Detroit Tigers: Arbitration-eligible players as trade candidates

Detroit Tigers general manager Al Avila will have a number of players up for arbitration this offseason. While some should stick around, others are definite trade candidates.

Detroit Tigers fans have already seen plenty of change. A bevy of key veterans were already dealt during the 2017 campaign, and more could be coming this winter.

It wouldn’t be a surprise to see veteran second baseman Ian Kinsler moved, while starting pitcher Anibal Sanchez has a $16 million (per Spotrac) option that can be bought out for $5 million.

The Tigers also have a number of players up for arbitration this offseason.

Among them are utility ace Andrew Romine, shortstop Jose Iglesias, outfielders Alex Presley and Nicholas Castellanos, relievers Alex Wilson, Bruce Rondon, Shane Greene and Blaine Hardy as well as catchers James McCann and Bryan Holaday.

Recently, MLBTradeRumors published the site’s arbitration projections for the season for each team’s group of arbitration eligible players.

The projections are as follows, from most expensive to least expensive.

• Nicholas Castellanos, $7.6 million
• Jose Iglesias, $5.6 million
• James McCann, $2.3 million
• Alex Wilson, $2.1 million
• Andrew Romine, $1.9 million
• Shane Greene, $1.7 million
• Bruce Rondon, $1.2 million
• Alex Presley, $1.1 million
• Blaine Hardy, $800,000
• Bryan Holaday, $700,000

With the likes of Nicholas Castellanos and James McCann unlikely to be going anywhere any time soon, here’s a look at whether Detroit’s other arbitration eligible players could be trade chips.

The most conceivable trade candidates, part two

Alex Wilson

Another quality reliever, Wilson doesn’t quite miss as many bats as Greene and isn’t controllable for as long (the ex-Red Sox hurler will be a free agent after the 2019 season, according to Spotrac).

Still, he has a solid track record of consistently getting outs in the Majors.

Since the start of the 2015 season—his first in a Tigers uniform—only 14 pitchers have logged more innings’ than Wilson’s 200.

Wilson has also made a habit of limiting mistakes. Again, only 14 relief pitchers turned in a lower walks allowed per nine innings rate.

What’s more, only 12 relievers had a lower walk percentage than Wilson.

In other words, Alex Wilson is good at what he does. He may never lead the league in strikeouts, but more often than not he gets the job done.

Add in that with two seasons of team control and the Tigers should be able to snag a decent prospect for the 30-year-old prospect if they chose to move him.

Alex Presley

Sticking with the Detroit Tigers players named “Alex” who are also eligible for arbitration, we move on to Alex Presley.

The veteran outfielder has one of the best offensive seasons of his career.

In part thanks to a .383 BABIP, Presley was able to hit .314 with a .354 on-base percentage. He also tacked on a 106 wRC+ and a .340 wOBA to go along with 30 runs scored, 20 RBI, five stolen bases and three home runs in 264 plate appearances.

At 32, he’s too old for a rebuild.

Coming off a promising offensive year, Detroit should look to move him for something of value to a team seeking a fourth or fifth outfielder.

Moving Presley would also allow Detroit to clear outfield space for prospects Mike Gerber and Christin Stewart.

Both could make their Major League debuts this season.

As it stands, Detroit’s outfield mix before taking Gerber and Stewart into account includes Nicholas Castellanos, Mikie Mahtook, JaCoby Jones, Tyler Collins, Romine and Jim Adduci.

Andrew Romine

Every team needs a versatile utility player who can fill in across the diamond.

There are few who are more versatile than Romine, who played all nine positions in a single game against Minnesota down the stretch.

Similar to the Iglesias situation, the utility ace would probably be more of a lock to stay if the Detroit Tigers were contending.

As we’ve learned since August, the reality is that they’re not.

Moving Romine now ensures the team will get something for the 31-year-old, who (per Spotrac) is slated to hit free agency after the 2018 campaign.

Detroit can hand his bench spot to a younger player like Kody Eaves or Dominic Ficociello.

Rounding out the list

Bruce Rondon

Whether Bruce Rondon sticks with the organization over the long haul remains to be seen.

He certainly has the talent, with a FIP south of 4.00 and double-digit strikeout per nine innings rates in his time in the Majors in 2016 and 2017.

Blaine Hardy

Hardy hasn’t quite been able to replicate the form he showed in 2014 and 2015, when he was often the team’s most reliable reliever.

Since pitching to a 2.89 FIP in 61.1 frames in 2015, the southpaw’s production in the Majors has slipped.

For a start, he’s only thrown 59 innings since the 2016.

Over the course of those 69 innings, he’s worked to a 4.78 FIP and a 1.627 WHIP. With a bullpen containing so many question marks, it probably makes sense to keep the lefty around.

Best case scenario, he rebuilds his value and becomes a trade chip in his own right by the time July rolls around in 2018 or 2019.

Bryan Holaday

With James McCann and John Hicks set at catcher, Holaday could be the odd man out.

Currently occupying a spot on Detroit’s 40-man roster, the Tigers could always remove Holaday and look to re-sign him to a minors deal if they need to clear space.

In that situation, he’d be the team’s third catcher.

Next: If Shane Greene is traded, these 3 teams have the trade chips to give Tigers the best return.

The veteran didn’t do too much with the bat in his time in the Majors during the month of September, registering a .236 wOBA and a 39 wRC+.