Detroit Tigers Rumors: Jose Iglesias Linked With San Diego Padres
Detroit Tigers rumors are once again in the headlines. The Winter Meetings are coming to a close as the offseason starts to pick up steam. Per the latest report, Jose Iglesias is of interest to San Diego.
Detroit Tigers rumors continuing to swirl even with the Winter Meetings concluding on Thursday. Per the latest from Padres beat reporter AJ Cassavell, San Diego is interested in Tigers shortstop Jose Iglesias.
The MLB.com reporter tweeted on Thursday morning, “The Padres have checked in with just about every team that may have a SS available. Interest in Jose Iglesias, Hanser Alberto among others.”
The fact that the Padres, or any team, is interested in Jose Iglesias certainly isn’t a surprise.
Controllable through 2018, Detroit’s starting shortstop is coming off perhaps his best season from a defensive standpoint.
Over the course of the 2016 campaign, the former Red Sox player finished 15th among all non-pitchers where UZR was concerned. What’s more, he also was named a Gold Glove finalist at his position in the American League.
Iglesias also turned in a solid season at the plate. Despite seeing his batting average and on-base percentage both dip significantly, the 26-year-old posted career-highs in a number of categories. These included runs scored, doubles, RBI and home runs.
He was also the most difficult batter to strike out in the American League thanks to a 9.7 strikeout percentage.
Overall, Iglesias’ WAR ended up at 2.1.
Ready-Made Replacement?
Despite dealing shortstop prospects like Willy Adames, Javier Betancourt and Domingo Leyba in recent years, the Tigers have a like-for-like, potential replacement for Iglesias.
Dixon Machado, who like Iglesias is a slick-fielding shortstop, turned in a solid season at Triple-A Toledo in 2016.
Over the course of 131 games, Machado turned in a .266 batting average and a .349 on-base percentage. He also produced a 106 wRC+, 59 runs scored, 48 RBI, 28 doubles, 17 stolen bases, four home runs and two triples.
Potential for a Bigger Trade
This is purely speculative, but given San Diego’s needs from a starting pitching standpoint, Anibal Sanchez or Mike Pelfrey would make sense in a hypothetical trade.
Much of San Diego’s rotation from last season—Drew Pomeranz, Edwin Jackson, Andrew Cashner, Clayton Richard and Collin Rea—have either departed via trade or free agency, or are injured.
As it stands, Christian Friedrich, Jarred Cosart and Luis Perdomo headline the Padres current group.
Given all the turnover, a pair of veteran arms could help San Diego. What’s more, Sanchez and Pelfrey could turn in rebound seasons in spacious Petco Park.
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