Detroit Tigers: Looking back at the Mike Fiers trade

Former Detroit Tigers pitcher Mike Fiers threw his second career no-hitter on Tuesday night for the Oakland A’s as they shutout the Cincinnati Reds 2-0

Tuesday night marked the second no-hitter in Fiers careers, neither of which with the Detroit Tigers. His first came in August of 2015 with the Houston Astros and his second coming Tuesday night with Oakland, whom the Tigers traded him to last August.

Fiers signed as a free agent with Detroit before the 2018 season and went 7-6 in 21 starts with a 3.48 ERA. With solid numbers, Fiers seemed to be the most likely candidate for the Tigers to move even after the trade deadline, and that they did. Fiers was dealt to the playoff-bound Athletics in exchange for prospects, so in the wake of Fiers no-hitter, let’s take a look at the progress of who Detroit received in return.

Detroit Tigers- RHP Nolan Blackwood

On the day of the trade in August, the Tigers were said to receive two “players to be named later.” One of those players would be righty relief pitcher Nolan Blackwood. Blackwood was playing for Double-A Midland with the Athletics organization at the time of the trade and would finish 2018 with the Tigers’ Double-A affiliate in Erie posting a 4.50 ERA in 8 IP for the Seawolves.

To start 2019, Blackwood remained in Erie and impressed the organization enough with his 2.70 ERA through 10 IP to make the move up to Triple-A Toledo just last week. Currently, in Toledo, the 24-year-old is still finding his footing with the Mud Hens, appearing in just two games so far with a 6.75 ERA.

Trading for prospects is always a bit of a gamble, but as I said, trading Fiers was necessary for the rebuild. Blackwood is currently not among the Tigers top 30 prospects according to MLB.com, but with him now in Toledo, it would not serve as a complete shock to see Blackwood making his MLB debut for the Tigers at some point towards the end of the season.

Detroit Tigers- RHP Logan Shore

The second player named in the Fiers trade was Oakland’s 2016 second round draft pick, a righty starting pitcher out of the University of Florida named Logan Shore. Shore was having a bit of rough year for the Midland RockHounds when the Tigers acquired him, posting a 5.50 ERA and 1-6 record through 13 starts.

The 24-year-old starter has remained in Double-A with Erie for all of 2019 so far. In four starts this season, Shore holds a 1-2 record and a 4.05 ERA but is also currently on the 7-day IL. Shore currently ranks 16th in MLB.com’s prospect rankings for the Detroit Tigers. He has the potential to be a late rotation starter, but it still could take some time for his game to develop to a major league level. At already age 24, Shore’s development needs to hasten if he does not want to miss the boat on the Tigers youth movement.

The Mike Fiers trade was necessary for the Detroit Tigers rebuilding process last August. The returns still seem to leave something to be desired, however, as Detroit fans had to endure yet another former Tiger have a moment of glory while wearing a different squad’s uniform.