Detroit Tigers: Exploring a trade with the Mariners

The Detroit Tigers have a handful of players who they could look to deal in exchange for prospects and/or salary relief. Here’s a look at who those guys are and how likely Detroit is to move them during the season:

Mike Fiers

The Tigers signed Fiers to a one-year, $6 million dollar contract this offseason. The intention all along has been to have Fiers be an end of the rotation innings eater. If he pitches well, the team can trade him at the deadline. So far Fiers has a 4.23 ERA and a 1.20 WHIP across seven starts. Not bad – enough that a pitching desperate team may come looking.

Michael Fulmer

Obviously Detroit’s most notable trade piece, the Tigers would be looking for a King’s ransom, at minimum, in order to part with the 25-year-old right-hander. Our own Grant Stoye explored some options not that long ago, but unless a team with a ton of prospects comes knocking, don’t expect Fulmer to be dealt this year.

Shane Greene

Another one of Detroit’s most talked about trade assets, Greene is under team control through 2020 and is on a very reasonable $1.95 million dollar deal this year. The closer has had his ups and downs this season, but currently sports a 3.72 ERA and a 24/8 K/BB ratio with nine saves. The Tigers don’t need to move Greene this year, so don’t be surprised if they are picky about what they get in return. Relievers tend to fetch a big haul at the deadline. If a team does come calling it wouldn’t be surprising to see him shipped away.

Jose Iglesias

Detroit Tigers GM Al Avila all but guaranteed that shortstop Jose Iglesias would be dealt before the end of the 2018 season. Very few teams have been looking for infield help, and Iglesias has not helped with his .236/.285/.350 slash line. He does have two homers and five steals, and has played his standard excellent defense, so the Tigers can surely find a spot for him. His contract presents an issue however, so the Tigers will likely have to eat some of his contract in order to move him.

Francisco Liriano

Liriano, like Fiers, was signed to a one-year deal this offseason. The team decided to stick him in the starting rotation, hoping he’d accrue some trade value with a strong first half. His last outing wasn’t great, but for the most part Liriano has looked solid. If he stays healthy through July, he will likely be dealt to a team in need of pitching.

Leonys Martin

The first of Detroit’s one-year off-season signings, Martin has looked excellent in the leadoff spot this year for the Tigers. He sports a .294/.355/.508 slash line with five home runs. He is on the DL currently, but if he stays healthy and continues to hit well, there is no doubt the Tigers will look to move him for prospects in July.

Victor Martinez

The 39-year-old Martinez is in the last year of his gargantuan four-year, $68 million dollar contract. He is all but certain to retire at the end of this year, where he is owed a cool $18 million. Finding a trade partner for Martinez and his .222/.296/.341 slash line, especially at his cost, will be nearly impossible. If the Tigers have to eat a big chunk of the money to move him, they would consider it. Even that, however, seems unlikely considering his underwhelming performance and his lack of versatility.

James McCann

Another tricky one for the Tigers is James McCann, who is under team control through 2020. However, he is not going to be Detroit’s catcher of the future, with some combination of Jake Rogers, Sam McMillan and Grayson Greiner likely to fill that role. So it makes sense for the Tigers to look for trade partners for McCann sooner rather than later. Don’t expect him to be dealt at the deadline unless some desperate, catcher needy team comes looking.

Alex Wilson

Wilson is under control through 2019, but the Tigers are surely hoping they can move any of their veteran relievers at the trade deadline, where relievers are at a premium price wise. Wilson’s 4.50 ERA and four home runs surrendered in just 20 innings of work is not helping his cause. His current placement on the DL doesn’t help either. Expect the Tigers to hold Wilson, for now.