With Detroit in a rebuild and one of its best players, right fielder Nicholas Castellanos, only under control for another year, this weekend may be his last as a Tiger. But general manager Avila suggested Saturday that the team’s not a sure bet to trade Castellanos during the offseason.
“Where he fits in the future of the Detroit Tigers, we’re still working through that at this point. But right now, I see him as our starting right fielder in 2019,” Avila said (Twitter links via Jason Beck of MLB.com).
Avila added that revenue sharing could factor into whether the Tigers keep Castellanos, given that they may go from paying it to collecting it. As Beck notes, by becoming a revenue sharing collector, Detroit would stand to receive a more valuable compensatory draft pick should it retain Castellanos through next season, issue him a qualifying offer after the campaign and then watch him depart in free agency.
Offensively, Castellanos has made a case that he’s a qualifying offer-worthy player since 2016 – his breakout season. And the former top prospect’s now on the verge of wrapping up his best campaign at the plate, having slashed .297/.354/.495 (129 wRC+) with 22 home runs in 670 trips. Castellanos has posted a terrific .362 weighted on-base average along the way, though his .388 xwOBA (via Statcast) suggests he has deserved even better results.
Although Castellanos has emerged as a key offensive piece, he hasn’t established himself on the other end. After struggling as a third baseman from 2014-17, Detroit moved Castellanos to the outfield on a full-time basis this year, but the returns haven’t been encouraging. Castellanos ranks last among outfielders in Outs Above Average (minus-25), third worst in Ultimate Zone Rating (minus-12.9) and fifth from the bottom in Defensive Runs Saved (minus-19). The 26-year-old’s limitations as a defender obviously help tamp down his impact, but thanks to his prowess as a hitter, he has still posted 2.8 wins above replacement. Castellanos has been a valuable player this year, then, and the Tigers will have to decide whether to continue with him in 2019 – his third and final arbitration-eligible season, in which he’ll earn a raise over his current salary of $6.05MM – or deal him during the winter.
Along with making a decision on Castellanos, Avila revealed that catcher, second base and shortstop will be among his areas of focus in the offseason (Twitter links via Evan Woodbery of MLive.com). The Tigers will have a “tough” call to make on catcher James McCann, Avila admitted, adding: “We have not made any decisions yet, but he’s one guy that we have to look at and determine do we bring him back or not?”
McCann, 28, looked like a promising piece for the Tigers as recently as 2017, but he has limped to a .220/.267/.314 (58 wRC+) batting line in 453 PA this season. Both that and his his subpar defensive work (per Baseball Prospectus and StatCorner) have seemingly put his Detroit tenure in jeopardy. On the heels of a rough 2018, in which he earned $2.375MM, McCann’s slated to go through arbitration for the second-last time in the offseason.
While McCann’s future is unclear, it’s obvious Avila plans to address the team’s middle infield, where shortstop Jose Iglesias is among its pending free agents.
“I don’t know if we’re going to be able to sign both but at least we’ll try to sign one,” Avila said of the two middle infield spots.
Going by fWAR (2.5), Iglesias was the Tigers’ second-most valuable position player this year before suffering a season-ending abdominal strain in late August. Never much of a threat at the plate, the 28-year-old Iglesias managed passable offensive production, as his .269/.310/.389 line and 90 wRC+ in 464 PA show, while providing his typical brand of plus defense (8.3 UZR, one DRS).
Whether the Tigers are interested in re-signing Iglesias is unknown, but it’s worth noting they reportedly had him on the trading block for the majority of the past couple years. Assuming his Tigers tenure is over, Iglesias will be one of the most proven non-Manny Machado shortstops available in free agency. It seems the Tigers will be prepared to sift through that group of players, given that they might not have an immediate Iglesias replacement on hand.
Detroit may also be lacking a capable starter at second heading into the offseason, but it’s possible it could turn to Niko Goodrum as its main option there. After inking a minors deal with the Tigers last offseason, Goodrum, 26, has batted a solid .244/.313/.433 (102 wRC+) with 16 HRs and 12 steals on 16 attempts across 486 trips to the plate. Goodrum has spent the majority of 2018 at the keystone, where he has racked up 64 appearances, but has also recorded double-digit showings at first, short, third and in the outfield.
The Tigers may want to keep Goodrum in a similar type of utility role next year, especially if aging, big-bodied first baseman Miguel Cabrera sees more time at designated hitter in the wake of Victor Martinez’s retirement. In that event, Detroit could look to free agency for help, to which Avila alluded. There will be some veteran stopgaps on the open market, perhaps including Brian Dozier, Logan Forsythe, old friend Ian Kinsler, Neil Walker and Josh Harrison.
