In the first move of the new offseason, the Los Angeles Angels announced the acquisition of outfielder Cameron Maybin from the Detroit Tigers on Thursday.
The deal was first reported by Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports. Right-handed pitcher Victor Alcantara headed back to Detroit in the trade, per the official announcement. The Angels, as part of the trade, exercised Maybin's 2017 team option worth $9 million. This is the reason that likely facilitated the deal from Detroit's perspective. Maybin was an odd man out in their outfield, but instead of declining his option and making him a free agent, the Tigers were able to get a prospect in return. Los Angeles needed an upgrade in left field, and that is where Maybin will fit in. The team had the second-worst OPS from this position in 2016; they ranked 23rd in fWAR. The 29-year-old Maybin played in 94 games last season and was fairly productive. Over 391 plate appearances, he hit .315/.383/.418 with four home runs, 43 RBI and 15 stolen bases. He was worth 2.0 fWAR, his highest total since 2012. Lifetime, Maybin has hit .259/.322/.373 but has struggled to stay healthy. The former 10th overall pick has appeared in 100 or more games just three times in his 10 year MLB career. As for the other part of the trade, the Angels' No. 8 prospect (MLB.com), Alcantara, will go to the Tigers. At Double-A Arkansas this season, he went 3-7 with a 4.30 ERA and a 79-57 K/BB ratio over 110 innings. He has pitched as both a starter and a reliever over his career but has generally served as the former. --Devan Fink
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The Detroit Tigers are just days removed from bolstering their outfield with the signing of Justin Upton, but more could already be in the works.
Outfielder J.D. Martinez told Chris Iott of MLive.com that he and the team are discussing a long-term extension. "It's definitely something we're still talking about," Martinez said. "It's something I think both sides are still interested in. We haven't come to something where we both feel comfortable yet." "I would love to be a Tiger for life." Martinez, 28, would not become a free agent until after the 2017 season. He is arbitration eligible this winter. The Tigers and Martinez filed for the process last week, with Detroit filing at $6 million and Martinez filing at $8 million. The Tigers are not a file and trial team, so an agreement between the two sides for 2016 could come before a hearing in February. A long-term agreement could also come during that time. Martinez established himself as a cornerstone in the Tigers' lineup this past season, hitting .282/.344/.535 with 38 home runs and 102 RBIs in 657 plate appearances. He was named to the American League All-Star team and was worth 5.0 fWAR. A former 20th round pick by the Astros, Martinez was never thought of a big league star until 2014. Houston actually released the outfielder after three below-average offensive seasons with the club. When picked up by the Tigers, though, Martinez shined. As for details on a possible extension between the two sides, Martinez could look at Alex Gordon's and Adam Jones' past extensions, each coming while those players were between four- and five-years of service times. Gordon signed a four-year, $50 million deal with the Royals ($12.5 million per year) and Jones signed a six-year, $85.5 million deal with the Orioles ($14.25 million per year). The total guarantee of a future Martinez contract will go up the more free agent years he decides to surrender. --Devan Fink
The Detroit Tigers have agreed to sign free agent outfielder Justin Upton to a six-year deal, according to Bob Nightengale of USA Today, Ken Rosenthal of FOX Sports, and Jon Heyman of MLB Network Monday evening.
Upton will make $132.75 million. This equates to a $22.125 million annual average value (AAV). That is just a bit less than Chris Davis ($23 million) and Jason Heyward ($23 million) earned in their new contracts this offseason. The deal is another pact this offseason that includes an opt-out clause, with Upton's coming after the second season. With the signing, the Tigers will forfeit their third round draft pick. Their first round selection, No. 9 overall, is a protected pick. Their second round slot was lost in the signing of Jordan Zimmermann early in the offseason. The Padres, Upton's former team, will gain a compensatory pick for him signing elsewhere.
The Detroit Tigers have agreed to sign right-handed starter Jordan Zimmermann, Jon Heyman of CBS Sports reported Sunday.
