Detroit Tigers Trade Chips (Non Skubal Edition)

The Detroit Tigers Have a Few More Trade Options

The Detroit Tigers have been playing an enjoyable brand of baseball for most of July. Unfortunately, it appears to be too little, too late. Three months of a floundering offense, an unexpectedly strong AL Central, and a suddenly crumbling starting rotation point to only one logical conclusion. It’s time to sell.

The hottest thing in baseball right now is Tarik Skubal trade talk. We wrote a Skubal trade piece. Tom Verducci wrote about a Skubal deal. Evan Petzold wrote about it. MLB Network can’t stop tweeting and talking about Skubal trades. Good Housekeeping wrote a piece about the Tigers trading Skubal for a butler’s tray table and one of those giant vases filled with sticks…

This isn’t that. Nor is it a piece about the Detroit Tigers’ best trade chip, Jack Flaherty. We already did one of those, too.

No, this is a piece about the other players the Tigers might trade. These aren’t big, splashy deals that create headlines. But sometimes under-the-radar trades turn into terrific returns. So, let’s do some fake trades!

Trade #1: Carson Kelly and Andrew Chafin to the Texas Rangers

The Rangers are currently 51-52, just barely ahead of the Tigers in the Wild Card standings. They may ultimately be sellers at the deadline. But they’re also the defending World Series champions, owners of a top-ten payroll, and only three games out in their division. It feels like they can contend with a few small additions, and that’s just what the Tigers can provide.

How it Helps the Rangers: Catcher Jonah Heim was outstanding in 2022-23, but he’s been a replacement level player this season. And his backup, Andrew Knizner, is having a terrible year. Rangers catchers have combined for -0.5 fWAR in 2024. Carson Kelly has 1.6 WAR by himself.

The Rangers also rank 24th in baseball this year in ERA (4.60) against left-handed hitters. Jacob Latz has been fine, and Cody Bradford is close to returning from injury. But Andrew Chafin would instantly be the best lefty in their bullpen, and he comes with an inexpensive option for 2025.

What the Tigers Get: LHP Kohl Drake and OF Yeremi Cabrera

Kohl Drake isn’t necessarily high on many prospect lists, but he’s been one of the most effective pitchers in minor-league baseball this year. His fastball touches 95 MPH regularly, and his heater plays better than his velo. He also has a solid curveball, the build of a starter, and he throws strikes. Yeremi Cabrera is a rookie ball lottery ticket with an interesting mix of power, speed, and patience.

Another 10 K outing for @GoWoodDucks LHP Kohl Drake last night. 👀

Drake now has 71 K across 43 IP with a 1.67 ERA for the Wood Ducks. pic.twitter.com/v0ZncUO5Fd

— Rangers Player Development (@TEXPlayerDev) June 21, 2024

Other Fits for Kelly: Boston, Philadelphia, San Diego, Seattle
Other Fits for Chafin: Basically every contender

Trade #2: Mark Canha to the Seattle Mariners

The Mariners are essentially the Tigers, only in a much weaker division. Both Detroit and Seattle sport a 93 wRC+ for the season, but the Mariners are just one game out of the playoffs. Their pitching is strong, but their offense has a couple of huge weak spots. Their outfield has been below average (2.7 fWAR), first base is a disaster (-0.5 WAR), and they’ve been one of the worst teams in baseball against left-handed pitching.

How it Helps the Mariners: Canha can help the Mariners in the outfield and/or at first base. And this year he owns a .294/.410/.471 line against left-handed pitching. Seattle president Jerry Dipoto is always an active dealmaker, and Canha upgrades their roster at a relatively minimal cost.

What the Tigers Get: RHP Ty Cummings

Seattle used their 7th round pick in the 2023 to take Cummings out of Campbell University. He worked almost exclusively as a reliever with the Camels, but he’s been serving as a starter in pro ball. There’s a little bit of Sawyer Gipson-Long to Cummings, as a low-slot righty with a low-90s sinker and a good slider. His numbers aren’t eye-popping this year, but he’d be solid arm to develop over the next few years.

Other Fits for Canha: Atlanta, New York Mets, Philadelphia, San Diego, St. Louis

Ty Cummings is through 2IP, 0H, 0R, 0BB, 2K, 27-16. pic.twitter.com/x4B9geNdoP

— Mariners Minors (@MiLBMariners) July 3, 2024

Trade #3: Jace Jung to the Miami Marlins

Madness! The Detroit Tigers need bats, and Jace Jung is a top-100 prospect in baseball. The Miami Marlins are one of the worst teams in baseball, why would they buy? Well, sometimes you need to be creative…

How it Helps the Marlins: Miami is absolutely desperate for bats. Yes, the Tigers are too. But not as much as the Marlins, who own an 81 wRC+ this year, ahead of only the White Sox. They need impact hitters, and they don’t really have any coming through their system. Jung would be able to return to his natural position of second base, and his mix of patience and potential is sorely needed in Miami.

What the Tigers Get: RHP Edward Cabrera

You know that thing where the Tigers sign a free agent pitcher, fix him, and then trade him at the deadline? Wouldn’t it be cool if they fixed a pitcher they could then keep for another three years? That’s the idea here. And we don’t think Jace Jung is going to work out at third base. So, the Tigers can force Colt Keith to first base to make room for Jung. Or they can deal from their one position of strength to help the MLB club now AND in the future.

Maybe Edward Cabrera isn’t the right candidate for that, but it would be fun to watch Chris Fetter, Robin Lund, and Juan Nieves work with him. He’s been injured frequently, he walks too many people, and he owns a career 4.50 ERA in 236 MLB innings. But boy does he have a big arm. He gets whiffs with his curveball, his slider, and his ridiculous changeup, and his four-seamer and his sinker both average 96 MPH and touch 99.

Maybe the Marlins don’t want to part with Cabrera. They’ve had plenty of pitching injuries of their own. But it would be nice if maybe the Tigers could land their next pitching project via trade, and then use the money they’ve would’ve spent on an arm to land a real bat or two.

Edward Cabrera, Ridiculous 95.1 MPH Changeup. 🥴 pic.twitter.com/GI9zqd7g0F

— Rob Friedman (@PitchingNinja) July 25, 2024

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