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Indians Acquire Leonys Martin

By Jeff Todd | July 31, 2018 at 1:22pm CDT

The Indians struck a trade with the Tigers that will bring center fielder Leonys Martin to Cleveland for shortstop prospect Willi Castro as well as minor league righty Kyle Dowdy.  The deal is now official.

This match makes quite a lot of sense on paper. The Indians, after all, are running away with things in the AL Central but had a clear need in the outfield. In particular, the team was missing a left-handed-hitting outfielder capable of playing center after watching Bradley Zimmer struggle and ultimately go down for the year with an injury.  Martin will likely share time up the middle with veteran Rajai Davis, who hits from the right side. There’s not much left on Martin’s tab for the present season, as he’s earning just $1.75MM. He’ll also be controllable for 2019 via arbitration, so could represent a piece of the puzzle next year as well.

Though Martin’s .251/.321/.409 batting line is below average, it’s still the best work of his career to date.  A left-handed batter, Martin is an ideal candidate for a platoon.  He’s long been a defensive asset in center field, with strong metrics dating back to 2013.

On the other side of this swap, the Tigers had every reason to get what they could for Martin. While he could certainly have been retained, cashing him in now better fits the team’s priorities.  Castro, a shortstop signed five years ago out of Puerto Rico, earned a 50 overall grade from MLB Pipeline.  Currently at Double-A, Castro is a switch-hitter with an above average bat and a good chance to stick at shortstop, according to MLB Pipeline and Baseball America.  The Tigers did well to sign Martin affordably in December, and then spin him into Castro several months later.  Dowdy, a 25-year-old righty, began the year as a Double-A reliever, then jumped into the Triple-A rotation for the Toledo Mud Hens before a move back to Double-A.

Robert Murray of The Athletic broke the trade, with Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free-Press adding the Dowdy detail.  Photo courtesy of USA Today Sports Images.

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Cleveland Guardians Detroit Tigers Newsstand Transactions Leonys Martin Willi Castro

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View Comments (70)

Comments

  1. Dennid

    5 years ago

    Hopefully this is not the only move the Tribe makes today.

    Reply
    • hrush28

      5 years ago

      Hopefully some other bullpen help at least for low level prospects

      Reply
    • partyatnapolis

      5 years ago

      it will be. typical indians trade

      Reply
    • oldleftylong

      5 years ago

      Hopefully, this is not the only move the Tigers make today.

      Reply
      • Polish Hammer

        5 years ago

        Terrible, another halfassed platoon player.

        Reply
  2. Jacob Sizemore

    5 years ago

    Good inter-division trade.

    Reply
    • bigstein09

      5 years ago

      They are in the same division.

      Reply
      • DiggerTim

        5 years ago

        Intra-division

        Reply
      • anthonyd4412

        5 years ago

        Yes it is

        Reply
        • bigstein09

          5 years ago

          Nope.

      • rollingsox

        5 years ago

        I guess stein here has the inside scoop on the league moving the the Tigers and Indians out of the same division.

        Reply
        • bigstein09

          5 years ago

          They are in the same division. Hence, this is not an inter-division trade.

      • Jacob Sizemore

        5 years ago

        That’s my bad. I should have caught that.

        Reply
        • bigstein09

          5 years ago

          All good homie. I’m just having fun.

        • dugdog83

          5 years ago

          Big Stein wants an eggplant calzone!

  3. Hen1CHC

    5 years ago

    Would’ve rather seen Castro move as part of a package for a bigger outfielder. Martin has a place on the postseason roster but won’t improve the offensive output much

    Reply
    • Stat_head

      5 years ago

      You’d be surprised, he’s had good pop in his bat this year. He should be effective in a platoon with Davis.

      Reply
  4. Rob

    5 years ago

    All your shortstops are belong to us

    Reply
    • Chewbacca

      5 years ago

      this made me laugh more than it probably should have

      Reply
      • dewman2722

        5 years ago

        It’s funny cause it’s true

        Reply
  5. jaduran

    5 years ago

    world series here we come….

    Reply
    • Rob

      5 years ago

      hahaha! How did you come up with this?! LOL good stuff!

