The MLB off-season hot stove is starting to heat up. Today, we saw the first big move made, and who would have thought it would come from the Detroit Tigers?
It was announced that Detroit traded RHP Blake Holub to the Milwaukee Brewers in exchange for veteran outfielder and first baseman Mark Canha, who started last season with the New York Mets but was moved to Milwaukee at the trade deadline.
This is a low-risk, potentially high-reward move for Detroit. Although it isn’t the most exciting trade, this is a good sign, as Detroit should be active this off-season.
Here are some takeaways from the Tigers’ trade with the Brew Crew…
Tigers Need Help Offensively
The Detroit Tigers need bats this off-season, and Mark Canha is not the only move he will make. It is only the beginning. Detroit’s pitching was very solid this season. Except for a couple of players, the Tigers’ offense was, for the most part, lackluster. Spencer Torkelson, Kerry Carpenter, and Riley Greene looked good, but that’s nitpicking, as the Tigers’ offense was terrible overall. The division is up for grabs, and the Tigers are just a few bats away from winning the AL Central. Canha is now here to help, and Colt Keith should be coming.
Austin Meadows’ Career Could Be Over
The Tigers made plenty of moves before the 2022 season, and for the most part, they didn’t work out. The most disappointing move was acquiring Austin Meadows in a trade with the Tampa Bay Rays. At the time, it was a thrilling trade that fueled the Tigers’ fire. Unfortunately, it didn’t work out as Meadows continues to struggle with anxiety. If Meadows were healthy, the Tigers would have great outfield depth, but he could be better. Meadows had a lot of time to return last season but couldn’t. It’s looking like he may permanently step away from the sport.
Is the Mark Canha Trade Good or Bad?
Trading for Mark Canha makes sense, with Detroit needing to find a spark offensively. He’s good at controlling the strike zone and has a pretty solid batting average. It’s not a move that excites me, but it’s still excellent value for what the Tigers have. It also gives the Tigers a way to give Spencer Torkelson a few more days off next season, which could be suitable for managing his health and, of course, energy in a long season. I would consider this a good trade for Scott Harris’ squad.
