Detroit Tigers should make this trade with the San Diego Padres

The Detroit Tigers’ side of the deal

In the this hypothetical transaction with the San Diego Padres, the Tigers would net a pair of Major League contributors, who both happen to be named Travis, in Travis Wood and Travis Jankowski.

Both could play key roles in 2018.

We start with Travis Wood, who parlayed a successful, two-year stint in the Chicago Cubs bullpen into a multi-year contract with the Kansas City Royals.

However, the left-hander couldn’t find the same form that helped him turn in a 2.95 ERA, a 3.56 FIP, 8.9 strikeouts per nine innings and a 1.17 WHIP from 2015 to 2016 with the Cubs.

In 94 total innings split between Kansas City and San Diego, Wood pitched to a 6.80 ERA, a 5.90 FIP, a 5.85 xFIP, 6.22 strikeouts per nine innings and a 1.73 WHIP.

Those numbers don’t exactly jump off the page, but it is worth noting that Wood’s pitching coach all those years in Chicago was Chris Bosio, who was just hired as Detroit’s new pitching coach.

A reunion could help Wood regain his past form.

Money

On the surface, Wood’s $6.5 million salary (per Spotrac) in 2018 isn’t ideal for a rebuilding Detroit Tigers club.

However, when you consider that MLBTradeRumors projects Iglesias to pick up $5.6 million through arbitration this winter, the trade looks much better financially.

For what it’s worth, the same publication projects Hardy will take home $800K, this trade nearly breaks even from a monetary standpoint for the Tigers.

According to Spotrac, Wood’s contract does contain an $8 million mutual option for the 2019 season, which his employers can buy out for $1.5 million.

However, if the former Cub can get back to pitching effectively under Bosio’s tutelage, that contract may not be an issue for the Tigers.

Wood could develop into a trade chip by the time the trade deadline rolls around and be flipped for more prospects.

Stop-gap

Still, even if Detroit employs Wood for the duration of the deal, the southpaw has plenty of experience as both a starter and a reliever—including two different seasons as a starting pitcher in which he topped a 2.0 fWAR.

He could be a rotation place-holder until the likes of Franklin Perez, Grayson Long and Beau Burrows are ready for the Majors within the next two seasons.

What’s more, Wood could also fill in as Shane Greene’s top setup man if the need is more dire in the bullpen.