Ian Kinsler (Tigers' photo)
As expected, the Detroit Tigers traded star second baseman Ian Kinsler, dealing him to the California Angels, the Los Angeles Times reports.
In exchange, the Angels send two prospects to Detroit: 18-year-old right-hander Wilkel Hernandez and 23-year-old outfielder Troy Montgomery. Neither man ranked among the team’s top prospects.
Pedro Moura of the Los Angeles Times writes:
Kinsler, 35, has a long history of offensive success, though his 2017 season was the worst of his career. He hit .236 with a .313 on-base percentage and .412 slugging mark, each metric below his norms. He turns 36 in June, but major league talent evaluators say his defense has held up well as he has aged.
The Angels made acquiring a second baseman a focus this offseason, exploring trades with a number of teams. The Tigers had motivation to deal away Kinsler with most of their veterans long gone and a long-awaited rebuild in motion.
Thank you, Ian, for your impact on and off the field. pic.twitter.com/Ng3UGJVLc5
— Detroit Tigers (@tigers) December 14, 2017
