Detroit Tigers: Five Spencer Turnbull Trades

OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 06: Spencer Turnbull #56 of the Detroit Tigers pitches against the Oakland Athletics at Ring Central Coliseum on September 06, 2019 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images)
OAKLAND, CALIFORNIA - SEPTEMBER 06: Spencer Turnbull #56 of the Detroit Tigers pitches against the Oakland Athletics at Ring Central Coliseum on September 06, 2019 in Oakland, California. (Photo by Lachlan Cunningham/Getty Images) /
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PEORIA, AZ – OCTOBER 16: Josh Lowe #36 of the Salt River Rafters (Tampa Bay Rays) bats against the Peoria Javelinas during an Arizona Fall League game at Peoria Sports Complex on October 16, 2019 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images)
PEORIA, AZ – OCTOBER 16: Josh Lowe #36 of the Salt River Rafters (Tampa Bay Rays) bats against the Peoria Javelinas during an Arizona Fall League game at Peoria Sports Complex on October 16, 2019 in Peoria, Arizona. (Photo by Joe Robbins/Getty Images) /

Spencer Turnbull and Austin Romine to the Tampa Bay Rays for OF Josh Lowe, SS Taylor Walls, and LHP Anthony Banda

The Rays aren’t typically in the business of trading for players who are about to get more expensive, but they’re legitimate contenders now, they can always move Turnbull again in a few years, and few teams are better at maximizing the effectiveness and value of their pitchers. Tampa’s catchers have been pretty poor so far this season, and Romine would give them a solid temporary upgrade.

Josh Lowe was a first-round pick in 2016, and his plus power, speed, and arm strength remind us of a more developed version of Detroit’s 2018 2nd-rounder Parker Meadows. Walls is a bit of an under-the-radar prospect as a switch-hitter with average tools and a chance to stick at shortstop, and Banda is a former top-100 prospect coming off elbow surgery who could be a solid reliever.