Best And Worst Former Tigers In 2016
By Dan Jenkins
@DanTJenkins
It's always interesting to see how players from your favorite teams do after they move on to another franchise -- good or bad.
There's a long list of former Detroit Tigers on other MLB rosters in 2016. Some of them have been really, really good, while others have been pretty terrible.
Here's a breakdown of the best and worst former Tigers, based on how they're performing in 2016:
Best
Max Scherzer
2016 stats through August 26:
14-7, 2.92 ERA, 0.93 WHIP, 227 strikeouts
Max Scherzer won a Cy Young award during his time with the Tigers, and he's on the fast track to win one in the National League this season.
If that happens, Scherzer would become the sixth pitcher to win the award in both leagues -- joining Roger Clemens, Randy Johnson, Pedro Martínez, Gaylord Perry and Roy Halladay.
Scherzer hasn't missed a beat since leaving the Tigers and signing a seven-year, $210 million contract with the Washington Nationals in 2015. In 60 starts with the Nats, Scherzer has posted a 2.85 ERA and a 0.92 WHIP.
He has two no-hitters and a 20-strikeout game (against the Tigers) during the past two seasons in Washington.
Rick Porcello
2016 stats through August 26:
17-3, 3.23 ERA, 1.05 WHIP, 145 strikeouts
Rick Porcello was always solid with the Tigers, but he's finally having a breakout season with the Boston Red Sox.
The Red Sox gambled when they gave Porcello a four-year, 82.5 million contract extension before he even pitched a game for them. Now, that gamble is paying off.
Porcello has been in the Cy Young conversation for most of the season, as he leads the American League with 17 wins. The Tigers did get some value for Porcello on the trade market, getting Yoenis Cespedes and Alex Wilson for him in 2014, who would eventually be traded for Michael Fulmer.
Yoenis Cespedes
2016 stats through August 26:
.291 average, 25 home runs, 64 RBI
Though Yoenis Cespedes missed some time this season, he's still having a pretty great 2016. Playing in 100 games so far this year, Cespedes has mashed 25 home runs and a career-high .925 OPS.
The Gold-Glove outfielder still can't stay out of the off-the-field limelight, however. He was criticized for golfing while he was on the disabled list with a quad injury.
Worst
Alfredo Simon
2016 stats through August 26:
2-7, 9.45 ERA, 2.06 WHIP, 38 strikeouts
Alfredo Simon was never good with the Tigers, but he was one of the most reliable starters the team had in 2015. That says something very bad about the state of the Tigers' rotation last year.
Simon went back to the Cincinnati Reds this season -- the team he pitched for from 2012 to 2014 -- and has been anything but reliable. He's been on the disable list since mid-June with a shoulder injury.
Before that, Simon gave up five or more runs in five different games to begin the year. The 35-year-old might be done for good.
Omar Infante
2016 stats through August 26:
.239 average, 0 home runs, 11 RBI
After winning a World Series championship with the Kansas City Royals in 2015, Omar Infante has had a dismal 2016. He started the season as the Royals' starting second baseman, but was later designated for assignment and released on June 15.
Despite the horrible season, Infante was in second place in All-Star voting for second basemen in the American League at the time of his release.
He was later picked up by the Atlanta Braves on a minor-league deal and released again on August 16.
Jhonny Peralta
2016 stats through August 26:
.253 average, 6 home runs, 19 RBI
Jhonny Peralta began the season on the disabled list with a thumb injury and hasn't done much since.
The 34-year-old has played in just 49 games this season and has a negative WAR (-0.4) for only the second time in his 13-year career.
Other
Prince Fielder
2016 stats:
.212 average, 8 home runs, 44 RBI
There must be a spot for Prince Fielder on this list.
What has looked like the greatest trade in the history of Detroit sports...still does, but now it has a sad story to go along with it.
Doctors basically told him that he shouldn't play anymore because of the chronic neck injuries that have kept him from playing during much of his time with the Texas Rangers.
Say what you will about Fielder, but it sucks to see someone's career cut short because of a horrible injury.
