Detroit Tigers: Predicting Jose Iglesias’ trade market

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KANSAS CITY, MO – JULY 19: Ian Kinsler #3 and Jose Iglesias #1 of the Detroit Tigers congratulate each other after picking off a runner on second base to end the top of the 6th inning during the game against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on July 19, 2017 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Jamie Squire/Getty Images) /

Detroit Tigers fans could conceivably see some trades happen this offseason. One of the team’s best trade chips is Jose Iglesias. Here’s a look at hypothetical trade fits.

Detroit Tigers shortstop Jose Iglesias is probably, outside of Ian Kinsler and Shane Greene, the player general manager Al Avila can get the most in return for in a trade.

Whether Iglesias is traded at all this offseason remains to be seen.

However, the shortstop would fetch a decent return in a trade.

He’s more than proved his worth in the field, with a 15.6 defensive runs above average that is only bested by Anaheim’s Andrelton Simmons and Washington’s Anthony Rendon among Major League players.

Iglesias has also shown that he can add some value offensively, with 54 RBI, 30 extra-base hits and a 74 wRC+.

The shortstop isn’t going to win a Silver Slugger any time soon, but he certainly isn’t a liability offensively.

Were the Tigers contending, Iglesias would be a long-term piece in the Motor City.

However, Detroit needs to accumulate prospects for the future and shed salary.

As it stands, Iglesias is one of general manager Al Avila’s best trade chips in terns of stockpiling said prospects.

What’s more, he’s making $4.1 million this year (per Spotrac) before hitting the free agent market after the 2018 season.

DETROIT, MI – SEPTEMBER 3: Shortstop Jose Iglesias #1 of the Detroit Tigers turns the ball after getting a force out on Greg Allen #53 of the Cleveland Indians during the second inning at Comerica Park on September 3, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. Francisco Lindor of the Cleveland Indians hit into the play but beat the throw to first base. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) /

A trade

With a younger and cheaper replacement in Dixon Machado waiting in the wings, it might make sense for Detroit to deal the team’s current starting shortstop for future pieces.

Additionally, Machado profiles as a similar player to Iglesias in the sense that he’s a dependable defender with some offensive upside.

In that regard, Detroit will have a stylistically-similar shortstop for the foreseeable future.

The trade market

The good news for the Detroit Tigers is that Jose Iglesias is a superior option to pretty much every shortstop on the free agent market—with the exception, perhaps, of Zack Cozart.

For what it’s worth, Iglesias is five years younger and a better defensive player, so there’s that.

Still, teams could conceivably be more inclined to give up something in a trade for Iglesias than pick a shortstop out of a free agent crop that will include some combination of J.J. Hardy, Alcides Escobar and Danny Espinosa among others.

The bad news for the Detroit Tigers is that most teams have a shortstop solution.

Every contender pretty much has one, as do—well most of the league really.

Unforeseen injuries and trades could always create more of a need, but as it stands there are only a handful of teams who could be fits for Iglesias.

This is all speculative mind you, bet here’s a look at those teams.

San Diego Padres

San Diego has struggled to find a fit at shortstop this season, relying on a mix of Yangervis Solarte, Erick Aybar and Luis Cordoba.

Solarte is 30, while Aybar is 33. Neither fit San Diego’s long-term outlook. Cordoba might. However, he was selected in the Rule 5 draft his year and is playing in his first season above A-ball.

It wouldn’t be a surprise to see him get some more seasoning in the upper levels of the minor leagues next season.

The Padres do have a pair of top middle-infield prospects in Luis Urias and Fernando Tatis Jr. at the Double-A level. However, neither seem Major League ready yet.

San Diego could utilize Iglesias at shortstop until one or both of Urias or Tatis Jr. are ready for the Majors.

In terms of trade targets, outfielder and speed merchant Travis Jankowski is an obvious fit in Detroit. We wrote in depth about Jankowski being an ideal trade target for the Tigers here.

In short, Jankowski is a plus defender with the ability to make a serious impact on the bases (3.1 BsR, 30 stolen bases in 131 games last season).

Prospect-wise, first baseman Josh Naylor is also a fit.

Naylor has serious power and reached Double-A this season as a 20-year-old.

Miami Marlins

The Miami Marlins’ shortstops have ranked 26^th in the Majors in cumulative WAR over the second half of the 2017 season.

Getting by aren’t exactly the right words for the situation, but the Fish have been utilizing Miguel Rojas and ex-Tiger Mike Aviles at the position in the second half.

Miami dealt Adeiny Hechavarria across the state to the Rays in late June. The team hasn’t exactly gotten the best production out of Rojas and Aviles.

Miguel Rojas 2017 second half stats: 0.4 WAR, 77 wRC+, .289 wOBA, .255 batting average, .333 on-base percentage, 22 runs scored, 20 RBI and a .073 ISO.

Mike Aviles 2017 second half stats: -0.2 WAR, 66 wRC+, .273 wOBA, 257 batting average, .313 on-base percentage, five runs scored, eight RBI and a .068 ISO.

By comparison, Iglesias has been much better over the same period.

Jose Iglesias 2017 second half stats: 1.2 WAR, 88 wRC+, .308 wOBA, .273 batting average, .307 on-base percentage, 24 runs scored, 30 RBI and a .139 ISO.

Iglesias could be a potential long-term piece in Miami alongside Giancarlo Stanton and Christian Yelich.

In terms of a hypothetical trade, the Detroit Tigers could take back reliever Brad Zeigler as part of the deal.

According to Spotrac, Ziegler will make $9 million next season before hitting free agency.

Considering that’s likely to be more than Iglesias will take home after arbitration in 2018, Detroit could extract also prospect in the hypothetical deal.

What’s more, Ziegler could become a trade chip by the time July rolls around. By that time, he could have build up more value as Shane Greene’s setup man.

Powerful outfield prospect and 2016 fourth-round pick Sean Reynolds has intriguing upside. He’s only 19 and reached Low-A Batavia in 2017.

Next: Why Al Avila should consider taking on contracts in trades

There’s also Advanced-A starter Pablo Lopez, who mixes in three pitches and could be a big league starter down the line.

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