      Reply
  6. Solaris601

    5 years ago

    As a Tribe fan this is a disappointment. I know the list of available outfielders was pretty uninspiring, but I guess the best things you can say about Martin is he can play CF, and he’s able-bodied at the moment.

    Reply
    • Mattimeo09

      5 years ago

      This was probably the best they could get without giving up better prospects

      Reply
    • darkstar61

      5 years ago

      He’s a very good fielding CF who hits just under to about league average and is controlled next season. Currently he is on pace for around 3 WAR. He is not someone to be overly disappointed adding

      Reply
    • tigerdoc616

      5 years ago

      He can absolutely go get it in CF. He will be a huge upgrade defensively over Rajai Davis. He has also showed more plate discipline, drawing a lot more walks that people expected. He is no all star for sure, but he is someone who can help the Tribe. There were not a lot of good OF, especially CF on the open market.

      Reply
  7. ThePriceWasRight

    5 years ago

    So no dozier to Cleveland. Seattle step up

    Reply
    • Wahoo What a Finish!

      5 years ago

      Not necessarily true. The Indians have no issues with putting Kipnis on the bench if need be.

      Reply
    • skrockij89

      5 years ago

      Dozier to Seattle doesn’t make sense. Gordon showed he isn’t good in CF and you have Cano coming back in a few weeks.

      Reply
      • ken48tribe

        5 years ago

        But Cano is ineligible for post season if Seattle makes it.

        Reply
  8. Michael Chaney

    5 years ago

    I kind of thought Willi Castro had more value than an unpredictable 4th outfielder but that’s okay

    Reply
    • Michael Chaney

      5 years ago

      To clarify: Martin is having a good year and I don’t mind getting him, but he’s still been too unpredictable in his career for me to have a lot of confidence here. Castro isn’t one of my favorite Indians prospects and he was blocked anyway, but I more expected him to be part of a bigger deal.

      It’s also interesting that they’d insist on a 25 year old AA starter with an ERA over 5; he has really good peripherals so I’m assuming they see something that might be overlooked. That’s basically how they got Kluber so I guess stranger things have happened, but it’s still interesting.

      Reply
      • Michael Chaney

        5 years ago

        I’m going on a small tangent here…I didn’t realize Dowdy is already in AAA too. I doubt the Indians would ask for him in a trade unless they saw something no one else did, which is kind of an exciting thought.

        Martin is still unpredictable but I’ll take an approximately average bat because it’s way better than the rest of their non-Brantley outfield. Plus he plays good defense.

        Castro could be an everyday shortstop but he’s still pretty raw and he wasn’t gonna have a chance in Cleveland anyway. So I’ll take it.

        Reply
        • hrush28

          5 years ago

          I’ll take it too, it’s just that I really want an exciting player in a trade.

        • sufferfortribe

          5 years ago

          Lots of free agents to be in the current bullpen. Maybe they’re going to switch Dowdy to a reliever?

  9. ohiodevil

    5 years ago

    Wish he was a right handed bat, but a good trade for Tribe, Castro was blocked here but he could be a good major leaguer. Don’t know much about the pitcher.

    Reply
  10. Wahoo What a Finish!

    5 years ago

    If this ends up being the Indians only move today then they did absolutely nothing of value. How is Martin any different from Rajai Davis?

    Reply
    • ohiodevil

      5 years ago

      He bats lefty lol

      Reply
      • Wahoo What a Finish!

        5 years ago

        Production wise he is Rajai Davis. Our goal is to make our outfield better… not get more of the same players.

        Reply
        • Burgeezy

          5 years ago

          Except Martin is worth 1.8 bWAR this season and Davis is worth 0.4.

        • ohiodevil

          5 years ago

          He’s an upgrade to what else they have, Allen looks overmatched at times and they don’t have anything else viable at Columbus (no Brandon Barnes is not a viable option). And the list of available guys really did not seem too much better. Maybe playing on a contender will up Martin’s game a bit.

    • mharr

      5 years ago

      Can you spell P-L-A-T-O-O-N?

      Reply
      • Cuso

        5 years ago

        Plitune

        Reply
      • sufferfortribe

        5 years ago

        Yes, and I can say it, too.

        Reply
  11. californiatribesman

    5 years ago

    overpay.

