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It appears the Detroit Tigers are quite close to trading their second baseman, Ian Kinsler. Per MLB.com’s Jason Beck, they are just exchanging names at this point.
While Michael Fulmer trade rumors have created a buzz at Winter Meetings, sounds like Tigers getting closer to trading Ian Kinsler. “We’ve gotten to the point where names have been exchanged,” Al Avila said. “We just can’t agree.”
— Jason Beck (@beckjason) December 12, 2017
We do not definitively know who the other side of the trade is, but given that the Angels and Mets are both in great need of a second baseman, logic dictates that it is likely one of those teams.
Angels GM Billy Eppler and Tigers GM Al Avila have notably orchestrated many swaps together, including the Justin Upton and Cameron Maybin trades.
Kinsler had a down year in 2017, posting 2.4 and 2.1 wins by Fangraphs WAR and Baseball-Reference WAR, respectively, though it is important to note that he was a 6-win season in 2016.
He is owed $11 million in 2018, the last year of his contract.