The Tigers are 47-53, 12 games behind the White Sox for the division lead. Their fate was sealed by a disastrous April when they went 8-19 to start the year. Since then, they’ve actually put together three consecutive winnings months, including an 11-8 mark so far in July. These Tigers have played perhaps the most enticing stretch of baseball we’ve seen from Motor City in years, but they’re still sellers heading into this trade deadline.
Jonathan Schoop, Jose Cisnero, Kyle Funkhouser, Gregory Soto, Daniel Norris, and Jeimer Candelario are the names most likely to draw trade interest here in the week before the deadline, per Chris McCosky of the Detroit News. Schoop’s name has certainly been bandied about the most in the Twitterverse, mostly as a lower-cost option for teams not interesting in paying presumably high-end returns for other available infielders like Trevor Story or Adam Frazier.
Schoop, after all, is a free agent at the end of the year and making just $4.5MM. He doesn’t have the controllable contract like Frazier or the long-term track record of Story, but he would nonetheless be a valuable addition for someone.
With a 116 wRC, he’s an above-average bat for the third time in five years (he was exactly average with a 100 wRC+ in 2019. He’s slashing .289/.330/.471 with a .182 ISO that’s actually a little low for Schoop’s norms. He’s doesn’t strike out over much and his bat carries consistent pop.
Defensively, he’s not garnering the plus marks that he has in the past, but he can still handle multiple positions as a first and second baseman. He absolutely crushes left-handed pitching to the tune of a 161 wRC+ this year. He’s a first division platoon bat with the capability of being an everyday, impact player on a playoff team. He fits the Howie Kendrick mold from the 2019 Nationals, and though it’s not fair to put Hendricks’ heroic expectations onto Schoop, he can be that kind of all-purpose, veteran bat that won’t cost an arm and a leg to acquire.
Like Kendrick, his physical abilities don’t leap off the page, and he doesn’t play a premium position, but he’s a textbook professional hitter. Schoop isn’t the big name that many fan bases might be hunting, but if the Tigers are inclined to move him, he can absolutely be a difference-making piece for a contender. Just a couple weeks ago, MLBTR’s Mark Polishuk did the work of finding the best fits for Schoop, but let’s hear from you: which contender would benefit the most from adding Schoop’s potent right-handed bat to their first base/second base/DH/bench crew?
(poll link for app users)
Funkhouser once asked Larry David if he crapped standing up. He is only competitive in plaque contests.
As a Tigers fan, I want them to extend him for a couple years. System is light on impact middle infielders. I know he’s playing first this year, but he was a solid 2nd baseman. Tigers will have Tork at first soon, and can sign a stop gap this offseason and shift Schoop back to second. He at least provides more value mentoring young players this year, than the middle of the pack prospect that would come as a return in a trade. Extend him
As an Orioles fan, I like Schoop and agree that the Tigers should extend him. I’ve been watching the Tigers a lot this season and they are a fun team. Keeping Schoop as a veteran presence for the young players would be a good thing.
Schoop is not being traded.
Schurzer and a number of others as well.
And some that no one foresaw being traded, will be.
Ckickbait.
Then Tigers need to trade him because they might get back a low-level prospect?
Currently they’re playing 3 solid young SS’s, 2 young CF / lead-off hitters, 2 young catchers, a terrific young 3B, young pitchers galore (starting and bullpen), and have yet more youngsters in the high minors that will be called up within the next few years.
What they need are a few veteran / team leaders to help the youngsters adjust to MLB competition. Schoop is one (along with Miggy and maybe Grossman). Schoop is enjoying his role. Expect he and the Tigers to get together on an contract for a few more years.
MLBTR gets too much into rotisserie league thinking. Good MLB teams are put together to maximize chemistry and players working off one another’s skills – not playing the best statistics.
Scherzer has a very good chance of being traded. He’s a FA. Nats could offer him QO & if he turns it down, they get a comp pick. Anyone trading for him needs to pony up a package better than a comp pick. Dodgers, San Diego have excess prospects.
Agree completely. O’s fan that was sad to see Schoop go. Plays the game the right way, and would be a good mentor that would come relatively reasonably priced. Extend him.
I would hope they don’t trade him in the division unless they get a great return for him
Same for me thats why didn’t choose White Sox.
SD’s weakest position in the field is 1B and he would be a good RH compliment to that side of the infield since Cronenworth and Hosmer are both lefties.
Also would just generally be good for SD to get a bat off the bench since none of their reserves have an OPS above .650.
