Detroit Tigers: Three Players they should trade this offseason

Matthew Boyd

Boyd had the best season of his young career last year, and still carries a ton of team control which will make him a very appealing trade target for any number of teams this offseason.

The 27-year-old left-hander doesn’t figure to be a big part of Detroit’s future rotation once the rebuild is over, making him a prime candidate to be in a new uniform come Opening Day 2019.

Boyd went 9-13 with a 4.39 ERA and a 8.40 K/9 last year, solid numbers that would land him at the back-end of most playoff rotations. The Tigers have no reason to just give him away however, and any return Detroit  gets should include either highly regarded prospects or a young, big league ready player they can use right away.

We suggested a potential Boyd for Greg Bird trade with the Yankees, and that remains a possibility if New York wants to give Luke Voit full-time work at first base.

Plenty of other teams might be looking for rotation help this offseason, including the Cardinals, Astros, Brewers, Cubs and Phillies.

Boyd has been the prize of the David Price trade, and he could help Detroit gain even more prospects that could become building blocks for their eventual return to prominence.

Blaine Hardy

The left-handed Hardy had a quietly excellent year in 2018, making 30 appearances (including 13 starts) and pitching to a 3.56 ERA and a 1.17 WHIP. He posted a career-low 2.30 BB/9, helping keep his ERA down despite a not-so-great 6.30 K/9.

Hardy was effective as a starter, posting a 4.26 ERA, 1.21 WHIP and a 6.25 K/9 across his 13 starts. he was lights out as a reliever, with a 0.98 ERA, a 1.04 WHIP and a tidy 9.33 K/9. That was across just 18.1 innings, though it’s still a great sign how well he pitched while adjusting between the two roles.

At age 31, Hardy is unlikely to factor into the team’s future plans. And it’s entirely possible, likely even, that 2018 was the best season of Hardy’s career. As such, he should be shopped heavily this offseason. Teams are always looking for left-handed relief help, and Hardy’s ability to step into the rotation if necessary will make him a valuable piece for contending teams.

Interested Teams

Hardy’s trade value will depend largely on the free agent market for left-handed relievers, which is robust to say the least. Andrew Miller, Zach Britton, Jerry Blevins, Jake Diekman, Justin Wilson and Tony Sipp headline a strong group of lefties – which will likely diminish Hardy’s trade value.

Still, none of those guys are candidates to step into a starting rotation – something Hardy proved he can do last year. I would expect that most contending teams, notably the Yankees, Braves and Astros, could use a player like Hardy. And Detroit’s trade demand should be a handful of high-risk, high-reward prospects that they can groom in the minors and hope blossom.

Hardy likely won’t have more trade value than he does this season, even if the market for a player like him is saturated.

Alex Wilson

Alex Wilson is one of the longest tenured Detroit Tigers, but his advanced age and upcoming free agency make him a prime candidate to be traded either this winter or in July.

Wilson finished 2018 with a tidy 3.36 ERA and 1.05 WHIP, some of the best marks of his career. Masked behind those solid numbers are an ugly 4.28 FIP, a 6.28 K/9 and a .227 BABIP which spells trouble for the future.

Wilson has never been a high strikeout guy. He instead relies on inducing soft contact and plenty of ground balls, things he was once again excellent at last season. That makes him rather volatile though, and Detroit would be wise to capitalize on his trade value while he still has some.

Wilson should demand attention from bullpen-needy teams, although I suspect Detroit won’t get much more than a low-level prospect in return. Milwaukee, St. Louis, the Yankees, Phillies and Braves all strike me as teams who may check in on Wilson.

If Detroit can get a teenage position prospect in return, that gives them another piece to try to develop while also opening up a roster spot for a young arm like Sandy Baez, Victor Alcantara or Zac Reininger to get a chance to pitch all season in the Motor City.

The Tigers have other pieces they could shop, including Shane Greene, Nicholas Castellanos, James McCann and Jordan Zimmermann, but ultimately the three names above represent the best chance for Detroit to sell-high on assets that won’t be around for the rebuild – while giving them prospects that potentially could be.