a variety of different roles, Greene stands out as arguably Detroit’s best trade chip.

Moving the closer would allow the Tigers to net a premium return while paving the way for Alex Wilson to take over as closer.

Additionally, there should be no shortage of a market for Greene if Detroit decides to move him.

It would be a different story with a player like Kinsler or Iglesias, as many teams already have a solution at second base or shortstop.

However, all teams need relievers, especially quality ones like Greene.

He would be a fit on a team seeking a closer as well as a team in search of an extra late-inning option. The right-hander could also appeal to clubs as a pitcher able to work in a multiple inning, Andrew Miller-type role.

Future implications

Without Greene, who per Spotrac is controllable through the 2020 campaign, the Detroit Tigers would obviously lose an impact closer.

But the reality is that the Tigers might not be all that great next season, and the biggest luxury on a losing team is a closer.

If Greene departs, Alex Wilson can step in as closer. This would allow the likes of Jimenez, Garcia, Ecker and Labourt to ease into late inning options.

With two seasons of controllability left (according to Spotrac), Detroit can build Wilson’s trade value as a closer before moving him for additional prospects at next season’s trade deadline.

Young position players

In an ideal world, Detroit would be able to extract a young middle infielder with impact potential in a trade for Greene.

Those kinds of players don’t exactly grow on trees, but if the 2017 trade deadline taught us anything, it’s that pitchers are king in terms of trade value in today’s game.

Any kind of young position player would be a welcome addition to the Tigers, but the need up the middle stands out.

The only suitable replacement for Kinsler on the current roster is Dixon Machado.

The only suitable replacement for Kinsler’s double play partner, Jose Iglesias is—you guessed it—Dixon Machado.

Plugging in the slick-fielding Machado at either middle infield position is fine long term. However, he obviously can’t play two positions at once.

First Base?

The Tigers may also find it prudent to acquire a first baseman.

While Miguel Cabrera is likely with Detroit for the long haul, Victor Martinez (per Spotrac) will be playing on an expiring contract next season.

If Martinez departs following 2018, if not sooner via trade, the Tigers could move Cabrera to designated hitter to prolong his career.

The only downside (and it’s a small one) to having Cabrera performing at a high level for so long is that Detroit didn’t really need to develop any first base prospects.

If Cabrera moves off the position to designated hitter, the team needs of a long-term fit to eventually take over.

Rey Rivera certainly has the upside to play there, but he just finished 2017 with Low-A Connecticut.

After Rivera and potential utility man Dominic Ficociello, there isn’t much in the minors.

Blueprint

Dan Jennings, who according to Spotrac is only controllable through 2019 netted the White Sox first base prospect Casey Gillaspie.

Gillaspie opened the year as Baseball America’s 74^th-best prospect ahead of players like Kevin Maitan, A.J. Pulk, Willie Calhoun and one Aaron Judge.

Greene is arguably the better reliever and is under team control for an extra year. Detroit should be able to top the haul Chicago received in a potential trade.

Ideally, the Tigers would be able to bring in a well-regarded, position player prospect near the Majors, plus one or two more prospects for Greene.

They should shoot for a similar return for Kinsler.

Next: Four hypothetical Jordan Zimmermann trades

Add those prospects to core of young position players in Jeimer Candelario, Mikie Mahtook, Nicholas Castellanos and James McCann, and the Detroit Tigers will have the makings of a promising base of talent from which to build for the future.