Multiple teams have thrown their name into the hat when it comes to various assets the Detroit Tigers have, as the team looks to sell and rebuild what they can in the coming days before the MLB non-waiver trade deadline.
We can add the Colorado Rockies to the mix, if they weren’t already. Reports are they have been scouting catcher Alex Avila and reliever Justin Wilson.
#Rockies eyeing a trio of catching options on trade market, per @Sullivan_Ranger + @harding_at_mlb: https://t.co/j2jZAewEBZ pic.twitter.com/zlc1We9TUF
— MLB Trade Rumors (@mlbtraderumors) July 26, 2017
Avila has enjoyed a career-revitalizing season in 2017 after inking a one-year deal last offseason to return to the Tigers. The 30-year-old is slashing .278/.401/.887 in 74 games played. It’s his best season offensively since his All-Star and Silver Slugger season back in 2011.
Him being locked in at the dish goes beyond the slash line. Only six players have a higher average exit velocity than Avila (93.0 mph) this season (minimum 30 plate appearances). He’s been one of many Tigers that have scorched the ball in 2017, but has had more luck than some others.
Behind the dish, Avila is about on par if not better when throwing out runners. He’s gunned down 31 percent of would-be base-stealers this season, a rate that is higher than both the MLB average (27 percent) and his career average (29 percent).
Overall, he’d prove to be a considerable upgrade to a catcher position in Colorado that has struggled with the bat. Rockies catchers have a combined .627 OPS, only Toronto posts a lower mark in all of baseball (DET – 9th in C OPS).
As for Wilson, it’s another day and another rumor of a team interested in his services. Any contender will be looking for a considerable upgrade in the bullpen, and it’s plausible to say that Wilson is the sexiest trade chip general manager Al Avila has in his hand right now.
The Rockies will have some stiff competition if they want to make a run for Wilson. More recently, the Brewers, Cubs and Astros have been closely linked to the power lefty closer. The Nationals and Rays have also been connected as potential suitors in recent weeks as well.
If the Tigers are going to move Wilson and find an enticing enough package, expect a deal to come to fruition over the next couple days.
