One day after the Detroit Tigers accepted reality regarding their non-existent postseason chances and made the decision to “reboot” their roster, general manager Dave Dombrowski hasn’t wasted any time in moving two of his pending free agents.
Hours after David Price was dealt to the Toronto Blue Jays, Detroit traded another top trade piece to the Pittsburgh Pirates. Closer Joakim Soria moves east in exchange for Double-A infielder JaCoby Jones.
Soria, 31, notched 23 saves in 26 opportunities to go with a 2.85 ERA and 36 strikeouts in 41 innings. However, a 4.81 FIP should raise an eyebrow or two regarding Soria’s ultimate effectiveness as a closer and makes it likely that he’ll fill a setup role with the Pirates, rather than take over the ninth inning from Mark Melancon, who has a league-leading 32 saves. Soria will probably alternate as the eighth-inning setup man with left-hander Tony Watson, depending on matchups.
The Tigers acquired Soria, a two-time All-Star closer for the Royals, last season from the Texas Rangers for minor league pitchers Corey Knebel and Jake Thompson. (Interestingly, neither player is with Texas any longer, with Knebel going to the Brewers in the offseason trade for Yovani Gallardo and Thompson part of the six-player package that went to the Phillies in exchange for Cole Hamels.) That was a heavy price to pay, but Soria was under contract for another season and Detroit was willing to pay a premium for a reliable reliever that could help their perpetually beleagured bullpen.
Jones, 23, was Pittsburgh’s third-round pick in 2013 out of LSU. Last year at low Single-A West Virginia, he batted .288 with an .851 OPS, 21 doubles, 23 home runs, 70 RBI and 17 stolen bases. Between high Single-A and Double-A (where he was very recently promoted) this season, Jones compiled a .260 average with a .717 OPS, 18 doubles, 10 homers, 60 RBI and 15 steals. For a Tigers organization devoid of much talent, this appears to be a promising addition.
Outfielders Yoenis Cespedes and Rajai Davis are also pending free agents for the Tigers and highly likely to be dealt before Friday’s 4 p.m. ET deadline. Cespedes could even be moving by the time you read this. This reboot is happening quickly, as Dombrowski takes the opportunity to replenish Detroit’s farm system.
