Detroit Tigers: Three Players they should trade this offseason

MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 29: Matthew Boyd #48 of the Detroit Tigers delivers a pitch against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning of the game on September 29, 2017 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN - SEPTEMBER 29: Matthew Boyd #48 of the Detroit Tigers delivers a pitch against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning of the game on September 29, 2017 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
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KANSAS CITY, MO – MAY 6: Matthew Boyd #48 of the Detroit Tigers throws in the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on May 6, 2018 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images)
KANSAS CITY, MO – MAY 6: Matthew Boyd #48 of the Detroit Tigers throws in the first inning against the Kansas City Royals at Kauffman Stadium on May 6, 2018 in Kansas City, Missouri. (Photo by Ed Zurga/Getty Images) /

The Detroit Tigers could make a few trades that would help the organization down the line as they plow through their rebuild.

Detroit Tigers general manager Al Avila is going to have a busy offseason. The team has a few glaring holes on the roster that need to be filled – yet he also has to balance trading away soon to be free agents in order to recuperate prospect capital in return.

It’s not an easy feat, and the team has some tough decisions about some of their best players this year.

Additionally, capitalizing on a strong season is important as well. Trading Michael Fulmer may have made sense last offseason, but makes less sense this winter after an ugly, injury filled season has tanked his trade value.

On the contrary, Detroit has a few players coming off excellent seasons who could demand more on the trade market than expected, and thus should be traded at their high point.

Here are three of potentially many trade pieces for the Tigers this season, along with a list of teams who might be interested and a few potential prospects to target in return.

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – SEPTEMBER 26: Matthew Boyd #48 of the Detroit Tigers delivers a pitch against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning of the game on September 26, 2018 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – SEPTEMBER 26: Matthew Boyd #48 of the Detroit Tigers delivers a pitch against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning of the game on September 26, 2018 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

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.

MINNEAPOLIS, MN – MAY 21: Blaine Hardy #36 of the Detroit Tigers delivers a pitch against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning of the game on May 21, 2018 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images)
MINNEAPOLIS, MN – MAY 21: Blaine Hardy #36 of the Detroit Tigers delivers a pitch against the Minnesota Twins during the first inning of the game on May 21, 2018 at Target Field in Minneapolis, Minnesota. (Photo by Hannah Foslien/Getty Images) /

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.

DETROIT, MI – JUNE 12: Relief pitcher Alex Wilson #30 of the Detroit Tigers arrives from the bullpen on a cart during the eighth inning of a game against the Minnesota Twins at Comerica Park on June 12, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. The Twins defeated the Tigers 6-4. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images)
DETROIT, MI – JUNE 12: Relief pitcher Alex Wilson #30 of the Detroit Tigers arrives from the bullpen on a cart during the eighth inning of a game against the Minnesota Twins at Comerica Park on June 12, 2018 in Detroit, Michigan. The Twins defeated the Tigers 6-4. (Photo by Duane Burleson/Getty Images) /

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.

Next. Three free agent 1B for Detroit to pursue. dark

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.

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