Jon Morosi of FOX Sports reported that Zimmermann's deal will be a five-year deal around $110 million. Morosi and Ken Rosenthal reported late Saturday evening that Zimmermann and Detroit were talking about a deal. Zimmermann becomes the first major free agent to sign a contract this offseason. He had been connected to the Cubs and Dodgers along with the Tigers since the beginning of the offseason, but ultimately decided to sign with Detroit. The Tigers, under new GM Al Avila, have been busy this offseason, acquiring Francisco Rodriguez and Cameron Maybin in trades before making the Zimmermann signing. The team went 74-87 last season and finished at the bottom of a crowded AL Central. It's hard to know exactly how much Zimmermann will help Detroit contend again. He has been worth 12 fWAR over the past three years, but at $22 million per year, it is hard to see this deal paying off for the Tigers in terms of payment versus performance. With that said, however, the only way the Tigers were going to sign a frontline starting pitcher was by paying the price. In an offseason where J.A. Happ gets $12 million per season, $22 million for Jordan Zimmermann no longer looks that bad. Zimmermann's signing kicks off an excellent starting pitching free agent class, with David Price, Zack Greinke, Johnny Cueto, and others all looking for a new home. The 29-year-old Zimmermann went 13-10 with a 3.66 ERA (3.75 FIP) in 201 2/3 innings pitched last season, posting a 164 to 39 strikeout-to-walk ratio. Zimmermann was the ace of the Nationals' pitching staff, being named a National League All-Star in 2013 and 2014. His best year came in 2014, when he went 14-5 with a 2.66 ERA (2.68 FIP) over 32 starts. He posted a 1.3 BB/9 ratio that year, which was the best in the National League. By signing Zimmermann, who had received a qualifying offer fro Washington, the Tigers will lose their second-round draft selection in the 2016 MLB Draft. The Nationals will get a compensatory pick between the first and second rounds. At $22 million per season, the Tigers appear to be getting Zimmermann at a fair market-value price. As of now, their starting rotation consists of Zimmermann, Anibal Sanchez, Justin Verlander, Daniel Norris, and either Buck Farmer or Shane Greene. As a group, the Tigers' starters posted the fourth-highest ERA in the Major Leagues last season. Zimmermann will fill an obvious need as they look to contend once again. --Devan Fink
The Detroit Tigers announced the acquisition of outfielder Cameron Maybin from the Atlanta Braves on Friday.
In return, the Braves received left-handed pitchers Ian Krol and Gabe Speier. They also sent cash considerations to Detroit to pay for part of Maybin's $8 million salary in 2016. Maybin, 28, returns to the team that made him their 1st round pick in the 2005 draft. He was sent to the Marlins in the trade that got the Tigers Miguel Cabrera. He only played 24 games in a Detroit uniform in 2007, but returns after spending time with Miami, San Diego, and Atlanta. Maybin hit .262/.327/.370 with 10 home runs and 59 RBIs over 555 plate appearances last season. He stole 23 bases and was caught just six times. According to FanGraphs, he was worth 1.0 WAR. What role Maybin will play has yet to have been determined by Detroit. The right-handed hitting Maybin could platoon in center field with Anthony Gose, similar to how Rajai Davis did so last season. Maybin hit for a .711 OPS against left-handers last season and could fill in nicely there. The Braves receive two arms in return for Maybin, one of which could provide big league innings in 2016. Krol, 24, was part of the Tigers' main return in their trade of Doug Fister two offseasons ago, but owns a career 4.91 ERA in 88 innings in the big leagues. He has struggled to stay up in the Majors, but with Atlanta he should get ample opportunity to do so. Speier, 20, posted a 2.86 ERA in Class A West Michigan last year. He was drafted in the 19th round of the 2013 MLB Draft by the Red Sox and was traded to Detroit in the Rick Porcello deal. --Devan Fink |
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