Detroit Tigers: Arbitration-eligible players as trade candidates

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TORONTO, ON – SEPTEMBER 8: Nick Castellanos #9 of the Detroit Tigers hits a grand slam home run in the third inning during MLB game action against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on September 8, 2017 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /

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.

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) /

Money

With so much money having been removed from the books in the past season, there isn’t as much of a need to shed salary.

That being said, jettisoning some arbitration eligible players who aren’t part of the long-term picture could help trim the payroll even further.

The most conceivable trade candidates, part one

Jose Iglesias

Most prominent among the potential trade candidates is Jose Iglesias.

In another situation, the slick-fielding shortstop would have been a lock to stay in Detroit.

That being said, he’s 27 and has just one year of controllability left (per Spotrac) before becoming a free agent. With a rising price tag and a ready-made replacement in Dixon Machado, a trade seems prudent.

By comparison, Machado is 25 and is controllable through the 2022 season according to the folks at Spotrac.

Per the same publication, the younger shortstop isn’t even eligible for arbitration until after the 2019 campaign.

Shane Greene

Perhaps the most important of the group to the team in terms of overall value, an in-depth breakdown of potential Greene trade partners can be found here.

However, due to Greene’s remaining years of team control, he isn’t a lock to be traded.

That controllability (per Spotrac, the reliever won’t hit free agency until after 2020) could boost the closer’s trade value, but it could also mean him being a part of the next great Detroit Tigers team.

This one could probably go either way.

DETROIT, MI – SEPTEMBER 4: Alex Presley #14 of the Detroit Tigers slides into third base with an RBI-triple ahead of the throw to Mike Moustakas #8 of the Kansas City Royals during the fifth inning at Comerica Park on September 4, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. Jose Iglesias of the Detroit Tigers scored from second base on the play. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) /

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.

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – OCTOBER 1: Bryan Holaday #50 of the Detroit Tigers slides into third base against the Minnesota Twins in the fifth inning during their baseball game on October 1, 2017, at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota.(Photo by Andy King/Getty Images) /

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+.

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