MLB Detroit Tigers

Detroit Tigers Need A Break Out Year From Shane Greene

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By @Brad_Faber

ShaneGreene

Andy Marlin-USA TODAY Sports

Since December of 2013, the Detroit Tigers have traded away a pair of highly-skilled ground-ball artists in Doug Fister and Rick Porcello. However, they may have also gained one in now 26-year-old Shane Greene.

Greene, who came to the Tigers in a three-way deal that also included the New York Yankees and Arizona Diamondbacks last month, made his MLB debut for the Bronx Bombers in 2014, going 5-4 with a 3.78 ERA and a 1.40 WHIP through 15 games (14 starts.) His 3.73 FIP and 3.40 xFIP indicate that he may have actually pitched even better than his ERA suggests. Greene also accumulated a 1.2 fWAR through just 78.2 innings of work, had an eye-opening 9.27 K/9 and threw ground balls at rate of 50.2 percent while he was at it.

If Greene can continue to induce ground balls at an equally impressive rate for Detroit, that should only bode well for him as the Tigers are expected to have a strong infield in 2015. After all, Ian Kinsler and Miguel Cabrera were each Gold Glove finalists at their respective positions in 2014, and the Tigers will hopefully be welcoming the return of their acrobatic shortstop in Jose Iglesias as well. If everything goes according to plan, the only real question mark in the infield heading into 2015 will be third baseman Nick Castellanos, who received poor defensive marks in his rookie season at the hot corner.

Assuming that a reunion between Max Scherzer and the Tigers is still unlikely to occur, there are quite a few question marks pertaining to the Tigers’ rotation, however. Obviously, David Price can be expected to be his usual, dominant self, but it remains to be seen if Justin Verlander can bounce back and whether or not Anibal Sanchez can stay healthy for an entire season. Plus, Alfredo Simon‘s second-half swoon with the Cincinnati Reds last season may raise a few red flags as well.

It would be absolutely huge for the Tigers if Greene can step up and emerge as the team’s next great sinkerballer.

Brad Faber is a Senior Writer and Sabermetrics Columnist 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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