Exactly what I was thinking
I voted Tigers should keep him. Being a Brewers fan, Schoop has already shown to be a self-absorbed, non-team player from what he did to the MKE team back in 2018. The only smile I saw on his face post-trade was when he and Machado were on the field chatting before game 3 in LA. Beware of the player all too happy to play for a losing team.
Your psychological analysis through a few seconds of snippets you saw on a television screen is well received.
So now you’re a physiologist to add to your know it all resume? Wow is there anything you don’t know????
It was obvious to all he wasn’t happy with the trade to MKE. Instead of relishing a trade to a contender like every other player in the world would have, he sulked and stunk up the joint with his abhorrent play. He was so bad, Stearns took it upon himself to publicly admit how terrible the decision was to trade for him.
Must be a Milwaukee thing because I see his pearlies often. He seems to like playing for the Tigers just fine…
Losers like to lose
Yes, I too see smiling as a weakness. I learned this from listening to Laibach.
He enjoyed playing for the 101 win Twins. He was an important part of their team. They didn’t extend him because they had a prospect ready for that spot. Milwaukee seems to be the only place he had issues.
If Schoop doesn’t cost much, I would love to see the Dodgers trade for him, if for no other reason than it could mean I don’t have to see Neuse anymore. That guy is absolutely worthless, yet the Dodgers still call him up when the injuries pile up. He is brutal both at the plate and in the field, where he has been playing quite poorly at second base.
would Funkhouser really be avalable with 5 years of team control left after 2021?
Yes. Tigers should keep him despite last night’s meltdown.
Same situation with Soto. The Tigers shouldn’t trade relievers with multiple years of control when the team isn’t too far off from contending
sad angels were not listed. not! angels should trade both iglesiases.
He would make perfect sense for the Mariners. They are looking for a 2nd baseman and a right handed hitter… he checks both those boxes. Plus he won’t cost as much as say Adam Frazier which means we would not have to mortgage our future and we could stay on course with our rebuild while still making a push for this year. We have the money in the offseason to offer him an extension or if we want to go another direction he would be off our books. To me it sounds like a perfect fit.
White Sox make the most sense, but we all know Chicago based teams never get the players that make the most sense. This is a “stand pat” town (vomits in mouth a little).
The Philles are a contender? Really?
That’s a funny fantasy.
A contender to win that ridiculously weak division, yes.
Not gonna happen. For my money they’ll finish in 4th place.
The only team in the NL East that isn’t currently a contender to win that division is the Marlins. The Nationals are barely in the conversation, but still not out of it because none of the other three teams are very good.
They’ll finish in 4th place, 2.5 games out
@ Cosmo2
LOL
Could be.
And the NL East champion may well be under .500.
Sure, it’s a competitive division. It’s also one of the weakest divisions I’ve seen in years – especially when none of the 5 teams is in a teardown / rebuild mode. I watched a lot of NL East games this year and have moved on. All those teams play awful baseball much of the time – with players out of position and weaknesses galore.
The amazing thing is that most of them are up against their payroll budget ceilings.
Flip a (4[maybe even 5]-sided) coin.
Pretty tough to finish 2.5 games out when teams ALL play the same number of games.
Actually it’s not uncommon for a team to only play 161 if I’m not mistaken. In any case I’m not sure accuracy is of the utmost considering it. was. a joke.
It can also happen if there’s a tiebreaker which wouldn’t be a shocker in this division.
But yeah, some people don’t get satire.
Dave Dombrowski is channeling The Platters.
You mean phunny phantasy
You win.
If Boston doesn’t get a guy like Anthony Rizzo or Carlos Santana the Schoop makes sense at 1B.
then Schoop makes sense…
He’s not going anywhere.
He is in the off season
After Schoop’s disappointing performance in Milwaukee three years ago I’m surprised any contender would take a chance on him as a second-half addition.
You seem to realize that was 3 years ago, while at the same time ignoring that was 3 years ago, and means very little to any team but the brewers.
Why would a 2nd place team only 6.5 games out right after the all star break ( Reds) not even be on the poll question as a contender? I mean , I get it Reds are winning any championship this year but still .. I think they should have been listed.
Probably because Schoop isn’t a fit there. You’re not upgrading over Votto or India and even if you want to try and wedge him in somewhere else in the infield, you’ve got Moustakas returning soon. The Reds are a bit fringy and if they add anywhere to get them over the hump it should be bullpen, bullpen, and more bullpen.
