Detroit Tigers: Exploring Jose Iglesias Trade Scenarios

Why Iglesias May Be a Fit

The Diamondbacks currently sit atop the tight NL West race. One of the weakest points of a very potent Arizona lineup is shortstop. After the J.D. Martinez deal last summer, could the two be a deadline match again in 2018?

Only two players have manned shortstop this season in the desert, Nick Ahmed and Ketel Marte. Ahmed leads the duo, having played in 85 games. Like Iglesias, Ahmed boasts a strong glove at short. Unlike Iglesias, he’s had a hard time staying on the field over the course of his career.

The former second rounder first reached the big leagues back in 2014. In his five big league seasons, he’s managed to appear in more than 90 games just once, playing 134 back in 2015.

Iglesias’ bat has been more consistent, too. Ahmed hits more home runs, but Iglesias’ career .271 average dwarfs Ahmed’s .226 career mark.

Marte spells Ahmed on occasion, but spends most of his time at second base. Arizona would be well-served to keep Marte at second, as he’s a much better defender there than at short.

Like Milwaukee, Arizona has also reportedly shown interest in Manny Machado. Several other teams boast much higher regarded systems than the Diamondbacks, making a Machado deal less likely.

A Potential Return

Despite the low rank of their system, the Detroit Tigers could scope out a gem or two from Arizona. Similar to Milwaukee, the Diamondbacks possess more position player talent than pitching talent, making it a good match for the Tigers, based on the current state of their farm system.

Drew Ellis

A second round pick in 2017, Ellis hit just .227 in 48 games with short-season Hillsboro in his pro debut last summer. The third baseman collected eight home runs and posted an 11.5 percent walk rate.

This season, Ellis jumped over Class A, straight to High-A Visalia. He’s rewarded the Diamondbacks aggressiveness with a good season thus far. Ellis leads the California league with 28 doubles, and ranks in the top-five in RBIs and extra-base hits.

Gabriel Maciel

A 19-year old switch-hitter, Maciel made his full-season affiliate debut this spring. In 56 games with Class A Kane County, he’s slashing .259/.337/.311. As evidenced by his slugging percentage, Maciel does not possess much power.

Primarily a center fielder, Maciel’s speed gives him great range in the outfield and the ability to steal bases. His walk rate is just shy of 10 percent, and combined with a solid hit tool could make him a very solid table-setter down the road.

Kevin Cron

The younger brother of C.J. Cron, Kevin has put up impressive power numbers in the minor leagues. In his three years of full-season ball, he’s blasted at least 25 homers in each, and collected no fewer than 88 RBIs. Last season, he hit .283 with 25 bombs and 91 RBIs and took home the Southern League MVP.

Primarily a first baseman, this season, Cron has started playing third base more than ever. His bat has been as strong as ever, too. Despite missing about a month at the start of the year, he’s slashing .319/.371/.606 and ranks in the top-five in the Pacific Coast League in RBIs.