As the Detroit Tigers look to make it two postseason bids in a row, after ending a nine-year playoff drought in 2024, they are already coping with some ominous developments coming out of spring training – especially in the outfield. On Monday, the team announced that injured centerfielder Parker Meadows was placed on the 60-day injured list. The 25-year-old Meadows has been experiencing a deadened nerve in his throwing shoulder since the first game of spring training on Feb. 22. Though new tests over the weekend showed no damage to the nerve, Meadows had been shut down from throwing for at least the next four weeks. The Tigers are also hit by injuries to outfielder Matt Vierling, with a strained shoulder, and backup outfielder Wenceel Pérez, who is suffering from lower back inflammation and is set to sit out the first month of the season.
In an attempt to patch up the wounded outfield, Detroit signed journeyman outfielder Manuel Margot to a split contract that would pay him $1.3 million as a major leaguer. But his salary would drop to $200,000 as long as he plays in the minors. But last month, Emma Lignan of Fansided proposed a trade for the Tigers with the Boston Red Sox that looks even more relevant now that the injury bug has swept through the Detroit outfield. The trade target for Detroit would be 25-year-old right fielder Wilyer Abreu, who won a Gold Glove in his rookie season last year, and placed sixth in American League Rookie of the Year balloting.
As Lignan points out, the Red Sox have logjam in the outfield, with the emergence of MLB Pipeline top prospect Roman Anthony, as well as the continued presence of Masataka Yoshida. Boston is expected to keep the 20-year-old Anthony at Triple-A Worcester to start the season. Yoshida is also being sent to Worcester, though on a rehab assignment as he continues to recover from right labrum surgery. With 2024 All-Star Game MVP Jarren Duran in left and Ceddanne Rafaela – who ranked in the top 25 percent of outfielders in the outs above average category with +5 – in center, along with reliable backup Rob Refsnyder, the Red Sox have six players competing for three outfield spots.
Abreu could be the odd man out. But according to the Fansided scribe, “given his multiple remaining years of team control, he would command a hefty return in a potential trade.” How hefty? The Red Sox are well-stocked with prospects around the diamond at most levels – except at catcher. Since trading 2023 first-round pick (14th overall) Kyle Teel as part of the deal to acquire ace lefty Garrett Crochet from the White Sox, Boston has seen a need to restock at the backstop.
Would a prospect package headed by Detroit’s fifth-ranked prospect, and top catching prospect, Thayron Liranzo move the needle on a Abreu deal? The switch-hitter from the Dominican Republic becomes Rule 5 eligible after this season, so now is prime time for the Tigers to move him.
