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Detroit Tigers: Predicting Shane Greene’s trade market

By Ben Rosener

DETROIT, MI - AUGUST 12: Shane Greene #61 of the Detroit Tigers pitches against the Minnesota Twins during the ninth inning at Comerica Park on August 12, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. Greene recorded his third win in the Tigers 12-11 win over the Twins. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI - AUGUST 12: Shane Greene #61 of the Detroit Tigers pitches against the Minnesota Twins during the ninth inning at Comerica Park on August 12, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. Greene recorded his third win in the Tigers 12-11 win over the Twins. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) /
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LOS ANGELES, CA – MAY 23: Randal Grichuk #15 of the St. Louis Cardinals celebrates his run with Stephen Piscotty #55 to tie the game 1-1 with the Los Angeles Dodgers during the ninth inning at Dodger Stadium on May 23, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images)
LOS ANGELES, CA – MAY 23: Randal Grichuk #15 of the St. Louis Cardinals celebrates his run with Stephen Piscotty #55 to tie the game 1-1 with the Los Angeles Dodgers during the ninth inning at Dodger Stadium on May 23, 2017 in Los Angeles, California. (Photo by Harry How/Getty Images) /

St. Louis Cardinals

While the Cardinals bullpen ranked 12th in the league in WAR and had the ninth-lowest WHIP in the league, it couldn’t help the team overcome the Chicago Cubs and upstart Milwaukee Brewers in the National League Central.

St. Louis finished nine games back of Chicago in the division and four back of the Colorado Rockies for the second Wild Card place.

The team also checked in three games behind division-rival Milwaukee.

While the bullpen was a strength for the Cardinals, especially down the stretch—a 3.51 September SIERA is certainly worth writing home about—St. Louis could suffer some losses in the offseason.

The National League Central franchise is already without closer Trevor Rosenthal, who is on the shelf due to Tommy John surgery.

With Kevin Siegrist already gone and Seung-Hwan Oh and Juan Nicasio potential free agents, the Cards could be in dire need of bullpen help at the end of games.

That’s where Greene could come in, serving as either the closer or a top setup option to Brett Cecil.

Trade fits for the Detroit Tigers

In terms of Cardinals players who could be a fit in Detroit, both Randal Grichuk and Aledmys Diaz could be fits.

Grichuk, who is controllable through 2020 (per Spotrac) is a plus defender in right field after turning in a 13.6 UZR/150 and a +2 DRS at the position in 2017.

Also capable of manning the other two outfield spots, the 26-year-old brings power (22 home runs and a .235 ISO in 442 plate appearances) and solid base running (3.0 BsR, six stolen bases) to the table.

Thanks to the emergence of Tommy Pham and Major League-ready prospects Harrison Bader, Magneuris Sierra and Tyler O’Neill either in or close to being in the bigs, Grichuk could be expendable.

The 26-year-old could form an intriguing outfield mix with Mikie Mahtook, Nicholas Castellanos, Mike Gerber, JaCoby Jones and Christin Stewart.

Aledmys Diaz

Elsewhere, Diaz could also be a fit.

Diaz broke out in 2016 with an .879 OPS, 48 extra-base hits, a 2.7 fWAR, a .210 ISO and a 133 wRC+.

Things weren’t nearly as productive in 2017 as the shortstop turned in a .682 OPS, 24 extra-base hits, a 0.2 fWAR, a .133 ISO and a 78 wRC+.

The 27-year-old was also passed by Paul DeJong on the shortstop depth chart, and is blocked by Kolten Wong at second base.

Detroit could use Diaz in the event that Iglesias and Kinsler are dealt.

Even if his production falls somewhere between his 2016 and 2017 numbers, Diaz would give the Tigers a promising middle infield alongside Machado.

It also doesn’t hurt that, according to Spotrac, the infielder is controllable through 2021.

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