Detroit Tigers: Two trade ideas involving the Miami Marlins

4 of 5

SAN DIEGO, CA – APRIL 22: Martin Prado #14 of the Miami Marlins hits a solo home run during the sixth inning of a baseball game against the San Diego Padres at PETCO Park on April 22, 2017 in San Diego, California. (Photo by Denis Poroy/Getty Images) /

The Marlins pays the premium to get out from Martin Prado’s contract

The Miami Marlins probably wouldn’t mind being rid of Martin Prado’s contract. That’s obviously purely speculative, but the veteran does have some serious cash left on his deal.

With $28.5 million owed to the veteran over the next two seasons, per Spotrac, the Tigers would need to receive some significant pieces in the deal to take on the rest of Prado’s deal.

His value isn’t exactly helped by the fact that he batted just .250 with a .279 on-base percentage.

Prado also turned in a .107 ISO, a .274 wOBA and a 67 wRC+ in just 147 plate appearances last season.

Surpassed by both Brian Anderson (0.2 fWAR with a .706 OPS in 95 plate appearances in 2017) and Derek Dietrich (1.5 fWAR, 40 extra-base hits in 464 plate appearances last year) on the depth chart in Miami, Prado would be a bench piece at best in Detroit.

The (hypothetical) deal

While he could always regain the form that helped him turn in fWARs of 3.4 and 3.3 in the last two seasons, the real value in this hypothetical trade would be the pieces the Tigers acquired in order to absorb Prado’s salary.

The Detroit Tigers could send Jose Iglesias to the Fish for Prado’s contract, reliever Kyle Barraclough and pitching prospect Tyler Kolek.

Again, this is purely hypothetical, but it would benefit all sides.

The Marlins would be able to shed salary while adding a capable shortstop in Iglesias.

If Gordon is eventually moved, Miami can shift Miguel Rojas to second base while plugging in the slick-fielding Iglesias at short.