It’s already been reported this month that a number of expensive Tigers players — Justin Verlander, Jordan Zimmermann, Miguel Cabrera, Victor Martinez, Justin Upton, Anibal Sanchez — have gone unclaimed on revocable trade waivers, but Jon Heyman of FanRag Sports adds more names to the list. Third baseman Nicholas Castellanos also went unclaimed on trade waivers, per Heyman, while right-hander Michael Fulmer and shortstop Jose Iglesias were claimed but did not change hands.
As Heyman notes, it registers as a modest surprise that Castellanos wasn’t claimed, though perhaps other clubs simply assumed that Detroit would pull the 25-year-old back off the wire. Castellanos has seen his offensive production drop in 2017, as he’s hitting just .244/.302/.440 — down from last year’s impressive .285/.331/.496.
However, there are reasons to be encouraged when looking at Castellanos’s batted-ball profile. His 44.9 percent hard-contact rate ranks sixth in baseball among qualified hitters, trailing only Corey Seager, Joey Gallo, Paul Goldschmidt, Miguel Sano and Cody Bellinger. Additionally, Castellanos’s 24.8 percent line-drive rate is the game’s 11th-highest, and his 89.5 mph average exit velocity is 50th among hitters with at least 100 batted ball events (per Statcast).
Castellanos avoided arbitration for the first time this past offseason, agreeing to a one-year deal worth $3MM. He’ll receive a raise on that figure in 2018 and can be controlled via the arbitration process through the 2019 campaign. There’s been no indication that the Tigers are looking to trade Castellanos, but Detroit did acquire an MLB-ready third base option from the Cubs in the form of Jeimer Candelario, so it’s at least plausible that they could explore interest in Castellanos and look to entrust third base to the somewhat younger — and certainly cheaper and more controllable — option. (Despite the gap in MLB experience, Castellanos is only 18 months older than Candelario; the latter, though, won’t be eligible for arbitration until at least 2020.)
As for the others named in Heyman’s report, it’s not in any way surprising to see Fulmer taken back off waivers. Detroit reportedly received plenty of interest in him leading up to the non-waiver trade deadline, but the reigning American League Rookie of the Year is in the midst of an excellent sophomore campaign and is controllable through the 2022 season. Perhaps the Tigers will again listen to offers this winter and see if any interested party will blow them away with a can’t-refuse offer, but such a package couldn’t realistically come together in the 48-hour waiver claim window.
Iglesias, meanwhile, is a definite trade candidate to keep an eye this offseason. The 27-year-old doesn’t bring much to the table with his bat, but his glovework at shortstop is outstanding. Defensive Runs Saved pegs him at +10 in 2017, while Ultimate Zone Rating is largely in agreement at +9.0. Iglesias has batted .255/.298/.352 over the past two seasons and will be due one more raise on his $4.1MM salary in arbitration before hitting the open market as a free agent next winter. That short-term window of control could accelerate trade talks for him this winter, potentially clearing way for the Tigers to give a lengthy audition to 25-year-old Dixon Machado.
Matt Adams for castellanos….i kid
Just a fun one to throw out there,
Fulmer and Castellanos for Acuna lol….just a fun thought, as a braves fun, I have no desire to do it, but you know the tigers would ask for it….so it’s something to consider….
Beyond that thought, in reality I’d have no problem going after nick castellanos, perhaps offering a decent pitching prospect
Lol a fulmer deal starts with acuna and a lot more
And trust me, I know tigers fans would likely want more than acuna for fulmer alone
Castellanos isn’t worth a top 20 prospect (or decent pitching prospect) from our system. He’s really not that great.
Which they should; with what Quintana fetched from the Cubs, problem is the braves don’t have the offensive depth to offer acuna up, and that the only way we likely getting fulmer
Acuna and/or Kevin Maitan would certainly have to headline a deal for Fulmer to even get the Tigers to consider.
Dansby, Acuna and another top 5 organizational prospect would probably land Fulmer and Iglesias.
I’m sure it would, and that’s why it makes no sense for the braves
it could be done without him but it would take a ton. overall I think the braves should wait and see how good they are next year before making a big trade
Which makes perfect sense considering what Cubs got for Quintana, but braves don’t have offensive depth to give up fulmer, so it ain’t likely happening
Considering how little the WS got for Q, I don’t see Fulmer going anywhere. That set the bar quite low.
They got two top 100 prospects including a consensus top 10 and 2 other top 30 prospects for the Cubs…id say that is a pretty steep price to pay
Um what?
Just quit talking
Were you referring to me? What did I say that is incorrect?
Jesus, I saw “fulmer pulled back” and I thought injury
Fulmer is having more of a good season than excellent. Era of 3.60 with FIP of same. Ks are down, WHIP is up
Is the new trend on here to make multiple continuous comments or something
Yes
I believe it is
Is the new trend on here to make multiple continuous comments or something
No, but unfortunately it does seem that the trend of unnecessary comments continues
Sure seems like it, dodgersfan711.
I find it very hard to believe a young, controllable power 3B/Corner OF would clear waivers. Heyman’s sources missed their mark on this rumor. What is the fine for disclosing a waiver wire transaction, $250,000? That’s why their are sooooo many unsupported waiver rumors out there today, the news of Castellanos clearing just adds fuel to fact.
Name all the contending teams that are looking to upgrade at 3B. That might be why he went unclaimed.
How about the Yankees, you think Frazier and his .209 average was a upgrade or a grasp? Why would only a contending team need a controllable power bat? There is no way this guy cleared. That’s why these rumors from the waiver wire are just that, rumors.
Age and price don’t enter into Nicholas’ issue. The problem is he’s terrible defensively at third. Candelario isn’t very good either, but he’ll get the shot while Castellanos moves to the OF (again). No contender wants a poor defensive 3b/OF project at this point.
How about a rebuilding club? Castellanos could’ve went anywhere and he’s not all that expensive. I am surprised
Candalario is getting bad knocks at 3b and none of us have seen him play a year. He’s head & shoulders better than Nick. If Nick can’t win an OF spot, he will get traded or move to 1b , waive VMART and Miggy DH’s