Detroit Tigers Should Not Trade For Drew Stubbs
By Brad Faber
@Brad_Faber
Chris Humphreys-USA TODAY Sports
Heading into the offseason, Detroit Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski has indicated that one of the organization’s primary goals will be to solidify the center field position. The problem, however, is that the market for outfielders, particularly center fielders, looks to be quite thin this winter.
One possibility that the Tigers could consider, however, is trading for Colorado Rockies center fielder, Drew Stubbs. The six-year MLB veteran has one more year of arbitration, and he will become a free agent after the 2015 season. Some might argue that he would be a good short-term, stop-gap solution for the Tigers in center field while players such as Daniel Fields, Devon Travis and Derrick Hill continue to develop in the minor leagues.
However, although acquiring the speedy, righty-swinging Stubbs may certainly seem enticing to some, Detroit would probably be wise to go in a different direction.
Sure, the 30-year-old Stubbs has speed and double-digit home run pop, and he could potentially cover a lot of ground in the spacious outfield of Comerica Park. The Tigers are also quite familiar with Stubbs as well, considering the fact that he played for the division rival Cleveland Indians back in 2013. All of that being said, though, the right-handed heavy Tigers desperately need to find a left-handed bat — especially if switch-hitting Victor Martinez departs via free agency.
Another factor that should scare the Tigers away from Stubbs is his propensity to swing and miss, striking out in an alarming 29.7 percent of his career plate appearances. While many believed that former Tigers center fielder Austin Jackson was vulnerable to the strikeout, his career K-rate is only 23.5 percent for comparison.
Furthermore, while Stubbs may have put together a nice year for the Rockies in 2014, slashing .289/.339/.482 with 22 doubles, four triples, 15 home runs, 20 stolen bases, 43 RBIs and posting a 2.5 fWAR, he was significantly better when playing at home. Stubbs posted a robust .356 batting average with a .999 OPS in the hitter-friendly confines of Coors Fields, compared to a lowly .211 BA with a .616 OPS on the road.
Lastly, if the Rockies do indeed decide to make Stubbs available, they may be looking to sell high on him as he is coming off of one of his better years. Wrestling him away from Colorado may cost the Tigers more talent than they are willing to part with.
While the Tigers are not necessarily in a position to be too picky when it comes to potential solutions to their center field problem, it seems that acquiring Stubbs would not be the best move.
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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