Detroit Tigers: Our Tiger themed Christmas Wish List

My Tigers Christmas Wish

The 2018 Detroit Tigers will be the first full season in their brand-new rebuilding phase. They have started to restock their barren farm system and now, according to MLB.com, they have four Top 100 prospects. All four are right handed starting pitchers, and two are already at Double A Erie. They could still use some more prospects and one way is to trade closer Shane Greene.

I wish the Detroit Tigers would trade Shane Greene. Greene did a nice job in the closer role down the stretch last year, collecting nine saves. He had an ERA of 2.66 and a 9.7 K/9. Greene also finished the 2017 season with a WAR of 2.4. He also has three years of team control left. However, there are some underlying peripherals that are worrying.

Shane Greene had 4.5 BB/9 and a FIP of 3.84. Steamer also predicts him to have an FIP over 4 in 2018 while Baseball-Reference predicts him to have an ERA of almost 4.5 and a WHIP of 1.343. Greene’s first two seasons in Detroit are also something to remember, as he had a negative WAR in both seasons.

That is why I wish the Tigers would trade Shane Greene. He had a decent 2017 and his stock might never be as high as it is right now. Several teams have already asked about Greene, so the interest is there. Every team needs pitching and Greene can pitch in any situation; and with his three years of team control left he would be very easy to trade.

Now, what could the Tigers get for Shane Greene? With every team needing pitching and willing to over pay, The Tigers could probably get a lower top 10 prospect and a lower top 30 prospect. They can not get a top 100 prospect, but to be more specific they could get a #9 and #25 prospect I believe. Similar to what they received for Justin Upton. If they were to trade Greene I would hope it would be for a middle infielder and a left handed starting pitcher. We profiled a couple Greene trade options here and here.

Who takes over in Detroit?

Answer is, Alex Wilson with Joe Jimenez getting some save opportunities as well. Alex Wilson has been a very reliable and durable reliever for the Tigers. Yes, 2017 was not great, but he still gave the Tigers some innings and only had 2.3 BB/9. His FIP was also lower than his ERA at 4.17 and while he did go on the disabled list, it was due to a freak accident of a batted ball hitting his leg.

Jimenez struggled mightily in his first taste of the major leagues. He had an ERA of over 12, and FIP of 5.84, over 4 BB/9, a WAR of -1.1, and a WHIP over 2. However, he is only going to be 23 all of 2018 and his minor league numbers are superb, and he did have 8 K/9. Jimenez is still viewed as the closer of the future, just like Bruce Rondon! Thankfully, Jimenez has shown better control and better numbers overall in the minors than Rondon.

So, that is my Christmas wish for the Detroit Tigers. Happy Holidays!

Next: The Corner: Holiday Edition

So there you have it – four Tigers fans proposing their wishes for this offseason and beyond. Rebuilding is tough, but the Tigers can certainly give us plenty to be excited about next season.

From all of us at Motor City Bengals, Happy Holidays!