The Detroit Tigers have made a post deadline trade to deal with the recent surge of injuries the team is dealing with, acquiring veteran shortstop Erick Aybar from the Atlanta Braves. The Tigers gave up utility infielder Mike Aviles and catching prospect Kade Scivicque in the trade.
The #Tigers today have acquired INF Erick Aybar from Atlanta in exchange for INF Mike Aviles and C Kade Scivicque.
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) August 16, 2016
Aybar, a 32-year-old shortstop, is currently hitting .242 with a .293 OBP, two home runs, 26 RBIs and three stolen bases in 2016. The former All-Star and Gold Glove winner was playing his first season with Atlanta after ten seasons with the Los Angeles Angels.
Detroit Tigers Acquire Erick Aybar For Mike Aviles, Prospect
The Tigers’ lineup and infield has taken a major hit with several injuries this month. Third baseman Nick Castellanos (.286/.331/.500) went down Aug. 6 with a fractured bone in the hand, while shortstop Jose Iglesias (.249/.297/.328) was placed on the disabled list Aug. 12.
Detroit also lost center fielder Cameron Maybin to the disabled list Aug. 14 and Miguel Cabrera has been day-to-day with a bicep injury.
Mike Aviles, a journeyman who was signed this off-season, has played six different positions this year for the Tigers. He has struggled at the plate. He is only hitting .210 with one home run and six RBI in 68 games. With the influx of injuries, it’s likely Al Avila wanted to upgrade the utility spot. The Tigers sit only two-and-a-half games out of a wild card spot.
Kade Scivicque is a 23-year-old catcher in the organization who was playing in high-A Lakeland. He is hitting .282 with six home runs and 41 RBI in the minors this season. A fourth round pick out of LSU in 2015, Scivicque is ranked by MLB Pipeline as the Tigers’ 20th best prospect.
Other Moves
After the signing, the Tigers also recalled outfielder Steven Moya, who has been bounced between the majors and AAA several times this season. He is hitting .258 with five home runs and 11 RBI at the MLB level in 26 games in 2016.
Aybar is a career .274 hitter, compiling 1,304 hits, 443 RBI and 144 stolen bases in 11 seasons.
Detroit is sitting at 63-55, five games back from the Indians in the AL Central. They are 2-6 in their last eight games, however.
