Kevin.Ward, Wikimedia
The long rumored Detroit Tigers and Boston Red Sox trade exchanging Rick Porcello for Yoenis Cespedes, reliever Alex Wilson and a minor leaguer is reportedly complete. In addition to the trade with the Red Sox, the Tigers have also reportedly acquired right-handed pitcher Alfredo Simon from the Cincinnati Reds for shortstop Eugenio Suarez and Jonathan Crawford.
CJ Nitowski of Fox Sports is reporting this is a done deal. All of this comes on the heels of the Detroit Tigers cancelling their media availability yesterday and several local reporters inferred something was stirring.
Porcello, a former first round pick of the Tigers is coming off of his best season as a pro.76-63 over his six-year career with the Tigers, Porcello has only had one losing season and never has had a season with less than ten-wins. At only 25, Porcello will be a free agent after next season and is rumored to be inline for a big pay day. Last year, his best yet, Porcello managed a 15-13 record with a 3.43 ERA. Not a high strikeout guy, Porcello relies on the groundball and was often victimized by a poor Tigers infield.
Cespedes on the other hand is a right-handed power bat and defensive wizard who originally signed with the Oakland Athletics. A former target of the Tigers when he was deemed eligible after a defection from Cuba, Cespedes was a solid outfielder who has averaged at least 80 RBIs in his three major league seasons with at least 20 home runs every year. Curiously though, Cespedes was traded from the A’s to the Red Sox in the Jon Lester deal last trade deadline. His injures are thought to be a concern around much of the major leagues, but several teams were rumored to be active on him this offseason.
Meanwhile, after the main event, the under-card trade of a prospect for Simon fills the vacated pitching slot by Porcello. Simon has pitched with both the Baltimore Orioles and the Reds over his career. Originally a reliever with 17 saves in 2010, Simon’s starting career began in 2011. Going to the Reds in 2012 he resumed his bullpen duties in 2012 and 2013 with 115 strikeouts in 148.2 innings pitched and a 2.78 ERA. He resumed starting in 2014 with a 15-10 record in 32 starts. He posted a 4.33 ERA with 181 hits, 127 strikeouts and 56 walks in 196.1 innings pitched.
The Tigers traded former first round pick Jonathan Crawford and shortstop Eugenio Suarez, in two curious moves that one would have to think could have netted them more than just Simon.
A major criticism of the Red Sox trade will be the fact that Porcello’s numbers continue to improve as he matures as a five-year veteran. Meanwhile, Cespedes’ numbers have declined since his first breakout campaign. From an advanced stats perspective, Cespedes’ WAR has shrunk from 3.9 in 2012 to 1.6 in 2013. His WAR was back up to 2.8 with the A’s to start last year and then was a paltry 1.3 with the Red Sox. That said, Oakland’s offensive output nose-dived after the Cespedes trade and many attributed that to his missing bat in their lineup.
Porcello may be remembered best in Fenway Park for his tussle with Kevin Youkilis in 2009. Other than that, his 6.41 career ERA in Fenway Park will not be something Boston fans will probably want to look at in this deal. If Porcello keeps maturing though, Tigers fans could be seeing shades of Jeff Smoltz 2.0 level deal.
Alex Wilson is another piece of the original Red Sox trade. Wilson, 28, is a minor league pitcher with some major league experience. He appeared in 18 games last year with 28.1 IPs with 19 strikeouts and a 1.91 ERA. It can be assumed, with his major league experience, he will be used to improve one of the league’s worst pens last year.
The low level lefty the Tigers received in the deal, Gabe Speier, is 19 and has spent the last two years in the Gulf Coast league at rookie level. His most extensive work was in 2014 when he six-starts, appearing in nine games, and went 3-0 while striking out 26 guys with a 1.55 ERA.
Update (1:06pm) – The Tigers have made both trades official.
Update (11:41am) – The Tigers have announced the Simon acquisition of Simon for Suarez and former first round pick Jonathan Crawford.
Update (11:39am) – Jerry Crasnick is reporting shortstop Eugenio Suarez is going to the Reds in the Simon deal.
Update (11:24am) – Ken Rosenthal is reporting the Tigers are acquiring Alfredo Simon from the Reds.
Update (11:10am) – Jason Beck of MLB.com is reporting the Tigers do have a deal with the Cincinnati Reds in the works to fill Porcello’s spot and that it is not for Mat Latos.
Update (11:06am) – Alex Speier is also reporting that “lower levels lefty” Gabe Speier is also going to the Tigers in the Porcello deal.
Update (10:19am) - Alex Speier of WEEI in Boston is reporting the Tigers are getting two additional players and one is Alex Wilson.
Update (9:58am) – Morosi of Fox Sports is reporting the second deal is a minor league prospect for a starting pitcher.
Update (9:55am) – Jon Paul Morosi of Fox Sports is reporting the Tigers are involved in a second trade currently in addition to the Porcello for Cespedes swap.
