Three prominent Tigers players have cleared revocable trade waivers, according to Anthony Fenech of the Detroit Free-Press. Infielder Jose Iglesias, lefty Francisco Liriano, and righty Jordan Zimmermann can all now be traded freely for the rest of the season.
Of course, deals need to be struck by the end of the month for any player to have postseason eligibility with a new organization. And any preexisting limitations — such as Zimmermann’s no-trade rights — remain in full force.
Of these players, the former two seem to be likely trade candidates. Both are pending free agents earning reasonably significant money. Iglesias, 28, is playing on a $6.275MM salary, while the 34-year-old Liriano is owed a total of $4MM.
Teams interested in upgrading their infield defense will surely consider Iglesias, who’s among the game’s best fielders at short. He’s also producing at a respectable rate at the plate for a defender of his quality, with a 88 wRC+ for the season. Liriano, meanwhile, likely won’t be pursued as a starter, as metrics don’t really support his 4.37 ERA. That said, he has handcuffed lefty hitters this year and it certainly doesn’t hurt that he’s stretched out.
As for Zimmermann, he’s earning $24MM this year and $50MM total for the following two seasons. That’s a big chunk of change. Plus, Zimmermann has full no-trade rights during the present campaign. (They’ll revert to partial rights at season’s end.)
While similar roadblocks did not stop the club from dealing franchise cornerstone Justin Verlander last August, Zimmermann hasn’t pitched well enough to force the issue in the manner of his former teammate. The 32-year-old Zimmermann has certainly fared better this year than at any prior point in his tenure with the Tigers, with a 4.31 ERA over 77 1/3 innings and improved mix of 8.5 K/9 and 1.9 BB/9. But he has also had some health concerns and still likely won’t be valued at anything close to his remaining contract. Plus, there’s still no reason to believe he’d be interested in waiving his no-trade protection, as geography played a role in bringing him to Detroit in the first place.
Francisco Rodriguez???
It’s Liriano not Rodriguez in the title
Yeah I realized it as I was clicking published … couldn’t disrupt the signal fast enough to stop it!
I hate when that happens!
You guys get a sticker for being great proof readers. Your 5th grade teachers would be so proud!
The only people who do not make mistakes are those who do nothing except point out others mistakes.
But it is very fun when one of the proof readers make a mistake in their post pointing out another’s mistake
One “makes” a mistake, not “make” a mistake… Anyway, I can’t see Zimmerman being traded like Verlander was.
Zimmermann isn’t going anywhere lol, but I bet Iglesias, and Liriano get traded.
Wouldn’t put it past the Brewers.
I doubt they get iglasias. Liriano could be useful though
I meant Zimmermann, the Wisconsin native and possible starting pitching depth at low cost.
But yeah, Liriano could also be useful.
It won’t be because of that no-trade clause either.
Haha, yeah
8th highest paid player this season with about 57 million still left on contract, who is off two miserable years and is currently pitching like an average at best starter – not exactly a great line for trade value
Exactly
Zimmerman trade value might not be higher. So some could say that the Tigers should eat the contract and trade Zimmerman while they can.
However, considering that Detroit has little to lose and much to gain by waiting for next to see if Zimmerman’s trade value goes up, might as well keep him.
At some point you have to look in the mirror and say “blind luck is the only thing tht is going to bring up Zimmerman’s value.” I’d be shocked if he’s ever any better than this. If they could cut 15-20 million off that deal that’d be a huge win. Don’t think they can get that much though. Hard to pay anything for Zimmerman long term.
If they can’t get anything of value in return there is zero reason to trade him. So yes, they will clearly hold onto him unless a team is willing to offer something intriguing in an attempt to get Detroit to eat cash.
What about Danny Stumpf?
He’s trash
Stumpf is out of options or would have been sent down long ago. Other than being able throw hard (from the left side), he’s gasoline. Even though they are rebuilding, he doesn’t show enough to keep throwing out there.
Stumpy may be trash in your eyes, but he’s talented enough to play MLB, the dream of 99.9% who don’t get a sniff. By the way, your shoes are trash.
oh you mean spider monkey?
