Detroit Tigers: Arbitration-eligible players as trade candidates

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.