MLB Detroit Tigers

Detroit Tigers Should Consider Trading For Ender Inciarte

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By @Brad_Faber

EInciarte

Joe Camporeale-USA TODAY Sports

Heading into the offseason, Detroit Tigers GM Dave Dombrowski made it no secret that one of the team’s biggest goals would be to shore up the center field position. To address the situation, the Tigers ultimately traded top prospect Devon Travis to the Toronto Blue Jays in exchange for Anthony Gose.

Gose, who is expected to platoon with Rajai Davis in center field, already has quite a reputation as a speed demon and defensive wizard. However, he has only hit .234/.301/.332 with a 27.6 percent strikeout rate through parts of three MLB seasons. Sure, he is a left-handed hitter, which is something the Tigers could clearly use, but he hardly appears poised to emerge as a significant offensive force for the Tigers in 2015.

Therefore, the team might be wise to give Ender Inciarte of the Arizona Diamondbacks a look. Inciarte, who is also a left-handed hitter, quietly put together a very solid year for the Diamondbacks in 2014, slashing .278/.318/.359 with 19 stolen bases in a 2.9 fWAR campaign, which ultimately earned him a fifth-place finish in the NL Rookie of the Year voting. He also posted a tremendous 25.5 UZR/150 in center field, and only struck out 11.9 percent of the time.

The Diamondbacks currently have a bit of a logjam in their outfield with Mark Trumbo, Cody Ross, A.J. Pollock and David Peralta. Plus, Yasmany Tomas could also be out there if he does not prove to be capable of handling the third base position. It would indeed make sense for the Diamondbacks to explore the possibility of moving an outfielder.

Even though he is not the biggest power threat, Inciarte might give the Tigers a sturdier left-handed bat than Gose, and it appears that he would also be capable of playing a more than stellar center field as well. The Tigers could also use a little bit of help at the top of the batting order. In 323 at-bats in the leadoff spot last season, Inciarte hit .294 with a .725 OPS, so he and Ian Kinsler might be able to create an excellent 1-2 punch.

However unlikely acquiring Inciarte might be, the Tigers would be wise to at least check in on his availability. He might just be the perfect fit.

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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