of tigers They did what a bad team in the major leagues should do. Gregory Soto To Philliestogether Kody Clemensthree batsmen led by Matt BieringThe Phillies are the defending champions of the National League, so trading prospects and young big leaguers who don’t need to reinforce weaknesses is what they should do. Pay to add a lefty to the bullpen.
Soto made two All-Star teams as a Tiger. He has 30 saves in 2022, making him the man with 30 saves and no more. He walked his 12.9% of hitters last year, nearly matching his career percentage, with a significant drop in strikeout percentage (from 27.5% in 2021 to 22.8% last year) and a significant drop in home run percentage (0.99%). from HR) survived. 33 HR/9 in 2022), which isn’t usually something that changes much without some change in a pitcher’s repertoire. Pitches that Statcast classifies as a sinker aren’t great, and his ground ball percentage is slightly above average, but his slider is his one-out his pitch, far better against left-handed hitters. effective for He has limited his lefties to a . 277 slugging percentage in his major league career, splitting up a sizeable platoon over his three-plus years in the majors. He was more effective against right-handers in 2022, but all his marginal rates were worse than against left-handers, so it was a lot of smoke and mirrors. but not enough for high-leverage work on competitive teams.
The Phillies also acquired Clemens. He didn’t have the hitting tools to profile him in the corner, so maybe he’s a 4A guy and he might just be a first baseman. I don’t know if it will fit.
Matt Biering celebrates after hitting a home run against the Reds on Aug. 23. (Eric Hartline / USA Today)
The Tigers regained three players. If I were them, I would have traded Soto only for the feeling that he’s still not doing much in the majors all through his 25-year-old season, but looks like a breakout candidate once he’s made it. Some significant swing adjustments over the last year. Feeling has always had good exit velocity, but he hits the ball too far into the ground until 2022. The work he did to get the ball in the air with the Phillies started to pay off, his launch angle average up from his 6.3. He climbed to 12 degrees and his ground ball percentage dropped from his 53.8% of balls in play to his 41.4%. He also cut his strikeout rate starting in 2021, although he was a significantly lower sample in the majors that year. He’s had bad luck with the ball in play, popping it up more often last year, but has shown he can hit the ball hard, consistently, have good speed, and even handle changeups. Playing in all three outfield positions, he should be above average in each corner — maybe 45 in center field — the Phillies used him a little bit last year at 2nd and 3rd. The Tigers should get him in right field and give him 500 at-bats. They may have regulars.
Nick Mutton A solid utility infielder who might have a chance to become a regular at second base, but even with his amazing burst of power last year, I’m not sure his bat will have an impact on that. Although he can hit a fastball, he has never shown more power than a modest doubles player. Because he hits left-handed, he’s also worthwhile as a pinch hitter, and his tiny sample is more than enough against southpaws in the majors. You may not go out of your way to get him, but he’s the kind of player you like.
Donny Sands, who turns 27 in May, is a capable backup catcher, a right-handed bat off the bench who puts the ball into play with considerable power. The Tigers’ catching situation is very fluid and can sneak into playing time. Jake Rogers I’m struggling to come back from Tommy John surgery in 2021.
A return will probably come down to feeling, but given the adjustments he made last year, I like his short-term prospects and even if Soto holds his value for a couple of years. I think the Tigers will have the upper hand.
(Gregory Soto top photo: Brad Rempel / USA Today)