Too soon.
Liriano to the dodgers…. I’d like to see that.
Be careful what you wish for!
Zimmerman to the Mariners, maybe? Seattle needs to keep pace with Oakland…
Not really any better than the options they have now
Probably true. As a diehard M’s fan I love Felix, but at this point I don’t know how capable he is of helping them from the 5th spot in their rotation. It’s a tricky situation for the ball club, given all the great innings he has provided them through the years. I know they’ll keep sending him out there every fifth day, but it’s tough to watch, especially considering how the team is still in playoff contention. Tough too, watching the A’s refusing to lose as they add reinforcements. I guess the question might not be whether Zimmerman would do better than Felix, but whether he would be better than Erasmo Ramirez… if they do anything about the rotation now, I’m guessing they’ll activate Ramirez soon and go to a 6-man arrangement. That would help give some rest to the guys who are at or approaching career highs in IP (Paxton, LeBlanc, Gonzales).
If Liriano is willing to become a reliever and stay as one he could be quite valuable both this year and in years to come. He has no business being in anyone’s starting rotation at this point.
Except the Tigers, who have nobody left.
Boston needs a lefty in the pen still. Even if Dombrowski didn’t bring Liriano into Detroit, he still has connections to their FO. Look for a match there.
I think you’ll see Price or Rodriguez being that lefty out of the pen come playoffs.
Zimmerman would accept a trade to the Brewers in a heartbeat and if Detroit would eat most of the money I would say go for it. Think they could get it done with Domingo Santana for them eating almost all the money maybe even throw in Orf and Broxton.
Why would the Tigers want to eat most of that roughly 57 million just to get a guy like Domingo?
If they eat that kind of money they are getting actual prospects, not once were okay guys down in AAA. And adding Keon doesn’t help.
If the Tigers could get anything for Zimmerman, it would be a win. Milwaukee or Chicago would possibly get him to waive his no trade. The Tigers would happily take from the excess of the Brewers strongest position.
Currently roughly average starter with 2.5 years of control, a track record of great success, and the Tigers picking up most all of the contract?
You’re absolutely nuts saying that wouldn’t bring some type of prospect return. Tigers would have no reason at all to eat the cash if it didn’t. And zero chance for Santana who is a FA the year after Zimmerman, has played dramatically worse this season and plays an easily filled position.
He’s hasn’t had a good season since coming to Detroit. He’s average right now but the season is far from over. Is he better than Mike Fiers? They got a very minimal prospect return for him and hes only guaranteed a few million dollars with an option to offer him arb next year IF that’s what you want to do. Zimmerman’s added years of control aren’t exactly a huge selling point. He’s an aging declining pitcher. If they could get the brewers to pay down zim’s contract to 20 million bucks and give them snantana they’d be the idiots not to take that.
Hahaha yeah, right.
Keep dreaming all you want but no one, including the Brewers, wants the now nearly worthless Santana and there is absolutely zero chance the Tigers would pay tens of millions of dollars to go from 2.5 years of a guy currently on pace for about 2 WAR to taking 3 years of a nearly 0 WAR in return. It’s just mindless gibberish nonsense with no regard for reality at all, and they would laugh in your face if you proposed it to them.
Christ pal. What do you think backend starters get paid? How much he is owed is irrelevant to how much he is worth. He is no better than Mike Fiers and has to have his salary knocked down accordingly if you’re going to move him. He’s owed 2/45 after this year. Who is giving him more than 2/20? Absolutely no one. And on top of that you want to get a better player than Santana in return. It ain’t happening.
The Brewers were desperately trying to dump Santana off on someone this past offseason and no one was bitting. Now he’s faceplanted, showing the massive holes in his swing which has people seeing an inability to continue in the MLB. He’s at AAA, and no one is calling.
On the other hand the Tigers can just keep Zimmerman and likely get 3-5 WAR, if not even more, out of him the rest of his contract.