Idk the cutoff was probably five games out for both division and WC, I wondered the same about TOR and NYY. I wouldn’t take it personally
I’m a Reds fan myself but I wouldn’t take it personal they weren’t listed. The Astros are leading the AL West and they aren’t mentioned in the poll. Aaron is spot on, Schoop isn’t a player the Reds would target.
Astros wouldn’t be interested because he can’t pitch.
no Yankees either? He’s best fit there I’d think. he’d upgrade odor more than anyone else I’d think
Trade him. Then sign him as an FA for 2 years off season.
Schoop to Seattle. Huge improvement at 2B for them.
Phillies, Brewers, and White Sox are automatic NOs …..
AA and Dave Dombrowski have a very strained relationship since their Tigers days.
After a disastrous stint with the Brewers a trade to MIL is not unlikely.
As division rivals, White Sux and Tigers just have no history of trades.
Boston seems to be the best match …..
he has hired Boras as his agent but a nice extension with the Tigers would be awesome as they head into contention.
@dennispruder
Wasn’t aware that two people who worked together for three teams, DD & AA, were not on good terms. Wouldn’t surprise me if Dave gave Al a recommendation while on the way out. Love to know your source but am expecting you don’t have one.
DET and CHI have a long history of trades. CHo acquired Avisail Garcia a few years ago. In fact, CHI once traded Kenny Williams to DET.
The worst for CHI was Steve Kemp for Chet Lemon. The worst for DET was Billy Pierce for Aaron Robinson.
Nobody is going to give the Tigers much for him. Too many sellers and not enough buyers to create a solid marketplace. The Tigers are better off keeping him and try to continue building a winning culture. Keeping Schoop around right now helps that process.
Does it help? He’s a free agent in less than half a season
@ Cosmo2;
I like and respect you.
The Tigers Baseball Ops are being run by a lifelong baseball man – not an MBA or Ivy League History major that was mentored at the ML level. He’s put together more legitimate prospects then Preller did – only most of his are going to pan out as something other than part-time players.
The Tigers have been one of the more enjoyable teams I’ve watched this year – even last nights loss had its good points (Casey Mize looks a quite a bit like 2 former young Tiger pitchers – Verlander and Scherzer).
Keep this in mind about Mr. Schoop – for all his time in MLB he’s still only 29 years-old. He’s bounced around some, and going to a team for 2 months of a stretch run as a role player / off the bench guy can hardly be appealing to him. Meanwhile, he’s a young veteran leader on a team that is on it’s way to being a contender for years to come. i.e. He’s in on the ground floor.
I don’t see him wanting to leave, or the Tigers wanting him to leave. He’s a big part of that team – something he’s never been in his career.
If they are considering signing him long(ish) term then I can understand that.
Candelario is trade bait? That would surprise me.
The White Sox could use an upgrade at second and a player like Schoop could help with his skill set and his maturity. Maybe a veteran like him could teach Tim Anderson that he’s a great player and doesn’t need to act like a punk. Getting tossed out from the dugout in the ninth inning Friday night of a lob sided game and acting like he had to be held back from the umpire was nothing more than a look at me I’m a tough guy show. Tim, if you want to be a Diva become a NFL receiver
Just trade Anderson for Schoop.
Problem = fixed
Tim can go flounder on the Tigers.
Brewers already tried this with this guy at the deadline once……
So sorry it didn’t work for Brewers. Doesn’t have anything to do with the here and now, however.
Oddly enough he hits better in Miller Park than anywhere else.
Seems to be a lot of Milwaukee fans irrationally judging a very good player based on 46 games from three years ago. Pretty dumb. How about looking at his whole career? Who he is now? Or is it some magical thing whereby he only stinks if traded mid season? Crazy. He’d be a great addition to most contending teams.
The Braves are contenders? Lmao gtfo
I don’t think Jonathan Schoop is just a RH platoon player. He should be used full time.
The Tigers should keep him for the season. Al Avila’s track record hasn’t been very good trading away veterans for prospects. I heard the scouting group has been rebuilt but I still don’t want the best player on this years team to be traded away.
You are going to lose him at end of year probably, so why keep him?
Al,Al,Al.. you’re doing this all wrong! For goodness sakes give me a call! And I thought you guys were going to drop by…..
Obviously, it’s the Yankees.
I believe Mr. Avila and.Mr. C are blowing smoke…..
IF you can’t see that several desperate contenders have their backs up against the luxtax then Now is the time to take on contracts for prospects and then flip those very same contracts as paid to a third team for prospects…..prospects.coming in,.prospects going out…..
Al, Al, Al……
Mr. C should have already called. Not in the Lord.