Detroit Tigers: Checking in with Nick Castellanos & Shane Greene

Just over a week ago at the trade deadline, the Detroit Tigers made a couple of deals that sent away two of the team’s most valuable assets in return for more prospects to continue the organization’s rebuild.

We’re a little over a week removed from the trade deadline, as last Wednesday the Detroit Tigers traded away Nicholas Castellanos to the Chicago Cubs and Shane Greene to the Atlanta Braves. Since we watched these guys play with the Tigers for years, it seems right that we should check in with them and see how they’re doing after about a week with their new clubs.

Nicholas Castellanos

The trade between the Detroit Tigers and Chicago Cubs to send Nick Castellanos to the Windy City came at very literally the last minute of last Wednesday’s trade deadline. So far, the Cubs have to be satisfied with their biggest deadline acquisition.

In seven games with Chicago since the trade, Castellanos has three RBI, one home run, and is batting .379 with his new team. Castellanos also has six doubles since going to the Cubs bringing his season total to 43, making him the MLB leader.

Trading away Castellanos seemed like an obvious move for Detroit at the deadline given his pending free agency at the end of the season and that he was extremely unlikely to re-sign with the Tigers. Al Avila was able to continue collecting prospects for the future and Chicago got an everyday corner outfielder with a reliable bat to help them make a push for the NL Pennant, so I guess both sides got what they wanted.

Shane Greene

The lone All-Star for the Detroit Tigers this year, closer Shane Greene, has gotten off to a bit of a rougher start with his new club, the Atlanta Braves. With 22 saves for Detroit this season, Greene was one of the most highly sought after pitchers for teams looking to upgrade their bullpens at the trade deadline, but things have been shaky for Greene in Atlanta during his first week.

In three appearances out of the Braves bullpen since the trade deadline, Greene is yet to earn a save, in fact, he blew a save opportunity in his Atlanta debut. On Saturday against the Reds, Greene surrendered a run on three hits and a walk resulting in just his fourth blown save of the season, although the Braves would go on to win the game 5-4 in extra innings.

Greene followed that up by allowing a three-run homer to Cincy’s Tucker Barnhart in extra innings the next very next day, causing him to take the losing decision in a 6-4 loss. After that, Greene came in during a non-save situation to close out Atlanta’s 12-7 win over Minnesota on Tuesday but still surrendered a run in that inning.

With a 15.00 ERA and a blown save since going to Atlanta, Braves fans may be a bit disappointed with Greene’s performance so far. Luckily for Tigers fans, Travis Demeritte is showing some promise.

The Detroit Tigers made the moves they were expected to make at the trade deadline and it’s up to each fan as to whether or not they think Al Avila got the right pieces in return. It’s nice to see Nick Castellanos getting a chance to thrive with a National League contender, and hopefully, Shane Greene can get back on the right track after a rocky start in Atlanta.