Yankees Could Check in on the Tigers’ Offseason Fire Sale

With the Detroit Tigers expected to listen on some of their biggest names this winter, the Yankees should at least do some window shopping.

In his end of the season press conference for 2016, Detroit Tigers general manager Al Avila alluded to the fact that his club could look to shed payroll this winter, saying that, “this organization has been working above its means for some time.” While the Yankees have also been looking to reduce their costs, several of the Tigers veterans could be major upgrades over their current internal options.

Detroit has been handing out huge extensions and free agent contracts like clockwork every offseason over the last few years to try and keep their window open. After missing the playoffs for a second consecutive year, it’s probably time for the Tigers to admit their current approach isn’t working and retool.

If New York is willing to reinvest the roughly $50 million coming off the books with the departures of Mark Teixeira, Carlos Beltran, Andrew Miller, and Ivan Nova this season, they should have plenty of money to spend this offseason.

Yes, playing their top prospects should be the team’s highest priority, but that doesn’t mean the Yankees shouldn’t be working to fill holes wherever possible and put the best product possible on the field. The problem with the franchise the over the last decade wasn’t that they spent money, it was that they didn’t always spend it wisely.

Unfortunately, most of the players on the Detroit roster who would be of the most interest to New York likely won’t be available. Nick Castellanos stands out in particular as an attractive alternative to Chase Headley. Detroit isn’t expected to do a complete tear-down, however, just try to rid themselves of a few financial burdens.

With that in mind, here are a few of the likely available Tigers who could fill a need for the Yankees this offseason.

J.D. Martinez

Acquiring Martinez as a short-term solution to beef up the offense is probably more realistic than pursuing Miggy this winter, but it still doesn’t fit in with GM Brian Cashman’s recent M.O.  The 29-year-old outfielder hit .307/.373/.535 (144 OPS+) with 22 home runs and 68 RBI in 517 plate appearances.

Martinez has been one of the American League’s better power hitters since his surprising breakout in 2014, racking up 83 homers and 93 doubles over the last three seasons. He made his first All-Star squad last year, took home a Silver Slugger award, and even received some down-ballot MVP votes.

A free agent at the end of the 2017 season, Martinez would be a pure rental, but that could fit the Yankees needs as he could serve as a placeholder until top prospects Clint Frazier, Aaron Judge, and Mason Williams establish themselves at the big league level. Martinez is a better fit for the 2017 roster than Brett Gardner because of the team’s almost complete lack of proven power bats.

Tigers GM Alex Avila recently revealed the team was unlikely to pursue an extension with Martinez despite his impending free agency, leading to speculation that the slugger is among the most likely to be dealt this winter.

Justin Upton is also surely available, but with so many promising outfielders on the way up, the Yankees are unlikely to want to lock themselves into a big money guy long-term.

Justin Verlander, Anibal Sanchez, Jordan Zimmerman, and Mike Pelfrey

The clearest area of need for the Yankees entering the offseason is their rotation. The only proven starters who are locks to get the ball regularly for New York are Masahiro Tanaka, CC Sabathia, and Michael Pineda. At the moment, New York are expected to let a bunch of youngsters fight it out for the last two spots.

The Tigers have some big names in their rotation who are owed some equally big money that they would presumably be happy to move. Justin Verlander was the best of the bunch this year with a 3.04 ERA and a league-leading 1.001 WHIP in 227.2, but he’s also arguably the face of the franchise and owed $28 million annually over the next three seasons. There are a lot of obstacles to him being moved.

On the other hand, Anibal Sanchez, Jordan Zimmerman, and Mike Pelfrey could probably be had just for salary relief after disappointing seasons from all three. All of them have had some success in the past, and will probably receive some interest because of the non-existent free agent pitching market.

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The 32-year-old Sanchez is owed $16.8 million in the final year of a mostly-disastrous five year $80 million deal. He had a 5.87 ERA and 5.06 in 153.1 IP this year, his second straight well-below-average season. Sanchez was a useful pitcher as recently as 2014, and finished fourth in the 2013 AL Cy Young voting after leading the league in ERA (2.57) and FIP (2.39). Still, he looks cooked to me. Unless someone smarter than me sees something to fix, I would pass.

I think we can safely pass right over the almost always terrible Mike Pelfrey and look at the pitcher who might be the most enticing for the Yankees, Jordan Zimmerman. Just one year ago, the 30-year-old righthander was one of the most sought-after pitchers on the free agent market. Now the Tigers would probably be happy to give him away for nothing.

Zimmerman struggled all year injuries in the first season of the five year $110 million contract he signed with Detroit last winter. Even when he was on  the mound, Zimmerman wasn’t himself, pitching to a 4.87 ERA and 4.42 FIP in 105.1 IP (18 GS). His strikeout rate plummeted to 5.6 K/9, well below his career average 7.3 K/9.

A noticeable drop in velocity and inconsistent control seemed to be behind Zim’s poor results this year. It seems most likely those were the result of the groin and neck issues he was battling. If he proves himself healthy, could Zimmerman be worth a look?

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The four years and $92 million he’s owed for his age 30-34 seasons is downright reasonable when you consider the contracts guys like Rich Hill and Ivan Nova are expected to land this winter. Acquiring Zimmerman would be a roll of the dice for sure, but it’s worth considering if the Yankees want to make a run next year.