Detroit Tigers Could Swing Deal for Red Sox Extra Pieces?

Could the Detroit Tigers swing a trade with the Red Sox to acquire former catcher prospect Blake Swihart?

Last year, my colleague Ben Rosener speculated on a potential trade the Detroit Tigers could make with the Mariners to acquire rotund first baseman/DH Dan Vogelbach. The idea was to trade the little depth the Tigers had in the bullpen for a potential cornerstone player who embodies everything the Tigers need in an offensive player: power, patience, and a willingness to improve. In short, this was and still is a perfect trade for the club, and it got me thinking: What other trades could Detroit make with clubs for quality extra pieces?

Another trade option

The Red Sox are currently trying to find a spot for onetime top prospect Blake Swihart. Manager Alex Cora has gone on record multiple times about how Swihart is a great athlete that could conceivably play multiple positions in order to crack the lineup, and the dude’s not wrong: Swihart’s scouting report notes that he’d played shortstop and left field in high school – where he displayed his above-average arm and has shown some nice range in left in the majors.

His hit tool has never been in question, with his quick hip rotation, smooth swing, and burgeoning power. Swihart has also displayed a keen batting eye, with solid walk rates in the minors and excellent wRC+ ratings. I think a consistent lineup spot and at-bats would really only improve his tools, as repetition is the best medicine for a major leaguer. To top it all off he’s a switch hitter that can hit lefties and righties almost the same.

Again, it’s no secret the Red Sox are trying to find ways to showcase his talents in order to get some GMs salivating – he’s out of options and without a true position. They plan on utilizing him as a Super Utility guy, but that’s a misuse of his skill set and really plays into the Red Sox’s desperation to portray him as a trade commodity. However, his strong start to this season does increase his intrinsic value, and in order to secure a young player like this — who is under team control until he’s 30 — Al Avila would definitely have to give up something very good…or take on a contract that is very bad.

Enter Rusney Castillo.

Remember when Castillo and Yasmany Tomas were the hottest things since habanero? The market for Cuban players was intense, and these two displayed a set of skills that led to many GMs to fantasize about another Yoenis Cespedes or Jose Abreu. Arizona and Boston decided they REALLY wanted to invest in these guys and plunked down HUGE DEALS to land them. Unfortunately, due to an inability to match outlandish expectations and/or crack a completely stacked lineup, neither player has been able to make much of an impact for their team.

However, Castillo has always been a player with a quality skillset that needs an opportunity and the chance to gain repetition (sound familiar?). While with Ciego de Avila in Cuba, Castillo displayed power, speed, and an ability to get on base. Hell, even in the BoSox minors he showed that same on-base ability throughout the different levels and put up an impressive slash of .350/.507./.857 last year in AAA.

His defense is the subject of debate, as he made fantastic plays like this while in Fenway:

And also did bonehead things like this:

The Red Sox have been chowing down on his contract and stashing him in Triple-A, where it won’t count against their big league payroll and bump them over the Luxury Tax. Castillo is the albatross they can’t get rid of, and if they could find anyone to take this off their hands they likely wouldn’t balk at including a player worth the new team’s troubles…

See where this is going?

Were the Tigers to offer to take Castillo’s contract (which runs through 2019 with an opt-out in 2020…those things make tremendous motivators for great seasons, y’know) I’m sure the Red Sox would find dealing Swihart – an extra piece without a true role on the club – much more palatable, thus enabling the Tigers to deal a prospect they won’t miss.

There will be balking at Castillo’s contract, but keep in mind that after this season the Tigers lose the contracts of Victor Martinez ($18m), Mike Fiers ($6m), Francisco Liriano ($4m), Anibal Sanchez ($2.5m), and Francisco Rodriguez ($2m). The season after that they no longer need to pay Justin Verlander’s $8m yearly tag, so suddenly Castillo’s deal doesn’t look too bad in comparison – they’ll be well within their abilities to re-sign Nick Castellanos without breaking the bank, and within a year of that they’ll be able to shed Jordan Zimmermann’s and Prince Fielder’s deals.

Simply put, Castillo’s big deal would be just another big contract that will soon expire, and additionally, who’s to say he wouldn’t flourish with an opportunity for regular work and time with his countrymen (Leonys Martin and Jose Iglesias)?

Next: Jeimer Candelario is Tigers ideal two-hitter

Yes, it would suck to take on Castillo’s deal and have him not even be a 1 WAR player, but to be able to land a potential cornerstone player like Swihart? Well worth it.