So let’s see… about the same amount of money spent either way, and for that cash the Tigers can either have A) 3-5 WAR in a hard to fill rotation spot or B) about 0 WAR in an easy to fill position
So take your looney bin nonsense and peddle it elsewhere – there is absolutely zero chance the Tigers (or anyone) pay a ton of money just to downgrade their on field value received
Oh, and FYI since you keep bringing him up – Fiers was traded for 2 as-of-yet unknown prospects; not unneeded unwanted garbage. And Fiers isn’t even anywhere near as valuable with that 4.65 FIP/4.81 xFIP anyway. He’s a guy that has gotten extremely lucky this year and the Tigers took 2 prospects for that extreme luck he received.
Lol you are a clown. If Zimmerman hit the FA market this offseason what do you think he gets? If you say anymore than 2/20 you need to re-think your “looney bin” nonsense. He’s thrown 77 decent innings in 3 years and you want to consider him a potential 5 WAR player in the next two years? Get real. Santana with all of his flaws was worth .5 WAR this year. I never argued he was some kind of stud. You’re cutting 37 million in payroll and adding a potential DH/corner outfielder. But keep on going.
Low 20’s mm in payroll. Fiers is hot garbage with a 4.65 FIP but big daddy Zimm is an absolute STUD at 4.23 FIP in 77 innings? That’s hilarious. Fiers has also managed to stay healthy for 119 innings. Zimmerman is going to barely cross that threshold for the full season. You hopped up on that train way too fast.
I would love to see the Cardinals pick up iglesias
St.Louis would be wise imo to trade for Iglesias. DeJong is a 3rd basemen playing short. It would shore up the middle infield defense with Molina, Iglesias, Wong, and Bader.
Do you think they still have a chance this year?
Jose Iglesias and Francisco Liriano are tradeable. Jordan Zimmermann will have to pitch well this season and next before he can be moved.
It won’t happen but I’d love Iglesias in Philly if the price were right. The Phils have shown their view of Kingery’s readiness by bringing in Asdrubal Cabrera. Iglesias is the guy to field the position and become Plan B going forward if the Phils can’t land Machado. in the off-season. Cabrera will probably not be re-signed.
It would be gutsy to trade for Iglesias, make Cabrera the lead guy off the bench and send Kingery down till Sept. 1.
They will keep Kingery in the majors. He’s already signed to a long-term deal. No way they’d already admit defeat on that one. He should have been sent down months ago and they didn’t. 360 ABs and counting…
Why do the Tigers always end up with these boat anchor contracts. Anyone who ever watched Zimmermann knew he wasn’t worth anything near what they gave him. They should focus on building from within instead of signing mediocre guys to massive contracts.
Because now deceased owner Mike Illitch, a former Tigers farmhand desperately wanted to see the Tigers win before he passed. Illitch himself orchestrated the contracts for Prince Fielder, Miguel Cabrera and Victor Martinez. Illitch wouldn’t allow for a rebuild. Dombrowski started it by trading Price and Cespedes and was fired the same week. Zimmermann and JUpton were the last 2 big contracts given in an attempt to hang on as a contender. Mr Illitch died and his son consented to the rebuild.
owner signed off on cespedes and price deals fyi
Well said Mr Lawrence.
Agreed
The industry consensus at the time was, by moving quickly and taking advantage of Zimmerman’s desire to play near home, the Tiger’s had signed him for a reasonable contract. An elderly owner did not allow time for building. No one was talking about building anyway, because for 10 years they were the preseason favorite to win the division. They were looking to add the missing piece, not start over. Now, it’s the family holding the purse strings. RIP Mr. I.
Iglesias makes sense for the Brewers, contending with nothing at SS.
Milwaukee would love his glove. Should win a gold glove.
Liriano’s been tough on lefties this season.
I know Detroit needs prospects but I wish they’d sign Iglesias for at least one more year because his defense is awesome loaded with mustard.
milw .o rboston .would be a good landing spot for iglisias. probably not much of a return….lariano probably will go somewhere for a ball of balls and a lottery ticket… can we trade avilia and chris im so damn cheao ilitch somewhere any where…. sell the team chris