Caputo: Game 4 ALCS - And 3 Reasons Valdity Of Tigers' Trade For Jose Iglesias Is On The Line
By: Pat Caputo
@patcaputo98
1. The Red Sox discarded Iglesias for the sole purpose of augmenting their pitching staff by acquiring Jake Peavy from the White Sox in a three-way trade (the Tigers sent outfielder Avisail Garcia to Chicago). Peavy is starting Game 4 for the Red Sox, so the deal could come back and haunt the Tigers in a very direct manner.
2. The Tigers clinched the AL Central relatively early and probably would have won the division going away anyway, even without Iglesias, after Jhonny Peralta was suspended for 50 games by MLB for PED use.
3. Peralta has played so well in the postseason upon return, it seems likely he will be re-signed and will be the Tigers' starting shortstop next year. Meanwhile, Garcia hit .304 with a .775 OPS in 168 at bats with the White Sox and would probably be the Tigers' best option for left field had he remained on the team.
