The Detroit Tigers are natural trade partners with the Boston Red Sox.
Detroit has a need in the outfield, and Boston has enough quality players at that position to fill starting outfields for three teams.
Boston has beefed up its batting order thanks to the acquisitions of Hanley Ramirez and Pablo Sandoval, but its starting pitchers could use some help. Clay Buchholz is the best of the bunch, but he posted an ugly stat line that included 11 losses and a 5.34 ERA.
The rumored target for Boston is Rick Porcello, according to Frank Pimentel of MLB Hot Corner.
There are pros and cons in dealing Porcello. He may grow too rich for Detroit’s blood, and the team could move on from him.
The downside in dealing him is that he could prove that his breakout season in 2014 was no fluke. If the Tigers don’t get a suitable replacement, they could find themselves in the same situation they found themselves in with Doug Fister last season.
Whether Porcello is dealt to the Red Sox, the Tigers still make ideal trading partners with Boston.
Through free agency and trades, Boston has stockpiled an abundance of outfielders. They include Ramirez, Yoenis Cespedes, Rusney Castillo, Brock Holt, Mookie Betts, Jackie Bradley Jr,, Shane Victorino, Allen Craig and Daniel Nava.
Ramirez, Castillo, Holt and Victorino can be crossed off as potential fits. Ramirez and Castillo were only recently signed, while Holt is better suited to a utility role.
Victorino would be an ideal fit, but he is in the final year of a three-year, $39 million deal. He’d be a fit with Detroit if Boston ate money in a trade.
That leaves Cespedes, Betts, Bradley Jr., Craig and Nava.
All stats courtesy of Baseball-Reference.com unless otherwise noted.