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Detroit Tigers complete Justin Wilson trade with Chicago Cubs

By Ben Rosener

TORONTO, ON - SEPTEMBER 9: Jeimer Candelario #46 of the Detroit Tigers is congratulated by teammates in the dugout after scoring a run in the ninth inning during MLB game action against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on September 9, 2017 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images)
TORONTO, ON - SEPTEMBER 9: Jeimer Candelario #46 of the Detroit Tigers is congratulated by teammates in the dugout after scoring a run in the ninth inning during MLB game action against the Toronto Blue Jays at Rogers Centre on September 9, 2017 in Toronto, Canada. (Photo by Tom Szczerbowski/Getty Images) /
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CHICAGO, IL – AUGUST 16: Alex Avila #13 of the Chicago Cubs hits a run scoring single in the 3rd inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Wrigley Field on August 16, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images)
CHICAGO, IL – AUGUST 16: Alex Avila #13 of the Chicago Cubs hits a run scoring single in the 3rd inning against the Cincinnati Reds at Wrigley Field on August 16, 2017 in Chicago, Illinois. (Photo by Jonathan Daniel/Getty Images) /

Alex Avila

Meanwhile, Avila finished third among Detroit Tigers position players in fWAR in 2017 despite logging just 264 plate appearances.

The veteran hit .274 with a .394 on-base percentage, a .475 slugging percentage, a .373 wOBA and a .201 ISO. He also logged a 133 wRC+ to go along with a 16.3% walk rate and 11 home runs in his short-lived return to the Motor City.

His high on-base numbers often pushed the backstop towards the top of the order, where he hit second 35 times between the likes of Ian Kinsler, Miguel Cabrera and Justin Upton.

The aftermath

Following the trade to the Cubs, neither Wilson or Avila was able to replicate the form they showed in the Motor City.

Wilson in particular struggled, pitching to a 5.09 ERA, a 5.33 xFIP and a 3.72 FIP in 17.2 innings spread across 23 games.

Of course, part of that was due to a .391 BABIP that dwarfed the southpaw’s .210 number with the Tigers.

Still, the reliever had trouble with walks, seeing his walk rate jump from 10.2% with Detroit to a staggering 20.9% number with the Cubs.

His fWAR with Chicago in 2017 finished at 0.2.

The former Detroit Tigers closer will become a free agent following the 2018 season.

Avila was somewhat more productive, registering a 103 wRC+, a .335 wOBA and a .369 on-base percentage in 112 plate appearances (35 games).

While those numbers were solid, they weren’t quite at the same level as the catcher’s stat line in Detroit.

The veteran is currently a free agent after his contract expired following the conclusion of the World Series.

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