Detroit Tigers: Three Jonathan Schoop Trade Ideas

As the trade deadline creeps closer, the Detroit Tigers will have a difficult choice to make with Jonathan Schoop. Let’s look at some possible trade options.

The trade deadline is officially less than 48 hours from now, which means it’s time to ramp up our trade speculation. After Adam Frazier was traded earlier this week, Detroit Tigers infielder Jonathan Schoop is now one of the top second base options on the market, along with Eduardo Escobar and Whit Merrifield.

Detroit Tigers fans seem to be split on whether trading Schoop would be a smart move. Of course, the team risks losing him for nothing if they keep him through the deadline and then he leaves in free agency. However, the market for rental bats that don’t move the needle for contenders can be quite slim and many fans are afraid of trading yet another solid rental player for next to nothing.

As of Wednesday, MLB Insider Mark Feinsand wrote that he still expects Schoop to be traded, though an extension with Detroit is also possible. No matter what side of the fence you’re on regarding Schoop, it seems likely that the Tigers will at least entertain offers for the hot-hitting infielder.

Here are a few educated guesses at what a hypothetical Jonathan Schoop trade could look like:

1) Detroit Tigers trade Jonathan Schoop to the Chicago White Sox for 3B Jake Burger

There has been a multitude of reports that the White Sox are heavily pursuing Eduardo Escobar, but Schoop represents a solid fallback option. Schoop would be a big upgrade over a platoon of Danny Mendick and Leury Garcia and would help fill the void left at second base by the injured Nick Madrigal.

The White Sox actually toyed around with using Burger at second base, but ultimately sent him back to AAA when they started to get closer to full strength. Burger has an incredible story, battling through several severe injuries and the pandemic to return this season for the first time in almost three years. He hasn’t missed a beat performance-wise, slashing .326/.374/.611 across 190 PA at AAA. He does have a below-average approach and has a tendency to swing over breaking balls, but if he is able to refine his pitch selection a bit, he has a chance to be an above-average offensive performer.

2) Detroit Tigers trade Jonathan Schoop and Jose Cisnero to the Milwaukee Brewers for SP Alec Bettinger, SS Korry Howell, and OF Joe Gray Jr. 

The Brewers are possibly the most interesting trade fit for Schoop, as they could use some depth at first and second base. Like most contenders, they also need bullpen reinforcements, and the Tigers reluctantly part ways with Cisnero in this scenario.

The Brewers front office may be feeling some pressure to capitalize on one of the strongest three-headed monsters anchoring their rotation that we have seen in recent memory. Acquiring Schoop and Cisnero would be on-brand for a club that likes to find sneaky upgrades without breaking the bank or mortgaging the future.

Howell and Gray Jr. would inject some much-needed life and excitement into the Detroit Tigers’ lower minors. Howell has been one of the biggest breakout stories in the minors this year, posting a 137 wRC+ across 264 PA at high A Wisconsin, all while playing just about every position on the diamond. His hit tool is his one big question mark, as he is still striking out at a 27% clip, but he has very strong supporting tools and is on an upward trajectory if he continues to hit.

Much like Howell, Gray Jr. has seen his performance tick up this season, performing well for the first time in his career after being selected in the second round back in 2018. Gray snuggles with strikeouts as well, but he has above-average power and slugged .632 across 231 AB in class A to start the season.

Bettinger possesses a similar command-over-stuff profile that the Tigers have been known to target in trades in recent years. He’s major league ready now and could help the Tigers fill innings over the final few months of the season with a slim chance to stick as a back-end rotation piece.