Detroit Tigers should consider trading Shane Greene sooner than later

The Detroit Tigers should trade closer Shane Greene before it’s too late.  He’s been excellent this year nailing down games, well, until yesterday.

I don’t know if it’s in the name or what but I am terrified the Detroit Tigers will wait too long as the Detroit Red Wings did with Mike Green before they attempted to seek a deal.  Shane Greene‘s been fantastic this year with the Detroit Tigers, and it’s time they move him sooner than later just in case he were to implode.

Ken Holland failed to move Mike Green twice, two years ago he was one of the top-five rental players in the league.  He was set to become a free agent, so a team that decided to trade for him wouldn’t be held accountable for much of his salary.  Green was injured leading up to the trade deadline; he played a few games leading up to the deadline I’m sure persuaded by the Wings to do so in hopes of moving him. Teams seemingly did their due diligence because after the deadline had passed, he was still a member of the Red Wings.  They shut him down for the remainder of the year with a neck injury.

Although last year leading up to the NHL trade deadline Green had term left, the Wings might have been able to spin it into a positive maybe convincing a team to use him as a two-year rental type.  He is entering the final year of his deal next season, and perhaps a contending team could have been interested in a 14-month rental agreement, but once again injuries prevented Green from being a viable option.

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I hope the Detroit Tigers GM, Al Avila doesn’t make a similar mistake with Shane Greene.  Although he’s enjoying a career year, his MLB career’s been up and down.  Just last year he owned an ERA of 5.12 with a WHIP of 1.374 in 66 appearances.   He converted on 32 saves while blowing only 6, suitable for an 84.2% conversion rate.

Two years ago Greene was much better than last season posting a 2.66 ERA in 71 appearances. Perhaps the one-time starter is going to continue to alternate back and forth, year to year, good to bad?  Unlikely, but I couldn’t help but make that observation.  There have been some rumors that the Atlanta Braves are interested in Greene.

The Detroit Tigers should move him as soon as possible just in case the wheels start to come off.  Yesterday he entered the ninth inning with a 2-0 lead.  A Ronny Rodriguez blunder on a double-play ball that would have ended the inning cost Greene and the Tigers their ninth straight loss.  Greene almost immediately after gave up a grand slam.

Don’t think I am saying after just one rough outing I’m down on Shane Greene; I’m merely suggesting that Al Avila gets a deal done now while his stock is likely as high as its been at any other time in his career.  The team has plenty of pitching prospects, it’s time they trade for some high-end position prospects.