Now on the cusp of wrapping up their second straight season as one of baseball’s worst teams, it’s fair to say the Tigers won’t be operating as aggressive buyers in the offseason. The rebuilding club still has some intriguing offseason calls ahead, though, particularly with respect to Castellanos.
Trade him to Philadelphia so they can have another poor defensive player lol
Rules need to change when the CBA is again negotiated if a major market like Detroit can get revenue sharing.
Detroit isn’t a major market club. They acted like they were when mike ilitch was alive because he was ring chasing. Now that they suck they don’t bring in a ton of revenue.
Happ Maples and Schwarber for Castelannos
Yeah, the Tigers getting welfare money is a joke. That’s supposed to be for small market teams, to help spread baseball across the country, not for stingy big market owners.
Next thing you know, the Mets are collecting checks. Biggest market in the Universe, but still somehow manage to be incompetent enough to earn some handouts.
It’s amazing people think Tigers are a big market team. Wrong.
Detroit is basically the same as Minneapolis in terms of market size. Just because they had an owner who spent money does not make them a major market team.
Prior to the successful run starting in ’06 no one would have called Detroit a major market team. They are returning to that mid market payroll level (where they rightly should be)
That’s not really true. The metro area of Detroit is 700,000 larger. It’s closer to SF and Boston than MSP. It’s television market is 14th while MSP is 15th but that is deceiving. It doesn’t include Flint(71) , Toledo (75) or Lansing (115) nationally. I’ve been to MSP many times and it is a lovely city but there is nothing for hundreds of miles in every direction but farms, woods and lakes.
I wouldn’t call Detroit a major market but it is top third in baseball and only has one team.
Cleveland and the Chicago teams eat into the Tigers market. Toledo fans are split between Indians, Tigers, & Reds. Western Michigan is split between the Tigers, Cubs,and even White Sox. The Twins have no competition for hundreds of miles.
I love it whenever GM’s open for business publicly like this. Smokescreen or not (I believe it cuz Tigers amidst a rebuild) these are fun to watch, excited to see what they get for them.
dont* believe it.
Ok, the rebuild is over… sign Miller to close. J Wilson as the setup guy. Gio Gonzalez as a starter. Trade for jankowski for center. Trade for Kemp at second. Trade for belts at first. Come on illich, spend some of that money.
So you think that is enough? Gio as a big free agent signing? Probably need a little more idk
He would be like the liriano signing this year… hope he has some value come trade deadline. They need much more, but they have no one for center, first short or second. Might as well fill those spots until a prospect comes up.
They probably have to wait a few more years to start spending money like that.
Melchez the rebuild ain’t over if you need to trade for literally 5 starting players lol.
I understand the rebuild will take many years… as a fan, I want it to be over now.
I just don’t see Castellanos as having much value. There are almost always several corner outfielder/DH types available for very little trade value and his defense is HORRIBLE. There is too many contending teams that truly need a full time DH and non-contenders wouldn’t need to trade for him.
Just notice I forgot the word “not” in a sentence above. It should read: “There are NOT too many contending teams that truly need a DH”.
I guess that is what I get for trying to edit my post on my cell.
Exact same criticism made about JD Martinez last year. I’m sure many teams are kicking themselves for believing it.
Make Castellanos a DH. Iglesias should go to the Cards.
Nicholas Castellanos to DH for sure. No sense in trying him at 1B either. He will never be a good defender anywhere. He has no interest.
The Phillies need to address their defense. Jose Iglesias would help.
Avila is clueless.
Good article and great job A2.
In 2019, the Tigers will be spending money. With $69M being wasted, the Tigers are in Bad Contract Prison. You know about Miguel Cabrera $30M and Jordan Zimmermann $25M but, they are also paying Justin Verlander and Prince Fielder a total of $14M to not wear the Tiger uniform. With Victor Martinez and Anibal Sanchez money spent, that is down from $92M in 2018.
In terms of reality, even the largest corporations can’t bleed that kind of money and expect to survive. That money has to come from somewhere. The Tigers must shed these financial losses before they can field a team to contend. Meanwhile, the Tigers will build the core in hope to be ready when the payroll is workable. AA is doing a good job.
Team payroll has dropped from $200 mil in 2017 to $125 mil in 2018. In 2017, the team had $45 mil loss, the most in franchise history. 2018 should be more in line with a possible profit.
Totally agree garyharris
Mostly agree. Some value in cabrera and zimmerman