Detroit Tigers: Predicting an Alex Wilson Trade

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DETROIT, MI – SEPTEMBER 22: Alex Wilson #30 of the Detroit Tigers pitches against the Minnesota Twins during the eighth inning at Comerica Park on September 22, 2017 in Detroit, Michigan. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) /

Wilson has posted stats that support the argument he is a reliable and solid relief pitcher.

While Wilson has never been known as a strikeout pitcher, posting a career K/9 rate of 5.9. He does have limited walks with a career BB/9 of 2.3 and he has been able to pitch in every situation. He has started a game, he has four career saves, and has pitched everywhere in between. In 231 career games, he has pitched 259.0 innings showing you that he has logged plenty of innings pitched.

In 2015 he pitched 70 innings and had a FIP of 3.53 and a WHIP of 1.029 while pitching an ERA of 2.19. In 2016 Wilson pitched 73 innings with a solid FIP of 3.60, ERA+ of 144, and an ERA of 2.96. 2017 was a rough year for him, but he still posted solid numbers. Wilson’s ERA was 4.50 and he pitched 60 innings. His ERA+ was still a solid 102 and a FIP of 4.17, and while his H/9 was high at over 10, his BB/9 was only 2.3 and he only surrendered 1.1 HR/9.

Alex Wilson still has two years of team control left at the time of this post. The free agency this off-season lacked a surplus of reliable relief pitching, something that Wilson can provide. Along with his solid numbers, two years of team control, and ability to pitch anywhere he will be a hot commodity come the trade deadline, if he is not traded prior.

KANSAS CITY, MO – SEPTEMBER 27: A baseball sits on the field before the game between the Detroit Tigers and the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on September 27, 2017 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Brian Davidson/Getty Images) /

The Detroit Tigers are rebuilding but what could they get for Alex Wilson.

You could probably throw out a few teams that would be interested in of right now. In a few months, however, that number could shoot up to 29. Teams, even ones out of contention, will always want a controllable reliever. So there really is not a right or wrong list of interested or disinterested parties for relievers.

What would the Detroit Tigers be able to get for Alex Wilson? The Tigers probably will not a Justin Wilson type package, but it shouldn’t be too far off. There will be no top 100 players like Jeimer Candelario, however, acquiring two top 30 prospects is a likely scenario. With a trade to a decent farm system, probably a lower top 15 prospect and a mid-twenties prospect. With a trade to a poor farm system, probably a top ten, but not top 5, and a prospect ranked in the high teens.

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However, teams have been known to overpay for relievers in recent years, see Justin Wilson. With bullpens becoming such an important assets in today’s game a reliever that can pitch anywhere in a game is arguably the most valuable pitcher on a team.

With Alex Wilson traded, and possibly even Shane Greene, the Detroit Tigers bullpen gets much worse. However, sometimes it has to get worse to get better.

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