Detroit Tigers: 3 Yankee trade targets to keep an eye on this series

The Detroit Tigers entertain the New York Yankees this Memorial Day weekend after a series of games in the AL Central. These two teams have had not only a recent post-season history against each other but an extensive trade history/rumors that goes back to 30 years ago.

A refresher on the Detroit Tigers & New York Yankees trade history

1. December 9, 2015

Detroit Tigers acquired Justin Wilson

Yankees acquired

Luis Cessa

Chad Green

2. December 5th, 2014

Detroit Tigers acquired:

Shane Greene in a three-way deal to Arizona from the Yankees

3. December 9th, 2009

Detroit Tigers acquired:

Phil Coke, Austin Jackson, Ian Kennedy (flipped to Arizona with Edwin Jackson)

Yankees acquired:

Curtis Granderson

4. November 10th, 2006

Detroit Tigers acquired:

Gary Sheffield

Yankees acquired:

Anthony Clagget

Humberto Sanchez

Kevin Whelan

Then, there was the Matthew Boyd for Gleyber Torres rumor that went around a few seasons back. If you go back even further, on July 31, 1996, the Tigers traded Cecil Fielder for a pitching prospect named Matt Drews, who never pitched for Detroit and outfielder Ruben Sierra.

Detroit Tigers fans may not want to make any trades

Every year, there is a contingency of Tigers fans who want Detroit to stay pat at the trade deadline. But if you look at what our friends over at Yanks Go Yard proposed, what they suggested actually makes sense.

The Tigers are still in rebuilding, no matter what way you try to look at it. Detroit needs a long-term solution at shortstop, (yes, they are projected to draft one but there are no guarantees that will work) second base, outfield, first base, and even in the starting rotation outside of Casey Mize and Tarik Skubal.  The depth drops off after Triple-A with Erie stacked with minor league free agents in their rotation.

Some of these long-term solutions may lie on the Yankees 40-man roster and a few players on their farm system so let’s take a look.  The goal is to keep the ideas in some sort of balance of reality and perhaps wishful thinking that General Manager Al Avila and his staff can execute a trade that could bring back an impactful return right away.

3 Yankee trade targets to keep an eye on this series & beyond

3.Outfielder Estevan Florial

Florial was sent back down after the doubleheader yesterday to Triple-A Scranton/Wilkes-Barre as the outfield situation in New York has been destroyed by injuries. He went 1-for-3 in his one-game appearance.  He comes in as the number 10 prospect in the Yankees system according to MLB Pipeline. 

He has not gotten off to a good start in between spending time between Double-A and Triple-A this season, putting up a slash line of .211/.300/.535 with a walk rate around 10% and a strikeout rate of 23%. but he has six home runs so far in just 18 games above the High-A level so far.

Manager Aaron Boone said he does need more experience and that is a good point so why not in Detroit? He is a left-handed bat with speed and strength and can play centerfield, where the Tigers do have Riley Greene waiting in the wings but Greene could be placed in either corner spot. Florial also has the same range to play any outfield position.

Does the strikeout rate alarm you at first glance? It does but the walk rate has been near 10% so that should play out find if he is hitting for power and providing speed.

An outfield of Akil Baddoo, Riley Greene, and Estevan Florial does not sound too bad at all for the rest of the summer in 2021 or  2022, should the Tigers decide to trade Robbie Grossman.

Plus, if the Tigers are not going to spend money, with Florial, you have someone under club control with tremendous upside.

1.Albert Abreu

Of the three suggestions from the Yankees 40-man roster, there is a good chance Tigers fans will see him this weekend as he was just recalled from Triple-A.

He is a career starter in the minor leagues, making his debut this season out of the bullpen last season. He was in the Astros system before coming over in the Brian McCann deal back in 2016.

He was starting in the Dominican Winter League for the Tigres Del Licey so he has the ability to be a swingman with a fastball, slider, and a changeup mix but looks like a curve here in this start over the winter.

The biggest issue has been command as so far in five innings of work in 2021, he has yielded four walks but he has seven strikeouts while giving up just a run so far. He may be more of a project than a ready-made solution but the Yankees may be enticed to give up Abreu for a starter like Matthew Boyd or Jose Urena.

Since the theme seems to be in the front office that they want low-cost talent, Abreu would be just that with upside, similar to Gil.

Reality

All three players would look great in a Tigers uniform but the chances the Yankees would give up the first two may not be likely but prospects are currently and New York fans want a winner. The expectation is to win World Series every year and based on how they are developing talent with a deep farm system, who knows, they make an offer.

Yanks Go Yard gave their three trade targets of Robbie Grossman, Nomar Mazara, and Harold Castro. I think it’s safe to say Tigers fans are willing to give those up for any of these players mentioned above.