The Tigers have announced that they’ve optioned righty Shane Greene to Triple-A Toledo. The move was initially reported by Catherine Slonksnis of Bless You Boys. Greene’s demotion clears a spot on the Tigers’ active roster for lefty reliever Ian Krol. As Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free Press notes, the team will have to make another move on Saturday to open a spot for Justin Verlander, who’s set to return from the disabled list after missing the first two months of the season with a triceps strain. The Tigers don’t seem entirely sure of the reasons for Greene’s struggles, as comments from Greene and manager Brad Ausmus to MLive.com’s James Schmehl suggest, but perhaps a stint in Triple-A will help Greene get back on track.
The Tigers, of course, acquired Greene as part of a three-team trade with the Yankees and Diamondbacks in December. He allowed just two runs over 23 innings in his first three starts as a Tiger, but he’s struggled badly since then, and he now has a 5.82 ERA with 5.8 K/9 and 2.5 BB/9 for the season. Didi Gregorius has likewise struggled in New York, which leaves the Diamondbacks as the only team that’s likely currently happy with their end of the deal — Robbie Ray has been terrific in three big-league starts, although very young infield prospect Domingo Leyba has struggled with Class A+ Visalia.
Where are all my Cashman failed, Greene > Didi, fellas now?
Yea Yankees won that trade……
Didi has been getting better, cut down on his defensive mistakes, has been swinging the bat a bit better, just his base running is atrocious.
Gregorius is playing better and is starting to acclimate to New York–but let’s wait a while before judging this deal.
I don’t really think either team won that trade. The Yankees got a good defensive SS who is probably an average player at the position, while the Tigers got a no.5, maybe no.4, starter. It was a trade that solved a need for the Yankees, Tigers, and D’backs. Certainly not a blockbuster that will greatly impact either team.
As of now I’d say the DBacks did.
So much for the Tigers getting an absolute steal, and him being Porcello 2.0.
No question that , at best, Greene is a back of the rotation starter. It seems that he was traded at the peak of his trade value.
So you choose to believe that his most recent starts are the truth, not his earlier starts. Obviously a “what have you done for me lately” guy. Keep in mind that when Scherzer struggled, the Tigers sent him to the minors. He straightened himself out. Greene can do the same. It is unknown where he belongs in the rotation at this time.
No, simply that his career has been marked by inconsistency.
Yes, but its early in his career. Few show consistency early.
Judging by their performances this year he certainly has resembled Porcello.
I don’t know. I still see him being a Porcello type pitcher. He will be back up in a bit.
I suspect the Red Sox would have no issue trading Porcello for Greene and save a lot of coin.
Just as when the so called “experts” proclaimed this deal a “steal” for the Tigers when Greene has all of three good starts—trades have to be evaluated over time. Gregorius initially struggled (many players initially struggle in New York) and while he is playing better lately–let’s wait a couple of years to see how this deal pans out for both Detroit and New York.
Didi has played better as Greene began to fade.
Tigers go get Cole Hamels Now !
The Tigers have one of if not the worst farm system in baseball
Yet they always have what other teams want at the trade deadlines. That doesn’t seem to mesh with “worst farm system in baseball”.
I never said they couldn’t make a trade, but for what RAJ wants, the Tigers do not have.
Who cares what experts and fans think about minor league systems and prospects? Detroit’s farm system supposedly stinks, but three prospects they traded in the last year are ranked in the top 100 prospects. So they became prospects over 2-3 months or the experts screwed up on the initial rankings. Detroit trades prospects every year for help, so other organizations find something of value, and that’s all that matters.
When Avila is healthy, Detroit may have something in the majors Philly would be interested in. James McCann has proven to this point that he is a capable starting catcher, and could be used in a package for Hamels. Buck Farmer, Bruce Fields, and Dixon Machado, along with McCann may well be the most anyone has offered for Hamels.
Farmer, Fields and Machado, I’d be fine moving. McCann? Maybe there’s something else that would grab Philly’s attention. McCann has a chance to be a pretty good catcher.
Really like Greene, seems to be a level headed guy with the potential to help the back end of the rotation and has a nice Sinker, but man was he over-hyped early. People were almost calling for Cashman’s head on that deal, and now it really doesn’t look all that bad.
Looks like the Dbacks might have come out ahead in this trade. Unfortunately, this trade basically amounts to Bauer for Ray for the Dbacks.
That was fast. Greene can pitch, but the expectations for him were too high after that insane start. The Yankees are probably fine with the deal. Didi isn’t a star, but at this point, he fills a position.
Rule of 7. It takes 7 years to truly analyze a trade, certainly not 2-1/2 months.
So true. The Tigers sent Scherzer to Triple A for a few weeks in 2010, the first year they had him, to straighten some things out. Patience with young players. Reserve judgment.
Anybody ready to admit the Fister for Robbie Ray, Ian Krol and $20 million saved could turn out to be a good trade by Dombrowski?
Besides the money, it might still be a good trade in a couple of years. What’s the old line, trade a guy a year too early rather than a year too late?
Just remember Max was inconsistent at first with the tigers.