The Tigers have designated infielder Sergio Alcantara for assignment, Chris McCosky of the Detroit News tweets. His 40-man roster spot will go to newly signed catcher Wilson Ramos.
The Tigers acquired Alcantara from the Diamondbacks as part of the teams’ 2017 trade centering on outfielder/designated hitter J.D. Martinez. But Alcantara, who turned 24 last July, hasn’t amounted to much so far in the pros. He made his major league debut last season and batted a measly .143/.217/.381 with one home run.
While it’s hard to judge Alcantara based on the mere 23 plate appearances he totaled in the bigs in 2020, his minor league production also hasn’t been great. He has topped out at Double-A there and has slashed .256/.340/.318 in 2,611 trips to the plate.
Don’t follow the Tigers or Dbacks but it doesn’t look like a very good trade for DET. Martinez put up 2.4 WAR in 62 games in 2017 for ARI. The guys DET got back don’t look like they will amount to anything useful.
Salary dump?
Tigers would have only gotten a 4th round pick had they kept and tendered JDM. No other OF moved at that deadline received more in return. The demand from contenders just was not there.
It was a get something for a guy before losing him for nothing in free agency trade. That said it was made well before the deadline and was widely ridiculed at the time. They should have waited. Instead they jumped at a deal for a bunch of nothings. Al Avila at his best.
Al had been trying to trade JD all winter. Sadly there wasn’t a market for an OF (no other OF was traded) let alone one with a rep as a bad defender. If there is only one team in the market for an OF, they decide what they want to pay. There is no evidence another GM would have done better.
Because they didn’t hire me. Bundles…..
They got three lottery tickets and all three look like losers. On the other hand, they traded Justin Wilson and Alex Avila, picking up Jemer Candelario and Isaac Paredes.
Sometimes you win, sometimes you lose, That’s why they’re known as “suspects” when you trade for “prospects.”
They tried to trade him over the winter for a better return but there were no takers. His defense has never been very good and he was hurt in Spring Training and didn’t start until mid May. As others mentioned, there wasn’t a market so they took what they could get. Biggest problem was that Mr I wanted a WS so bad they signed Justin Upton to a contract that put them well into tax territory so they couldn’t even keep him & offer a QO because it would have cost them 2X the offer amount.
Wow thanks for bringing that up
I know they needed a catcher, but I have a hard time believing the only true SS on the roster is the player cut to make room!
Willi Castro? Nikko Goodrum?
Willi Castro is not considered a true SS. Goodrum did well defensively, and is probably better than Castro, but is valued more for his versatility. Workman is a 3B playing SS. Hope this means they will be looking at the FA market.
While I dont think Alcantara is a big loss, I agree there are far better cuts to be made. It baffles me that Stewart is still on the roster. He doesnt hit for average, power, walk or play defense. Career line of 225/300/376 for an OPS+ of 79 (21% below league average – while playing horrible defense).
Stewart at least has hit well in the minors and shown glimpses, followed by long droughts, in the bigs. Alcantara’s great defensively, but had never hit in the minors. He’ll likely sign another minors contract with the Tigers. Teams will always take a chance on a player like Stewart hoping he makes a few changes and does a JD Martinez turnaround.
Agreed, in fact Stewart will probably be gone before opening day. He is a hitter that doesn’t hit.
I think it was a little quick to give up on Alcantara. I thought the odd man out would’ve been Stewart, Demeritte or Hill.
Maybe they don’t expect anyone to claim him
This
Alcantara isn’t going to make the difference between a cellar-dweller and a decent team. He’d have to improve quite a bit just to become mediocre!
Also this
Another great trade for Al nothing in return
He got the best return of any OF trade that summer.
Let me ask you, “Who needed a pet rock?”
Some guys can throw a pitch……
Read above the options that were available.
I would be surprised if Alcantera was claimed. He is getting old to be considered a prospect. The guy can pick it in the field but hasn’t hit a lick. Might be worth it for the Tigers to keep him in the system for another year or two as org fodder and to see if he turns into a late bloomer. But absolutely not worthy of a 40 roster spot.
Agreed. Best case his bumps his BA & OBP to a level that allows him to be a solid defensive specialist. Best case is an Adam Everett type
Read above the options that were available.
Alcantara could be claimed… but I doubt it. They released Stokes JR and he was claimed… that pitcher… Castro. But both were released shortly later. No loss.
Tigers have a bunch of players they could cut and not miss… Stewart, Demerritte, Cameron, Hill, Schrieber, McKay… they have plenty of room if they wanted to actually try and add major league players and try and win a game. Nope, they are trying to lose. That’s why they sign guys like Urena and Holland.
Hard to believe more people go to watch a last place tanking than the A’s or Rays.
It’s possible that Cameron could still come out, but I agree with your assessment. They could have dumped any of those guys before Alcantara but that’s splitting hairs. And big picture– I don’t understand how the Tigers or any mlb team would have to “rebuild” and take so long doing it. Hey Tigers and Avila: when the pandemic ends and stadiums reopen, you better hope fans show up. Still a few months before opening day, I hope Avila wakes up at some point before then to spark at least some form of interest..
Hinch said the other day that the Tigers have been talking to a lot of guys that have not been reported, but you need a willing partner on the other side. My guess is players do not want to come to Detroit for various treason, but the cavernous nature of the park has to be an issue. Look how Martinez, McCann, and Castellanos caught fire immediately after leaving. Some will blame McClendon for that, but I hardly think just getting away from Lloyd would immediately drastically change a player’s swing. It’s hard to blame hitter for not wanting to come to Detroit, given the city’s reputation, the long rebuild, and the center field dimensions that penalizes hitters so badly.
If Miguel, and all Tiger batters, would learn to place the ball (into the Al Kaline corner for example) instead of trying to launch it every time, they might do very, very well.
Someone should develop a baseball golf game to help batters learn to place the ball.
I have no problem with the Alcantara release… he is AAA depth anyway. But, like I said… someone might claim him.
The JD trade has been discussed at nauseum and its time to just let it go.
I can remember Alcantara being touted as the best fielding shortstop in the whole Tigers’ system. He’s a .250 hitter in the minors which probably translates to a .225 hitter in the show. If the Tigers wanted to prioritize defense for a change they would have Ramos at catcher, Alcantara at SS, W. Castro at 2nd and Jones in center. Strength up the middle.