Detroit Tigers: 2 prospects who could be traded this offseason, 1 who should be untouchable

C Dillon Dingler

Now we go from a prospect who's value is at its highest, to a prospect who's value is possibly at its lowest. Dillon Dingler was the Detroit Tigers second-round pick in 2020 out of Ohio State. He's quite athletic for a catcher, as the Buckeyes even used him in the outfield during his freshman year.

He looked liked the Tigers future catcher last season, hitting well in High-A West Michigan, putting up a .925 OPS before getting promoted to Double-A Erie, where he struggled a bit. He was also injured for a good chunk of his time in Double-A in 2021, so it was thought that he could easily bounce back in 2022.

Unfortunately, he didn't exactly do that. Dingler slashed just .238/.333/.419 with 14 homers and a 107 wRC+. He did walk 10% of the time, but he also struck out nearly 32% of the time. It just seems like he's stagnated a bit. He'll probably get one last shot to prove himself in Triple-A next year, but it doesn't look good for Dingler at the moment.

Combine this with the fact that the Detroit Tigers are in the market for a catcher this offseason, and that makes Dingler expendable, especially if the Tigers end up getting Willson Contreras. I don't think they will get Contreras, but it seems like the Tigers will add a catcher nonetheless.

Another reason Dingler may be expendeable is the emergence of another catching prospect in Josh Crouch, who probably would have reached Double-A much sooner had Dingler not struggled as much as he did. Crouch had an .811 OPS in West Michigan in 2022 and showed great instincts behind the plate. He is a bit older than Dingler, but he ceratinly seems like the better prospect right now.

Because of his low value, Dingler would probably be a throw-in prospect to finish a deal off. He wouldn't be someone Scott Harris would lead with.