    Reply
    • sufferfortribe

      5 years ago

      Agreed

      Reply
      • Downbytheriver

        5 years ago

        Agree

        Reply
  12. Mattimeo09

    5 years ago

    It doesn’t look pretty but Martin is an upgrade. He’s hit better than Davis, Melky, Guyer, and Allen(although that’s not saying much). He also plays CF well with a UZR 7.1 and 3 DRS.

    Reply
  13. Overbrook

    5 years ago

    I assume that the Indians just needed a 4th outfielder.

    Reply
  14. sportsnut969

    5 years ago

    Tribe fans are never happy Martin is currently a 1.8 WAR player and a above average fielder in CF out the gate Martin is the 2nd best outfielder on the Indians day

    Reply
    • Solaris601

      5 years ago

      That’s still not saying much. It’s a long way down to #3.

      Reply
      • sportsnut969

        5 years ago

        They have a major need for a corner outfielder also but for the love of god there has to be someone controlable available out there that is better than Gallo swing for the fence guy who K’s at a almost 40% rate.

        Trading for Dozier and moving Kipnis to right field to platoon may be a win win Cabera may be the best option as the #5 or 6 outfielder to platoon in RF with Kipnis. I’m also over KIpnis it just sucks that he is not a moveable piece any more with the outragous contract he has over the next couple of years.

        Reply
    • hrush28

      5 years ago

      I’m happy with it. It doesn’t seem very exciting but he’s an upgrade over a couple of their outfielders

      Reply
      • sportsnut969

        5 years ago

        Plus he is controlable for the next 3 years if Naquin and Zimmer continue to keep getting hurt

        Reply
        • stymeedone

          5 years ago

          Martin can be kept for one more year thru arbitration. He has a great throwing arm. Would be nice to see Gerber or Stewart called up,now.

        • tigerfan4ever

          5 years ago

          One would think that would be the case. Jones is not ready to be the every day CF, not by a long stretch and please tell me he’s not going to platoon with Mahtook

        • tigerfan4ever

          5 years ago

          Gerber up according to mlive.

  15. GarryHarris

    5 years ago

    Who has the worst OF in MLB?

    Reply
    • Tom the Baller

      5 years ago

      Obviously us rangers, our left fielders are converted overweight infielders, our center fielder is delino deshields, and we roll shin-soo choo’s old ass out to right

      Reply
  16. sufferfortribe

    5 years ago

    The first paragraph is confusing. Makes it sound like the Tribe is trading 2 players.

    Reply
    • Michael Chaney

      5 years ago

      I was gonna say the same thing

      Reply
  17. basquiat

    5 years ago

    “Running away with the Central Division”

    That’s laughable when they are the only team barely over .500.

    Reply
    • Michael Chaney

      5 years ago

      Which means that they’re running away with the division. It’s not saying how good they are, it’s saying how big their division lead is.

      Reply
  18. Jak9498

    5 years ago

    If this is our only move, there won’t be a need to purchase $200 playoff tickets. I’ll stay home and watch. The Indians have been interested in every player listed on this site and ended up with this pathetic trade.

    Reply
    • Dennid

      5 years ago

      I agree 100%. It’s frustrating. We’re not adjusting my for Harper but give us Gallo or the since trades Dozier.

      Reply
      • Dennid

        5 years ago

        Auto correct sucks. We’re not asking for Harper..

        Reply
  19. tigertom0210

    5 years ago

    And the Tigers bring up Mikie Mahtook again, right? Yaaaawwwwwwwn.

    Reply
  20. Polish Hammer

    5 years ago

    I’d have rather dealt Greg Allen to them than Castro who is young and has enough upside the logjam might be clear in time for him in 5he majors. And the pitcher they got back to me looks like an eventual bullpen arm and another McAllister.

    Reply
  21. tigerfan4ever

    5 years ago

    tigertom0210, check my above post……Gerber up per mlive.

    Reply
  22. joefriday14

    5 years ago

    This is the biggest trade in the history of the long history of the Detroit Tiger franchise. Tiger officials consulted with Jim Campbell and Sparky Anderson who both adamantly approved the trade of the Tigers top player.Victor was almost a part of the trade, but he was deemed way to important. Kirk Gibson will have the new player live with him and move to Double A to supervise him

    Reply

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