Fantasy Analysis of Huff to the Tigers

According to numerous reports, the Detroit Tigers have acquired Aubrey Huff from the Baltimore Orioles in exchange for Brett Jacobson, a right-handed pitcher currently pitching in Single-A.

Jacobson is a middle reliever who had gone 1-3 with a 3.74 ERA over 55.1 innings, striking out 44 and walking 17. He’s a 21-year old middle reliever who will have little fantasy value, so he’s not really worth discussing.

The intriguing part of the deal centers around the Tigers, who now appear ready to put Carlos Guillen back into the outfield to open up the DH spot for Huff, at least that’s how it would appear. The Tigers made sure to mention that he has played 1B, 3B, and the outfield over his career so maybe they will get a little bit creative if Guillen is not capable of playing the field everyday.

However, it’s unlikely that he sees time at 1B with Miguel Cabrera currently manning the position.

As for 3B, Brandon Inge has hit 23 HR despite a sub par .247 batting average. While it is possible he sees a little bit of time there, I wouldn’t expect to see him there on a regular basis. A random start here or there to rest Inge, but not too often.

How about the outfield?  He hasn’t played a game there since 2006, so I’m not buying that.

He appears primed to be a DH, meaning the player likely to lose significant playing time is Marcus Thames, who has been struggling mightily. He’s hitting .251 overall with 13 HR and 29 RBI in 199 AB, but in August was at .200 with just 2 HR and 5 RBI. 

For a team that ranks 16th in runs scored, that’s just not going to cut it.

It’s safe to cut Thames in all deeper formats as he seems unlikely to have much value moving forward.

As for Huff and Guillen, as well as the platoon of Magglio Ordonez and Clete Thomas, their value should remain pretty stagnant.  Huff could see a little bit of an increase, but he’s been struggling this season to begin with and an improvement was already being hoped for.

What do you think of the deal? Who’s the biggest winner? The biggest loser?

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