MLB Detroit Tigers

Detroit Tigers Should Consider Trading Eugenio Suarez

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By @Brad_Faber

ESuarez

Rick Osentoski-USA TODAY Sports

In early June, the Detroit Tigers called up infield prospect Eugenio Suarez, hoping that he would be the solution to their season-long shortstop problem that began when Jose Iglesias was lost for the year. Suarez burst onto the scene with a bang, hitting .279 with three home runs and eight RBIs in his first month in the big leagues, leaving some to wonder if he might just “Wally Pipp” Iglesias out of his job.

As the season progressed, however, Suarez tailed off a bit. His bat seemed to cool off in the second half and he scuffled in the field a bit, allowing Andrew Romine to essentially reclaim the shortstop position in the month of September and into the playoffs.

With Iglesias expected to return next season, it is fair to wonder where Suarez may fit into the team’s plans in 2015. Sure, Suarez can play second and third base, but Nick Castellanos seemingly has a stranglehold on third for the foreseeable future and All-Star second baseman Ian Kinsler is signed through 2017. Suarez could obviously serve as a utility infielder, but the Tigers also have Hernan Perez and Romine who could fulfill such a role.

The Tigers clearly have a surplus of middle infielders, and it would hardly be shocking to see either Perez or Suarez become expendable this winter. While each player is only 23 years old, Suarez may be the more attractive trade chip given that he is more big-league proven.

Despite his second-half woes, Suarez still slashed a respectable .242/.316/.336 with four home runs and 23 RBIs through 85 games this season, whereas Perez has posted a career line of just .205/.234/.233 with zero homers and five RBIs through 44 big league games spanning from 2012-14. Perez has, however, strung together a couple of very solid seasons in the minor leagues.

Heading into the offseason, Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski has already indicated that two of the team’s biggest priorities will be solidifying the center field position and shoring up the bullpen. If the Tigers attempt to patch either of these holes through trades, one could certainly see Suarez, a young middle infielder who has shown a little bit of sock in his bat, drawing quite a bit of interest from other teams.

Despite his youth and the fact that he may have a very bright future ahead of him, the Tigers should be open to the idea of trading Suarez if it just so happens that they can get the right package of talent in return.

Brad Faber is a Detroit Tigers writer for www.RantSports.com. Follow him on Twitter @Brad_Faber, “Like” him on Facebook, or add him to your network on LinkedIn or Google. 

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